Jacob Lawrence Gallery

The Jacob Lawrence Gallery at the University of Washington, also known as The Jake, is named after Jacob Lawrence, one of the School of Art’s most renowned faculty members. Lawrence never shied away from difficult societal issues, and the gallery is the living legacy of his exemplary practice. As such, it is a platform for presenting a variety of artistic viewpoints. The logo suggests a unique perspective and point of view, while the black and white palette provides a neutral backdrop for the changing work within.

An entirely new, expanded gallery opened in spring 2023. The display walls that line the new space mean that many of the exterior windows are blocked. This offered an opportunity to incorporate graphics that wrap the exterior, increasing visibility of the gallery to the wider campus. Jacob Lawrence featured tools in various of his works and the school has in its collection an assortment of actual tools used by Lawrence. This led to the idea of featuring tools in the window graphics. The design features beautiful tools of Lawrence, combined with tools collected from the building’s workshops and classrooms. The artwork is baked into the glass itself, becoming a permanent part of the facade.