Guide to Seattle’s Art Walks
If you are new to Seattle or if you’ve lived here a long time, you’ve likely heard about the many Art Walks of Seattle. Here’s my problem: there is no one place to look up when they all are! (Okay there is one but gross it’s a gov site) Well, well, well, you see I have the ability to solve that for all of us. So I did! Below is a chronological list and links to each art walk’s website (if applicable). I also included my personal advice and opinions of the art walks I’ve been on. In fact, there’s a high probability you may even see me out there.
Cheers to you for getting out and seeing more artwork!
First Thursday: Pioneer Square
6 - 8pm
This art walk is the one that started it all, and I’m not joking. If you have been on an art walk anywhere else in the country, you can thank Pioneer Square’s First Thursday Art Walk. Pioneer Square has the most white box galleries in the city so it is often a very lively night in the neighborhood. Expect to see gallery openings, art markets, events, and local businesses open late. And yes, there are always options for free parking (just gotta get there real early). The official hours of artwalk are 6 - 8pm though a lot of galleries just stay open at 5pm (when they usually close) and some even stay open later until 9pm. My personal advice is choose 1 or 2 exhibitions or events you absolutely want to see and make those your priority. Then you can wander the area and let your heart and eyes take the lead.
First Friday: Central District
6 - 9 pm
For the sake of transparency, I have not been on this art walk. I am usually in the CD eating delicious food because there is so much of it. However, one thing the Central District has that no where else does is Wa Na Wari. And oh man, is this place just about the coolest. They are often putting on community centered events and have rotating exhibitions so please go there!
Second Thursday: Capitol Hill
5 - 8pm
The Capitol Hill Art Walk is always a grand old time. The beauty of the art walk in Capitol Hill is that there are always new locations to visit. There are a handful of white box galleries in Capitol Hill, but there are significantly more boutique galleries or businesses who support local artists. Think tattoo shops, coffee shops, and even open artist studios and bars. If you’re the type of person who wants to go to happy hour before or go out after art walk, this is the one for you. This is also the one for you if you find traditional gallery spaces intimidating . As I said, the participating spaces in this art walk change often so DEFINITELY look at the map before you go so you know who has been added or who isn’t participating.
Second Friday: Belltown
6 - 9pm
The Belltown Art Walk is a somewhat new art walk to the city and we are all better for it, believe me. The art walk in Belltown has a lot going for it. If you are looking for more installation work or experimental things, Belltown is the art walk for you. It is full of spaces that are pushing boundaries and trying new things often. Yes, you will find both commercial and non-profit spaces. Yes, you will find artist studios and vintage maarkets. Yes, it will give you an excuse to explore Pike Place Market and the Olympic Sculpture Park. Belltown has it all. Take advantage of it! Now here’s the thing, a lot of spaces are on or just nearly off 1st Ave, so if you plan on doing the full head to tail art walk (which you should), wear good walking shoes. You’re welcome.
Second Friday: Greenwood
5 - 10pm
Here’s the thing, I have a lot of fondness for Greenwood. They have one of my favorite restaurants in the city, Gainsbourg (cue drooling). Art on the other hand? Not so much…YET. The Greenwood Artist Collective is here and these artist studios are a fun labyrinth to explore. Just don’t expect an entire night full of art and art happenings scattered around the neighborhood. If you are going to go to this one (which you should), I recommend pairing it with a dinner out or a trip to one of the breweries/ bar hopping or another event in the neighborhood. I’m hoping that in the near future I can come back to edit this section with “Guys, Greenwood has so much going on!!”
Second Saturday: Georgetown
5- 9pm -ish (no official hours?)
The Georgetown Art Walk is called Art Attack, this can sometimes be confusing for those unfamiliar but yes, they are the same thing. There are barely any traditional art galleries in Georgetown (though that’s changing) but there are a hell of a lot of artist studios. So if your idea of a good art flavored evening is talking directly to artists in their studios while they are making work, Georgetown is where you need to be. Georgetown’s Equinox Studios also has a handful of bigger events throughout the year, so if you don’t want too much one-on-one action, aim for one of those! You are going to see practically every artistic medium under the sun in Georgetown from metal works to traditional painting to fiber arts to stone sculpture. It’s genuinely, so. fucking. cool. It’s also usually pretty easy to find street parking.
Second Saturday: Ballard
6 - 9pm
In all honesty, I think I went once. And I hope to go again, I really do! Ballard is a cool neighborhood, they don’t have any white box galleries so expect mostly businesses with artwork up and all the Ballard charm you can handle. Very chill. If you like illustration and indie comics, definitely check out Push/Pull any time you’re in the neighborhood.
Fourth Friday: Downtown
5 - 8pm
The Downtown Art Walk is a wee little art walk for misfit galleries. I say this with affection. This one is for the galleries caught between Pioneer Square, Belltown, and Capitol Hill. Never really fitting into any. But you may even find a lot of these spaces open on one of those art walk nights too! It was born out of need and is a good excuse to get out at the end of the month if you couldn’t earlier.
