Did you know that King County has an art collection? We’re proud to be its caretakers, and thrilled to announce that it just got bigger!

Of the more than 2,300 works in the collection, about 1,700 are considered “portable.” This means they can be easily moved and installed in publicly accessible areas of county facilities. Last summer, we put out a call for photographs and works on paper—drawings, paintings, prints, mixed media, and more. It was our first opportunity to purchase new portable art for the collection since 2013, and over 300 artists responded. A panel of arts professionals and county representatives reviewed the submissions, and in late 2018 we acquired 82 original artworks by the following artists:

Formally accessioned, framed, and accompanied by interpretive text, the pieces are now ready to install. Collection Curator Jordan Howland and Preparator Guy Merrill are busy helping King County staff select new work to enliven their spaces.

We thank everyone who applied for this opportunity, and welcome these incredible artists into the King County Public Art Collection!