Willis Street Greenway Sculpture Exhibition

The City of Kent's Sculpture Gallery is a juried, two-year-long exhibition located in the newly renovated greenways along the north and south sides of Willis Street near the 4th Avenue roundabout. Two sculptures will be showcased along pedestrian pathways at this busy intersection that serves as a gateway to downtown Kent.

Selected artists will receive a $3,000 loan contract. The artist is responsible for transportation and installation of the artwork, with some installation assistance provided by the city. The city will insure the artwork during display (but not during installation or deinstallation), provide signage identifying the artwork and artist, and promote the exhibit on the City of Kent's website, via social media, and in printed materials. At the conclusion of the exhibition, the selection committee and Arts Commission may select a sculpture or sculptures to be purchased for inclusion in the City of Kent's permanent collection, with a maximum purchase budget of $10,000. A "People's Choice" vote will be held online throughout the exhibition, with the winning sculptor receiving a $1,000 prize.

Artwork must be durable and suitable for outdoor locations, able to withstand the elements and pedestrian interaction. Sculptures can be welded or bolted onto a steel plate attached to a concrete pedestal. Design parameters: artwork must not weigh more than 5,000 pounds; from base to 7' in height, artwork must be no wider than 3'8"; from 7' to 12' in height, sculpture can be a maximum of 5' wide. Artists must provide their own steel plate and neoprene pad. Applicants must be professional artists or artist teams over 18 residing in the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana). Each artist may submit up to five sculptures. Application materials include artist statement, resume/CV, 1-3 digital images per sculpture (.jpg format), and artwork details. Deadline: June 30, 2023, 10:59 p.m. PDT.