From commerce, to grandeur.
This project is about joy. It’s about peeling back the layers of commerce, literally the Banana Republic drop ceilings, to make a place of grandeur accessible to everyone, the moment they walk in. Standing under those soaring arches evokes the feeling of the old world’s great public spaces. Seattle deserves that kind of magic.
This isn’t just a restoration. It’s a reclamation of a space for public wonder.
Why beauty matters.
At the Conru Art Foundation we operate on a simple belief: beauty is essential. It’s not a luxury, it’s a fundamental need that connects us to each other and to something larger than ourselves. In a world that can feel divided, spaces dedicated to awe and inspiration are more important than ever.
Our work is about creating these spaces. Art shouldn’t be intimidating. It should be an invitation to feel.
The ceiling as a canvas.
My philosophy here is simple: if we make the ceiling the most beautiful it can be, wonderful things will naturally happen below. We’re treating this dome as a canvas for a new kind of masterpiece.
This space inspires a question: what happens when you bring today’s most talented classical artists into a historic canvas? Through our Seattle Art Prize program, eight of the world’s most promising young, classically skilled artists will work together for a year. Their mission is to create masterworks on canvas that explore the enduring human themes of Beauty, Truth, and Love. As they create, we’ll also be planning the building’s reimagining, allowing their contemporary vision to inform how we breathe new life and new stories into these old walls.
An ecosystem of beauty.
The Coliseum is part of a larger ecosystem of beauty we’re building. At the ArtLove Salon we’ve created an intimate space with contemporary art that has human warmth: think of it as Seattle’s living room, a place for conversation and connection. The Salon is free and open to the public, hosting everything from artist talks to live music performances. We provide our space at no cost for non-profit galas and community events, and we take zero commission from our artists.
The Coliseum would be its grand theater: a space for awe and shared spectacle, guided by that same welcoming spirit. One is for the quiet moment, the other for the collective gasp. Both are about making art a joyful and essential part of everyday life, accessible to all.
A builder’s philanthropy.
As a builder, I see philanthropy as a practical act: using resources to create tangible public good. This comes from a philosophy we call “Enough”: the belief that personal wealth is essentially held in public trust.
This project is a way to reinvest that trust back into the community. It’s an open invitation for others who’ve been fortunate, especially in the tech world, to join in creating shared spaces that enrich us all.
What this could become.
What will this space become? That’s a conversation I want to have with Seattle. The possibilities are thrilling:
- A stunning concert and performance hall where music becomes theater
- A dining experience under cathedral ceilings
- An immersive art space: a getaway from the everyday world
- A civic room for lectures, weddings, and once-in-a-lifetime gatherings
I’ll be sharing more as this unfolds. Thanks to the City of Seattle and everyone who believes in bringing beauty back to our public spaces, it’s a pleasure to serve this community we all love. Follow along at @artlovesalon or me directly on X at @andrewconru.
Andrew Conru