CURRENT EXHIBIT • NORTHWEST GALLERY
COM-MUNE U-NI-TY
Art provided by artist Rodney H. King
About the Exhibit + Artist’s Statements
“COM-MUNE U-NI-TY is a celebration of Black Culture. It showcases our heroes in entertainment, music and sports as well as the community we have grown to love in the Central District. If you want to experience feelings of pride and nostalgia, come see it today!”
-Rodney H. King
About Rodney H. King
Rodney H. King is a self-taught visual artist whose work centers Black culture, lived experience, and the environments that have shaped him. Raised in Seattle’s Central District and Federal Way, King draws deeply from the rhythm and spirit of the Pacific Northwest, translating memory, emotion, and identity into bold acrylic compositions.
Influenced by basketball, hip hop, jazz, and city life, King’s paintings explore his full view of the Black experience - joy, competition, love, ambition, and resilience. His work is both personal and expressive, often reflecting his mood and energy at the moment of creation. A U.S. Marine and current postal manager in Tacoma, King approaches art as both a creative outlet and a form of meditation, using painting to focus, decompress, and channel positivity.
Rooted in culture, community, and self-belief, King’s work celebrates where he comes from while pushing forward with purpose, passion, and pride.
About The Exhibit
COM-MUNE U-NI-TY is a tribute to Black culture and the people who shape it. The exhibit honors heroes across music, entertainment, and sports, while paying homage to the Central District community - who continue to inspire us today. It’s an invitation to reconnect with shared memories, pride, and a deep sense of belonging - an experience rooted in both celebration and nostalgia.
“My work is rooted in cultural memory, legacy, and affirmation. I create images that celebrate the richness and excellence of Black life, drawing inspiration from hip hop, jazz, basketball, literature, and pivotal moments in history. Each piece begins with an emotional connection to the subject and is shaped through careful attention to era, posture, symbolism, and energy.
Color is central to my practice. Bold, saturated palettes function as a language of emotion, elevating my subjects and reinforcing themes of resilience, rhythm, pride, and royalty. Through layered compositions that incorporate historical references and visual cues, my work invites deeper reflection and dialogue.
At its core, my art is about restoration, preserving cultural memory, affirming identity, and honoring moments that define who we are, while inspiring future generations.”
-I am Kingspen