Central Library Art
Discover the unique art collection at the Central Library, featuring works by artists connected to the Pacific Northwest. These pieces, whether acquired through the City of Seattle’s 1 Percent for Art ordinance or generous gifts, honor the rich cultural and historical significance of the arts in our region.
In addition to housing works of art, we have an extensive collection of resource materials on the history of the arts and artists of the region through our Regional Art and Artist files. These can be found on Level 8.
Level 1
Northwest Screen, 1960
James H. Fitzgerald and Margaret Tomkins
"Northwest Screen,” installed in the Level 1 Gallery, is more than 8 feet tall and 27 feet long. It is made of bronze, enamel on brass and colored glass. The etched panels look like maps, circuit boards or pure design. It is an example of the husband-and-wife team’s early experimentation in glass work, which influenced other Northwest artists. “Northwest Screen” was commissioned for the 1960 opening of the second Central Library building.
Babe the Blue Ox (2004), The Magic Grove (2005) and The Phoenix Fair (2006)
Mandy Greer
Mandy Greer completed three works made from fabric, papier-mâché and steel for the Children’s Center. The works are based on folk tales and were part of “The Library Unbound" program for the new Central Library building. As part of the process, the artist conducted art workshops with Seattle children.
LEW floor, 2004
Ann Hamilton
Ann Hamilton designed and fabricated 7,200 square feet of hardwood floor consisting of 556 lines of carved maple. The first sentences from books written in 11 languages are spelled out backwards to represent both how books are reproduced from typeface, and how we learn to read from symbols that are unknown to us at first. It is meant to be experienced by foot, hand and eye and to engage the reader in the tactile nature of reading. The floor was installed in the Literacy, ESL and World Languages (LEW) area on Level 1 for the opening of the new Central Library in 2004.
Fountain of Wisdom, 1960
George Tsutakawa
Welcoming visitors at the Fourth Avenue entrance, “The Fountain of Wisdom” is an abstract bronze sculpture that combines the forms of obos (rock formations found along paths in the Himalayas) and Japanese pagodas. This work is significant as it was George Tsutakawa’s first major commission and his first fountain; Tsutakawa would go on to produce more than 75 fountains and gain international recognition for his work. “The Fountain of Wisdom” was commissioned for the 1960 opening of the second Central Library building.
Level 3
Braincast, 2004
Tony Oursler
“Braincast” is a series of three video sculptures located in the walls of the escalator between Levels 3 and 5. The installation is a contemplation on the transmission of information. It reflects the tradition of the public library and its expanding role as the transmitter of different forms of information: spoken, printed, recorded and digital. The artwork was commissioned for the opening of the new Central Library in 2004.
Level 5
Making Visible the Invisible: What the Community is Reading, 2004
George Legrady
This electronic installation is presented on six screens above the Level 5 staff desk. It maps the circulation of Library materials to show what the community is reading based on checkout data. It consists of four distinct data visualizations that last from one to six minutes each. The artwork was commissioned for the opening of the new Central Library in 2004.
Guardian, 1974
Frank Okada
“Guardian,” which hangs next to the entrance to the public stairway, is a large Abstract Expressionist color field painting that is vividly rendered in blue and yellow acrylic paint. Okada described his paintings as “dedicatory objects” expressing gesture, memory and sensation. You can find another painting the artist donated to the Library on Level 10.
Level 8
Negative Round, 1971
Rita Kepner
Presented to the Art Department by an anonymous donor, this African wonderstone sculpture weighs 80 pounds and is mounted on a wooden base. A Teflon bearing allows the abstract piece to rotate freely. The piece is inspired by the artist's interest in universal forms such as eggs, bones and seashells. It was originally installed in the second Central Library building and can currently be found on the Level 8 staff desk.
Kinship of All Life, 1968
James Winston Washington, Jr.
Located outside the Level 8 Gallery, the sculpture “Kinship of All Life” was donated by the artist to the Library in memory of Eugenia Raymond, the Head of the Art Department and a friend of the artist. The sculpture is made of Egyptian pink granite and can be rotated, revealing carving on all sides; Washington wanted people to touch the work and connect with the kinship of all life.
Level 9
Bibliotopia, 2006
Deborah Lawrence
"Bibliotopia” hangs in the Map Room and is a collage of acrylic, collage and varnish on rag paper, board and frame. It is part of the series “Dee Dee Does Utopia,” a project Lawrence began by sending an email query to 200 people asking, “What does Utopia look like to you?” From the responses, Lawrence created 26 versions of perceptions of utopia, including “Bibliotopia” (for those who wrote of books and libraries). The book Dee Dee Does Utopia is included in our collection.
Level 10
Shiva II, 1972
Frank Okada
Located near the Seattle Room, “Shiva II” is a large abstract work in oil paint that primarily uses bold reds, blues and yellows. The artist created this work in honor of his brother, John Okada, a former librarian and author of No-No Boy. You can find another work by Frank Okada on Level 5.
Of Memory, 2004
Lynne Yamamoto
“Of Memory” is a sculpture of antiquated card catalogs made of cast polyester fiberglass. The artwork is intended to suggest the spectral trace of card files from the old Central Library. The artwork was commissioned for the opening of the new Central Library in 2004. It hangs near the Seattle Room.
Carpets, 2004
Petra Blaisse
The carpeting located on Level 10 and Level 3 (ten patterns in three colors) was designed by Petra Blaisse, a Dutch designer and long-time collaborator of Rem Koolhaas. (View the Living room carpet from the highest viewpoint on Level 10.) Her firm Inside Outside designed the building’s landscaping. These carpets, with giant photos of plants printed on them, bring the landscaping inside.
Murals
We have commissioned murals by local artists that can be found at the Central Library and our neighborhood branches. Learn more about the artists and the concepts behind these murals.