At the Seattle Convention Center, art isn’t an afterthought—it’s an integrated part of the building, atmosphere, and civic mission. Since 1988, when the Arch building opened, the Center has built an art collection reflecting the artistic community of the Pacific Northwest. The Summit building opening in 2023 nearly doubled the size of the SCC collection. The art program grew with the help of the Washington State Convention Center Art Foundation, a nonprofit supporting the Center’s art program and mission to provide both direct and indirect economic and civic benefits for the people of the community where the Center is located.
The SCC collection expanded with the Summit building. It further promotes SCC’s connection to communities, neighborhoods, and draws inspiration from the Pacific Northwest’s diverse cultures. The Summit art program includes several key components, including a variety of free-standing artworks which were commissioned for the project, artistic elements have been integrated into the architecture of the building, and dozens of existing studio works were purchased for exhibition. In the longer term, the Center will continue to enhance Summit with artwork loans and Art Foundation donations.
Our notable permanent collection in the Arch building consists of gifts and long-term loans from artists, galleries, other governmental entities, corporations, foundations and private collectors. Well-known artists represented include Alfredo Arreguin, Hilda Morris, Alden Mason, Jenny Holzer, James Washington, Jr., Tony Angell, Margaret Tomkins, Kenneth Callahan, Michael Spafford, Richard Gilkey, Guy Anderson, Ron Hilbert, Paul Horiuchi and Nancy Mee. Some of the most popular works include Lebeg (Ann Gardner), Games (Jacob Lawrence), The Spirits Within (Alfredo Arreguin) and “A” Procession (Patty Warashina).
The Summit collection features 23 commissioned artists selected based on open, invitational, or limited call processes. The commissioned artists include: Maikoiyo Alley-Barnes, Romson Regarde Bustillo, Kate Clark, Claire Cowie, Kimberly Deriana, RYAN! Feddersen, John Feodorov, Malynn Foster, Robert Hardgrave, Lauren Iida, Christopher Paul Jordan, Kenji Stoll, Satpreet Kahlon, Sheila Klein, Ulises Mariscal, Christian Moeller, Cathy McClure, Danielle Morsette, Joseph Steininger, Maki Tamura, Dan Webb, Andrea M. Wilbur-Sigo and Jennifer Angaiak Wood. In addition to these commissioned artists, 37 artists are featured in the Studio Works sub-set of the collection.
Our rotating exhibitions provide a diverse array of local artists’ works, creating an ever-changing tapestry of talent. These shows are booked approximately two years in advance, following a screening process with the SCC’s Art Advisors. Since 1991, nearly 200 exhibitions have been featured in the Phyllis Lamphere Gallery on Level 2 of the Arch building.
The cheerful new rotating art installation on Arch Level 2 features works by members of The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Western Washington (SCBWI). SCBWI’s mission is to support the creation and availability of quality children’s books in every region of the world through awards, events, publications, resources, and more.
The regional Western Washington chapter features members from the Canadian border to the Oregon border west of the Cascades. The artworks feature a variety of illustration styles and media. Their playful works will be on display into December.
Phyllis Lamphere was a visionary leader of the Washington State Convention Center’s public art program, founding board member with 20 years of service (1982-2002), and first president of the WSCC Art Foundation. Ms. Lamphere’s passion for art and public service is a continuing inspiration for everyone at the Convention Center.
The Washington State Convention Center’s Public Art Program was founded by Phyllis Lamphere, in keeping with the state legislature’s mandate that the Center “provide both direct and indirect civic and economic benefits to the people of the State.” Ms. Lamphere had served on the Seattle City Council from 1967 to 1978 and was already deeply involved in the city’s civic life when she was appointed to the inaugural WSCC Board of Directors, on which she served from 1982 to 2002.
Ms. Lamphere’s commitment to the development of the Convention Center included the leadership to establish the public art program along with art incorporated into the original building design with assistance from the state’s Percent for the Arts program. She grew the program with assistance from an Art Advisory Group comprised of experts from our community. Together with Ms. Lamphere, the group created partnerships for providing long-term loans from museums, galleries, government, corporations, foundations, private collectors and artists. Early support from the Washington State Arts Commission, King County’s 4Culture, and the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture was instrumental in getting the program under way.
In 1998, at Ms. Lamphere’s recommendation, the WSCC Board of Directors established the Washington State Convention Center Art Foundation – a non-profit corporation that serves the WSCC Art Program by providing the financial means to obtain new works and otherwise support the program. WSCC also receives art-related assistance from a panel of advisors that works with government, corporate and foundation collections.
In 2017, the Level 2 Public Art Gallery was officially dedicated as the Phyllis Lamphere Gallery in honor of Ms. Lamphere. We invite you to view the video Phyllis Lamphere: A Legacy of Art, a tribute to her lifelong passion for art and commitment to the WSCC.
Today, over 100 works of art are displayed throughout the grounds connected to Jim Ellis Freeway Park and within our four stories of public gallery space. In part to Ms. Lamphere’s vision, the public art galleries are free and open to the public most every day of the year.
In Loving Memory: Phyllis Lamphere (1922-2018)
