Kristen Ramirez was a vibrant part of our community and deeply embedded in the world of public art as both an artist and administrator. Never short on creativity or innovation, she changed the things she touched for the better.

She exhibited her studio work at Gallery 4Culture in 2006 and 2018, serving as a selection panelist in-between. An original drawing from 2021 will be included in the program’s forthcoming publication, Remark, which is being dedicated in her honor. A number of Kristen’s paintings are also held in the King County Public Art Collection and will continue to be displayed in perpetuity.

Through her first 4Culture commission, she engaged volunteers to create the beloved mural, Ebb & Flow, an immersive experience of color and light in the Burke-Gilman Trail’s bustling Wayne Tunnel. The project was honored with an Americans for the Arts Year in Review Award as one of the top public artworks in the country.

More recently, Kristen and Elisheba Johnson developed the guiding vision for art integration for King County Metro’s RapidRide Expansion as well as a trio of mirrored sculptures for the Burien Transit Center that will be fabricated and installed in 2023.

Kristen was a longtime friend to many of us at 4Culture. We are heartbroken and miss her tremendously.