Heart of the House
1 Hotel Seattle | Seattle, WA
project overview
As part of the opening of 1 Hotel Seattle, I was commissioned to create the hotel’s Heart of the House, a dedicated space designed for hotel staff to gather, connect, and recharge. Working within a brand-new hotel during its construction, I served as the Resident Artist, living and working on site throughout the mural installation. The project extended beyond a single artwork. I created a large-scale mural spanning four walls, developed a collaborative team installation that brought the hotel staff into the artwork, and created custom signage throughout the property.
My role
As the Resident Artist, I worked directly within the hotel’s construction process, translating the brand’s connection to nature, community, and conscious design into a series of physical experiences throughout the property.
My role included concept development, mural design and execution, collaborative art facilitation, environmental graphics, and custom signage, allowing the artwork to become an integrated part of the hotel rather than a standalone installation.
My process
Developed a four-wall mural installation specifically for the Heart of the House, creating a cohesive visual experience across the space rather than treating each wall as an individual artwork.
Worked as a Resident Artist throughout the hotel’s construction, coordinating my painting process within an active buildout and becoming part of the opening team.
Designed and facilitated a collaborative team tree, inviting every hotel staff member to contribute a small wooden plank to the trunk and branches. The installation became a physical representation of the people who make up the 1 Hotel Seattle community.
Created custom signage and environmental graphics throughout the property, including signage for the lobby, events, restaurant, café, and other guest-facing spaces.
Ensured the visual language remained cohesive across the mural, collaborative installation, and signage while maintaining the natural, elevated aesthetic of the 1 Hotel brand.
Result
The completed Heart of the House became more than a staff room. It became a visual representation of the community behind the hotel, combining large-scale artwork with a participatory installation created by the people who would ultimately call the space their own.
The project also expanded my role from muralist to embedded creative partner, contributing artwork, environmental graphics, and collaborative experiences throughout the hotel’s opening. From the four-wall mural to the team tree and custom signage, the work helped establish a cohesive visual identity for 1 Hotel Seattle from the ground up.