More than 100 artists participate each year in Seattle’s Artists of Color Expo & Symposium (ACES), which brings exhibitions, artist talks, live art-making, and workshops under one roof. Visitors can learn a technique from an artist or hear how a childhood memory became the starting point for a piece. This year’s event takes place October 9-11 at Washington 1000 in downtown Seattle.

Produced by Shunpike, the BIPOC-led expo and symposium launched in 2017 and draws artists of color from across Washington. The Seattle nonprofit, which marks its 25th anniversary this year, helps artists with the business side of their work, including fundraising and administrative support. “From its beginnings, ACES has been developed in collaboration with community organizations and cultural arts partners, whose involvement has helped shape the event and its programming,” Shunpike executive director Line Sandsmark says. Organizers initially planned to hold ACES every other year, depending on funding. Eight years of support from the National Endowment for the Arts, along with state and local funding and other sources, allowed Shunpike to make it an annual event, Sandsmark says. “Even though we no longer receive national funding, we continue to prioritize this wonderful gathering of talent and resources with support from the creative sector here in Washington,” she says.

This year’s keynote speaker is Seattle artist Damon Brown, also known as Creative Lou. Brown’s early interest in art grew out of comic books and illustration, eventually expanding into painting, printmaking, murals, and public art. His work draws on culture, community, and personal experience, with projects including collaborations with the Seattle Seahawks and Starbucks. On Saturday, he’ll speak about art, healing, and the ways creativity can help people navigate change and connect with others.

Seattle artist Damon Brown, also known as Creative Lou, delivers this year’s ACES keynote.

Courtesy of Damon Brown

In Saturday evening’s “An Ongoing Dialogue,” Kelly Haejung Paik will discuss the influence of Korean cultural forms, including the moon jar and textiles such as bojagi. Shirsha Datta’s “From Tea Estates to The Artzoo” considers how childhood memories of Siliguri, India, inform an abstract art practice in Seattle. The Cypher unfolds in rounds devoted to different disciplines, with artists creating work live in response to a shared prompt. Friday’s 2D session features Shruti Ghatak, Perla Hernandez, and Sangmin Tang Lee. Saturday brings 3D work from Lily Gray, Maritza Leon, and Omnijoyous, followed by a literary round with Hexe Fey, Ning Wan, and Seattle Civic Poet Dujie Tahat.

Miki Hau’s Saturday workshop teaches participants to hand-sew a hebao, a traditional Chinese scented pouch, and personalize it with a scent or keepsake. On Sunday, Ai-Chun Huang leads “Embroidery Landscape,” combining recycled textiles with collage and simple sewing techniques. “Write to Heal,” a reflective journal-making workshop, follows that afternoon. Friday’s “100 Years of John Coltrane,” presented by Earshot Jazz, pairs a discussion of the musician’s legacy with a performance by JazzReach’s Metta Quintet. Scope Screenings will present short films over the weekend, and Milli Agency will host live podcast conversations with artists.

An attendee observes artwork at the 2025 ACES Gallery.

Photo courtesy of Shunpike

The exhibition brings together work by artists from across the region. Visitors can also browse The Market, where artists and makers will sell original art and handmade goods.

ACES takes place October 9-11 at Washington 1000. Admission is free, with a suggested $10 donation. Find hours and event information here.