The Definition of Art Chantry: Seattle’s Visual Voice

In the 1980s and 1990s, as Seattle emerged from economic decline and industrial change, a vibrant underground arts scene began to take shape in garages, clubs, theaters, and repurposed commercial spaces across the city. Largely overlooked by mainstream media, local musicians, performers, and artists relied on posters to share information about cultural events and build community. Produced with a do-it-yourself spirit, these hand-crafted designs became a defining feature of Seattle’s evolving identity.

This exhibition explores the work of Art Chantry, the graphic designer whose distinctive visual language helped shape the look of Seattle’s music, theater, and political culture. Drawing on collage, clip art, letterpress, Xerox techniques, and an eclectic mix of typography and imagery, Chantry transformed everyday posters into powerful expressions of place and creativity. Featuring works created for bands, venues, theaters, and cultural organizations, the exhibition reveals how Chantry’s designs captured—and helped define—the spirit of a city on the rise.