Artist: Morgan Zion (website, Instagram)
Location: Alley at Cedar & Denny
Mural Description
Painted during the Belltown Mural Festival 2026.
Morgan says her initial plan to use spray paint on this project was slightly derailed once realizing this location happened to create a perfect wind tunnel. She opted to switch to a roller-first execution with a similar color palette.
This mural behind Zeke’s Pizza was inspired by playful images that are references to aspects of the history of Belltown and the site itself.
The girl is a contemporary figure, someone who might be traveling through the neighborhood, very urban in its aesthetic, while several other elements in here, sushi, pizza, sunshine, are all aspirational elements and/or aspects of the community.
The lava lamp behind the girl’s head is a direct reference to the Lava Lounge, an iconic venue in Belltown, and the color scheme is a complementary palette that is designed to work off of the existing building’s gray while adding color and interest to the alley when looking at it from 4th Avenue.
The girl’s blue hair and orange headphones are a complement to themselves and definitely speak to the subcultural aspect of the Belltown community and some of the qualities that make Seattle a very special cultural space.
Artist Statement
(from Instagram) Just finished up this giant cat mural in downtown Seattle and I am completely in love with how it turned out.
This took a day and a half of non-stop painting and texturing to bring to life. Honestly, I wish I had even more time because I would’ve kept adding details, but seeing it complete and taking over the space is the best feeling.
Public art completely changes the energy of a city block, and I’m so excited for Seattle to see this one.
Morgan Zion bio from Belltown Mural Festival:
Morgan Zion creates immersive public artworks that celebrate imagination, connection, and place. Drawing inspiration from nature, community, and storytelling, her murals invite viewers to pause and engage with their surroundings. Her work seeks to cultivate moments of wonder within the everyday landscape.
Map (see murals near me) / Belltown Murals general information