Pioneer Square Art Frames

During the World Cup, a walk through Pioneer Square came with an invitation: slow down and look around.

SeattleFWC26 partnered with Forest for the Trees to commission 15 artists for a special collection displayed in the neighborhood’s existing Art Frames. Some interpreted countries playing in Seattle, including Mauricio Ramirez for the United States, Kwonny for Australia and Caratoes for Belgium. Others explored soccer or themes connected to Seattle match days, including Pride, Juneteenth and the Puyallup Tribe.

The results looked nothing alike. Pink elephants played soccer in a piece by Dana Blume. Caratoes imagined Belgium’s Red Devils in her own surreal style. Paul Nunn portrayed a captain of the U.S. Men’s Blind Soccer National Team.

But there was one detail connecting every piece.

Working with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, artists were asked to incorporate a cedar branch somewhere in their work. Sometimes obvious, sometimes hidden, the detail became a small scavenger hunt within the larger collection.

The frames themselves were not created for the World Cup.

Forest for the Trees had already begun installing them on historic buildings throughout Pioneer Square, extending a neighborhood known for its galleries and First Thursday Art Walk into the streets and alleys outside.

The permanent frames were designed to host rotating artwork year-round. The World Cup collection became one chapter in that larger idea, giving artists a new canvas and thousands of visitors another way to experience one of Seattle’s oldest neighborhoods.

Featured artists: Al-Baseer Holly, Barry Johnson, Caratoes, Chloe King, Choo Yoonmi, Chris Duenas, Dana Blume, Devin Liston, Kwonny, Mauricio Ramirez, Nicol Grindulis, Paul Nunn, Saina Heshmati, Sa’rah Melinda Sabino and Yellena James.