Well, West Seattle Art Walk was in its full glory for the evening of May 8. It was a truly special event with many new and familiar faces on the local art scene. Musefest featured eleven artists at different venues for an incredible showing of musical talent. Taking a step back, we are continually amazed by the incredible amount of creativity and skill present in our community – it’s truly inspiring!
In Admiral Neighborhood, West Seattle Grounds lively scene welcomed artist Laurie Ragan Anderson provided a lot of information about her art and the owners were super friendly and warm. As we’ve come to expect, WEND provided an abundance of talent with two artists – Diane Bellisario and pop up shop Askatu Bakery.
Avid Builders had colorful leis by Kiera Silva on display, we missed most of the show but heard that they had a fabulous night. Hawthorne Massage was full, and the owner took us on a tour of her very impressive space. We met with and chatted with mother and son artists, Od and Patrick.
In Morgan Junction, the shelves were lined with bins full of colorful abstractions and curious creatures at Nor Designs. We were given a glimpse at Shelly’s grandfather’s work, inspired from his time as a musician playing with legends such as Ella Fitzgerald. At Alki Arts, the theme was Vibrant Hues, and the featured artists were vibrant in their own right. Music from the band filled the gallery and doors were open to usher in the beautiful Spring evening.
In Alaska Junction, West Seattle Art Walk was buzzing with creative energy, and the vibe hit a high at Easy Street Records & Café. DJs Mike Steve and Fishlure were spinning an eclectic mix that had everyone nodding along between art gallery stops. The music flowed perfectly with the warm lights, vinyl walls, people flipping through Easy Street’s huge record collection, soaking it all in. It was the perfect collision of sound, community, and art.
Stopping by ArtsWest during the West Seattle Art Walk, we were drawn into the vibrant world of Nikita Ares. Although she was not present for the evening, her paintings pulse with motion and energy, each piece alive with color and rhythm. Originally from Cagayan de Oro in the Philippines and now based in Seattle, Ares blends traditional and modern techniques to explore the chaos and flow of movement. Standing in front of her work, you feel the vibrations she captures. An invitation to slow down and tune into the unseen forces that connect us. It’s powerful, dynamic, and unmistakably alive.
This evening at Windermere West Metro, we stopped by the Gini Johnson Invitational, and we’re so glad we did! Gini Johnson, a lifelong art collector, was offering a rare peek into her personal collection, with a mix of originals and prints available for sale. The space felt warm and welcoming, with wine, snacks, and good conversation flowing alongside the art.
West Seattle Art Walk is always full of creative surprises, and this time, Jet City Labs introduced us to Skratcher. It was a live, open-format scratch DJ session that felt more like an improvised jam than a battle. Multiple turntables invited both seasoned pros and newcomers to drop scratches, experiment, and collaborate in a freestyle, community-driven flow. The energy was electric, the scratching hypnotic, and the artistry undeniable. It wasn’t just music, it was a visual and sonic performance, alive with creativity.
John L Scott was bustling with Springtime energy and enthusiasm as the crowd heard artist Ben Jordan’s backstory on his finest works. Verity was blossoming with the artist’s expansive and delightful array of color and nature to soothe and support.
Capers was full of fun fun-filled art and chats all around the store! There were whimsical faces on magnets and pins at the Discovery Shop. At Compass artist Nalisha Estrellas curated a live painting event! Snip Its had a welcoming and beautiful installation of women of color power and presence. Uplifting and refreshing images for sure!
Down at Alki Avenue, businesses Alki Hair Design, Blue Moon Burger, and the Log House Museum featured colorful works of art by Alki Elementary Art Students. Gary’s Place featured the well-loved creations by Aerin Sizelove. And Drew Mortenson/ModiMakes’ characters fit in perfectly at West Seattle Arcade.
We want to thank all our generous partners for the support they bring to the West Seattle Art Walk – ArtsWest, Jet City Labs, Nor Design, Northwest Art and Frame, Verity Credit Union, Canna West Seattle, Quail Park, John L. Scott, Easy Street Records, Windermere West Real Estate, our media partner West Seattle Blog and our printing partner Sky Printing.
Our team of volunteer Art Walk photographers did a wonderful job of capturing the ambiance of the evening as well as the art and artists. Thank you Carole, Cat, John, Jon, Julie, Michelle, Molly, and Robert. We couldn’t do this without you! If you weren’t able to come out, we hope you take a moment to check out photos of the receptions below or on social media. Or, better yet, come see the shows yourself. Most of the artwork featured will be up all month long, so do find time to visit these venues.
Did you take any photos? Tag us on Instagram (wsartwalk) or use our hashtag #westseattleartwalk on your photos. Please like or follow us to stay up to date!
[Featured photo: Lauren Bell at Snip Its]
West Seattle Art Walk 