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Seattle, Washington / Public art

Black Lives Matter street mural (Capitol Hill)

A powerful 250-foot colorful street mural on Pine Street, created during the 2020 protests to symbolize justice and equality in the heart of Capitol Hill.

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Black Lives Matter street mural (Capitol Hill)
vividmattercollective.wordpress.com, og_image_vividmattercollective.wordpress.com

Where is the Black Lives Matter street mural located in Capitol Hill?

The mural is located on Pine Street between 10th Avenue and 11th Avenue in Seattle.

What is the history of the mural?

The mural was first painted in June 2020 during the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP). It was created by Vivid Matter Collective, a group of 16 BIPOC artists, and was later recreated and preserved by the City of Seattle in September 2020.

What does the mural look like?

The mural measures approximately 250 feet long and 20 feet tall. It features large white block letters that were filled in with different colorful murals.

How has the city preserved the mural?

The City preserved the mural by reconfiguring the street to limit vehicle access, installing protective posts to prevent cars from driving over the art, and adding a new four-way stop sign at 10th Ave E and E Pine St to slow traffic.

What should I check before going?

Use Gyde for context, then check official sources for current hours, tickets, construction, and closures.

What to know

The Black Lives Matter street mural is a massive public art installation located on Pine Street between 10th Avenue and 11th Avenue in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. The artwork was originally painted in June 2020 during the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP), serving as a central gathering place for activists and community members. It was created by the Vivid Matter Collective, a group of 16 BIPOC artists who collaborated to bring the vision to life. Measuring approximately 250 feet long and 20 feet tall, the mural features large white block letters that were first blocked out by artists before being filled with various colorful murals. Because the original paint was applied to an unscored surface covered in slippery aggregate, the artwork deteriorated rapidly. This led the City of Seattle to collaborate with the original artists in September 2020 to recreate and properly preserve the piece. To ensure the mural's longevity and protect it from vehicle traffic, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) implemented a street reconfiguration. This included the installation of protective posts to prevent cars from driving over the art and the addition of a new four-way stop sign at the intersection of 10th Avenue East and East Pine Street to slow down traffic. In June 2021, city crews performed additional cleaning of the mural as part of Pride-related maintenance work. The site remains a significant landmark of the 2020 summer protests, representing a period of intense social activism and the transformation of a city street into a space for public expression.

Visitor tips

  • Look for the protective posts installed by the city to see how the area has been reconfigured to protect the art.
  • Visit during the day for the best lighting to capture the colorful murals within the letters.
  • Be mindful of traffic at the 10th Ave E and E Pine St intersection while photographing the mural.

Nearby context

Located in the vibrant Capitol Hill neighborhood, this mural is situated on Pine Street, serving as a permanent reminder of the events that occurred during the summer of 2020 in the area.

Sources

Evidence and links