Come See The New Public Art in Edmonds

By Whitney Popa

As the state’s first Certified Creative District (no big deal), it’s fair to say that Edmonds takes art seriously. And as anyone who loves Edmonds—even from afar—might add, it could be argued that Edmonds is an artful masterpiece in its own right: the seascape background, extremely good-looking dogs, and dedication to creation (through food, drinks, performances, experiences, festivals, and more) set the city apart. But, it wouldn’t be smart to rest on laurels, so Edmonds keeps adding art to our public spaces—sculptures, murals, and installations never fail to keep each visit interesting. 

Three major pieces arrived in the last year or so, and all of them are within steps of each other near the waterfront. Keep scrolling to learn about each one. This is your guide to seeing them all in one afternoon.

“Gateway Canopy” at Anway Park

Start at Anway Park, right by the ferry holding lanes. You can't miss “Gateway Canopy,” installed in March. It’s a 14-foot-tall sculpture inspired by a tree canopy that rises over a circular seating area. California artist Sean Orlando designed it, and the piece does double duty: dynamic shade by day, illuminated beacon by night.

The installation marks the western entrance to Washington State's first Creative District. It's also a functional gathering space where you can sit, rest, and watch ferry traffic roll by. The project came together through an ArtsWA Creative District Capital Grant and matching funds from Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation, with site prep funded by the City's Municipal Arts Public Art Acquisition Fund—a veritable trifecta of art support organizations!

The selection process was thorough: 21 artists applied (it’s hard to find locals who can create sculptures at this scale, in case you were wondering why the artist isn’t from Washington), three finalists presented concepts at a public meeting, and the Edmonds City Council approved Orlando's final design in December 2024. Installation wrapped last month.

Stuck in the ferry line? Walk over and check it out. The circular seating area is perfect for a quick break before boarding.

“Drift” at The Reef Apartments

From “Gateway Canopy,” walk past the Edmonds Waterfront Center to 250 Beach Place. There, muralist Will Schlough transformed the south wall of the Reef Apartments into “Drift,” a surrealist landscape where a Pacific sea nettle jellyfish rises from the depths, its oral arms morphing into clouds against an Olympic Peninsula sunset. It is truly breathtaking. 

The mural captures a magical intersection of land, sea, and sky that defines life on Puget Sound. Building owners Jay and Tiffany Bennett commissioned the piece through Mural Project Edmonds (MPE), a committee of Art Walk Edmonds, after learning they needed to replace a deteriorating wall.

"We've always loved the murals around Edmonds," Jay Bennett told My Edmonds News. "Rather than leave a blank wall, we wanted to contribute something that reflects the unique beauty of this place—both above and below the waterline."

Tiffany, an avid jellyfish admirer, requested that the design incorporate these otherworldly creatures. Schlough studied the Pacific sea nettle and had a breakthrough: "I realized the jellyfish's oral arms looked just like clouds. That 'aha' moment shaped the entire mural—merging ocean life with the sky in a way that felt both surreal and natural."

The mural shifts depending on where you view it. You can see it from the beach, the fishing pier, and passing trains, but the best details reveal themselves up close in the adjacent parking lot.

MPE Chair Mark VonGunten emphasized the organization's commitment to fresh perspectives: "Will's imaginative-realistic technique, combined with elements of magical realism, was something new for Edmonds. Our goal is to keep pushing boundaries and keep the city's public art both high-quality and fresh."

Funding for murals like “Drift” comes primarily from Art Walk Edmonds' Summer Wine Walks, held twice each year, plus individual donations, grants, and business sponsorships. Drift was installed in June 2025.

“Memories” at Edmonds Waterfront Center

Double back to the east entrance of the Edmonds Waterfront Center at 200 Railroad Avenue once you’re done admiring “Drift.” There, you'll find “Memories”—a whale's tail carved from a 3,000-pound block of granite by artist Ken Barnes.

Barnes created the piece in honor of his late wife, Adele, who loved strolling cobbled beaches and watching for whales. "After my wife passed, I found myself needing to make something," Barnes shared with Art Walk Edmonds. "Knowing this sculpture now lives by a waterfront like the ones she loved feels incredibly meaningful to me."

He accompanied the sculpture with a haiku:

Breaching the surfaceFrom the depths of my lifetimeThen slipping away

The placement came together when Art Walk Edmonds Board Member Lynn Hanson connected with Julaine Fleetwood and Waterfront Center CEO Daniel Johnson while searching for a home for the piece. They immediately saw the perfect spot near the building's east-facing doors.

"While the sculpture is technically on loan," Hanson said, "we're hoping it will grace the entrance of the Waterfront Center for many years to come."

The sculpture was unveiled February 19, 2026. Cake was had!

A Few Bonus Stops

The Edmonds Waterfront Center has rotating exhibits you should check out while refueling on coffee and gelato at CommonGrounds. Currently on display: Artists of ArtWorks in Edmonds' Spring into Summer Show, featuring award-winning artists working in oil, acrylic, pastel, printmaking, gouache, and watercolor. The show runs through June 30th during business hours.

A few block walk will put you at Cascadia Art Museum, where three exhibitions are currently running:

Eternal Forms: The Sculpture of Everett DuPen (March 20–September 13, 2026) explores the life and work of master sculptor Everett DuPen (1912-2005), whose career spanned nearly eight decades. His public works include the DuPen Fountain at Seattle Center and the fountain at the Joel Pritchard Building in Olympia.

R. Bruce Inverarity: Northwest Modernist (March 18–June 7, 2026) presents the first solo exhibition of early Seattle modernist R. Bruce Inverarity (1909-1999), who studied at Cornish, befriended Emily Carr, and led one of the most successful WPA programs in the country at the Spokane Art Center.

Influences: Japanese Prints and Northwest Art (March 18–June 7, 2026) explores connections between Japanese printmaking and early twentieth-century Northwest art in painting, photography, and printmaking.

Keep Your Eyes Peeled on The Drive

If you're driving along Highway 99, look up. The City of Edmonds Arts Commission installed permanent cut metal banners on 14 red overhead light poles on the east side of Highway 99 in the Edmonds International District. Five Puget Sound artists designed the banners, which were installed summer 2025 as part of the city's ongoing Highway 99 revitalization project.

Come Back for More!

New art pops up constantly in Edmonds—sculptures outside galleries, rotating pieces inside coffee shops, murals on new walls. Art Walk Edmonds is already working on upcoming projects, including a utility box wrap near Highway 99 and a floral-themed mural in partnership with Edmonds in Bloom.

The walking tour we've outlined here takes maybe an hour if you're moving fast, longer if you're savoring it. Either way, you'll leave with proof that Edmonds takes its Creative District designation seriously.

Tag us @exploreedmondswa when you spot new art around town. We're always ready to celebrate art with you!