Icons of Federal Way

Icons of Federal Way is a twelve panel mural series I created for Sound Transit and the City of Federal Way. I am from Tacoma, not Federal Way, so this project began as a learning process. I did my research and spent time talking with locals, business owners, and community members to build a picture of the city that felt authentic and layered. Instead of relying on a single motif I developed a dozen distinct panels so the work could reflect the many stories that shape this sister city.

Each panel is five feet tall and ten feet long which makes the entire installation a 120 foot stretch along 320th. The commission asked for work that represents the community while using geometric shapes, patterns, and bold color. I answered that brief with my signature style, Neon Impressionism, which blends painterly energy with graphic clarity so each icon reads from a distance and rewards close looking.

The series celebrates landmarks people know and love while also honoring local culture and achievement. The murals include Wild Waves, Pattison’s West Skating Rink, the Weyerhaeuser Building, Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, and the Pacific Bonsai Museum. They celebrate athletes and movers like Michael Dickerson and Apolo Ohno. They call out community anchors such as the Aquatic Center, 35th Avenue Skate Shop, the Korean community, and four Federal Way high schools. Each image is a piece of civic memory, chosen because it left an impression on residents and visitors alike.

Making this series was a collaboration. I worked with Federal Way residents and local businesses to shape the ideas and to make sure each panel felt rooted in place. I treated the project as a conversation, not a directive. That approach produced a mural series that is both celebratory and grounded, a public work meant to spark recognition and pride.

I also created a small run of merch to extend the work beyond the wall. The shirts read Icons of Federal Way and act as a wearable version of the collaboration between artist and city.