Mary’s Place, Mercy Housing Northwest and Urban ArtWorks are seeking Puget Sound artists for a public art project tied to the redevelopment of Mary’s Place’s family shelter site in Burien and a new affordable housing community.
The project, planned to open in spring 2027, will redevelop Mary’s Place’s existing shelter site in a former hospital building nearly 70 years old. Up to 16 locations across the campus are planned for artwork, including murals, mounted panels and site-specific installations, according to the organizations.
The art will be shaped by input from families, residents and staff who will live and work on the campus. Residents said they want art that feels vibrant, welcoming and rooted in place, bringing steadiness, joy and connection into daily life.
“This building has a history in Burien, and the families who will call it home come from so many different backgrounds and cultures,” said Dominique Alex, CEO of Mary’s Place. “We want the art throughout this campus to reflect that, to feel like it belongs to the people who live there and the community around them, so families see their own stories and voices reflected the moment they walk in.”
Urban ArtWorks is coordinating the artist selection process for the project. Applications are due before July 27, 2026, according to the announcement.
“Public art works best when it comes from the community it serves, not the other way around,” said Alex Nason, project director at Urban ArtWorks. “For this project, that means centering the voices of the families who will live here and the people of Burien and building a pool of artists whose work reflects the range of cultures, histories, and lived experiences this campus represents.”
Details on the opportunity, timeline and application process are available through the project’s qualifications form here.
Questions may be directed to Alex Nason at Urban ArtWorks at alex@urbanartworks.org or Linda Mitchell at Mary’s Place at linda@marysplaceseattle.org.
