Every year, thousands of people wander Phinney and Greenwood to explore the work of dozens of artists; painters, illustrators, sculptors, photographers, ceramicists, jewelers, printmakers, and more. But there’s another artistic tradition woven deeply through the event’s history: For 30 years, local designer and artist Robynne Raye has created every single Art Walk poster.
From bold geometric graphics to playful characters to atmospheric, mood-rich compositions, Robynne’s work has shaped the visual identity of the PhinneyWood Art Walk more than any other element. And she has done it all as a donation to the community.
One poster has captivated the community more than any other: the mid-pandemic “Dog and Cat” poster from 2021. Sought after by local collectors and art fans alike, the images were based on Robynne’s own pets at the time – who had a very close relationship in real life as depicted on the poster. To celebrate 30 years of Art Walk posters, Robynne released 100 signed, limited-edition reprints of this iconic image
They’ve been flying out the door, so if you want to pick one up, support the Art Walk, and own a piece of this 30-year story, grab one today!
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This year, as we celebrate three decades of the Art Walk, we’re sharing a few favorite fun facts from the poster archives; including one piece many people have never seen.
There’s a “Lost 2020 Poster” That Was Never Printed
2020 was meant to be the Art Walk’s 27th year — and, like everything else, it was completely disrupted by COVID-19. But Robynne still created a poster. A brilliant one. It was never printed or displayed publicly, because the Art Walk was cancelled shortly after the design was completed. But the artwork itself tells a vivid story of that year.
It’s a snapshot of a neighborhood in limbo.
About the Artist: Who Is Robynne Raye?
Robynne is a Seattle-based designer and educator, the co-founder of Modern Dog Design Co., an internationally recognized design studio whose work has been included in:
- The Smithsonian Cooper Hewitt Design Museum
- The Library of Congress
- The Louvre’s poster collection (Paris)
- The Denver Art Museum
- The Seattle Art Museum
- International poster biennales around the world
Her work is bold, humorous, subversive, beautifully structured — and always unmistakably hers.
And yes, you read that right: the 2005 Art Walk poster pictured here actually made its way into an exhibition at the Louvre. No big deal… it just lives in their archives now.
