Jacob Lawrence Gallery

The Jacob Lawrence Gallery at the University of Washington, also known as The Jake, is named after one of the School of Art’s most renowned faculty members, Jacob Lawrence. As an artist and professor, Lawrence never shied away from difficult societal issues, and the gallery is the living legacy of his exemplary practice. As such, it is a community cultural laboratory and a platform for presenting a variety of artistic viewpoints.

When the space was given a major physical overhaul, the School of Art + Art History + Design realized that it was also long overdue for a rebrand. Kristine Matthews, who is Chair of the school’s Visual Communication Design program, stepped in to develop a new logo: a “J” that suggests a unique perspective and point of view. A black and white palette provides a neutral backdrop for the changing work within the gallery. Poster designs advertised the first thematic exhibitions to launch the refreshed gallery: first Industry, then Idleness.