Exclusive Artist Collection: Dana Tanamachi
“It is significant when someone can walk into their local Starbucks and see a custom piece of art that represents them and their community—it’s important for people to feel seen.”
—Dana Tanamachi, artist
Pass through the doors of any Starbucks Reserve store, and you’re sure to be stunned. Suddenly you’re surrounded by beautiful things. The coffee itself, the space, and always, the original art on the walls — created by local artists.
These creators and their work connect us, from our partners (employees) to our customers to the larger community. Our belief and commitment to collaborating with these talented artists through the Starbucks Art Program brings the culture and feel of the community to our stores for all to experience. Each brings their own unique perspective, color, style and story to their craft.
Now, you can take some of that art home with you. We’re proud to introduce a new collection of exclusive merchandise from Starbucks artist Dana Tanamachi. With a style that is a lively celebration of cultural crafts and her Japanese-American heritage, her work can be seen around the world, and within the walls of the Starbucks Reserve Empire State Building store in New York.
DANA TANAMACHI COLLECTION
A New York-based artist, Dana Tanamachi was a perfect fit to work with Starbucks Reserve at the Empire State Building. Falling in love with typography and lettering in school, her first job was designing Broadway show posters in New York City, then working for design legend Louise Fili. She struck out on her own after a few chalk-lettered murals went viral, and were seen on the covers of magazines like TIME, and O, The Oprah Magazine. Today, inspired by the Art Nouveau and Arts & Crafts movements of the past, she’s known for her community-centric art, celebrating cultural crafts and influences from her ancestors.
“I like to weave a bit of my Japanese and Mexican heritage into my work wherever I can—from the way I draw trees, clouds, or certain flowers. My Japanese-American Grandmother, Mitzi, was and is a huge inspiration to me.”
–Dana Tanamachi
FROM CROP TO CUP, AN ART DECO CELEBRATION
Inside the Starbucks Reserve Empire State Building store in New York City, Tanamachi’s stunning three-story hand-painted mural soars through the space, setting the tone for everyone who visits. Her bold, colorful, bejeweled take captures the essence of Starbucks Reserve and the Empire State Building’s timeless aesthetic.
The mural is painted in the Art Deco style—a nod to the architecture and decorative style of the Empire State Building.
–Dana Tanamachi
Rising up the main stairway over three levels, her art brings to life the human connections that help craft our coffee. “The 3-story mural was inspired by the coffee journey from crop to cup, culminating in the magical point of connection between the barista and customer,” said Tanamachi. “It was also an opportunity to showcase the contributions of women in coffee.“ A vibrant ode to the growing, harvesting, roasting and brewing of these precious beans from around the world for all to enjoy, it appears on the grandest scale — in a store and building to match.
Tanamachi brings elements or vignettes from the mural’s stories to this carefully curated collection for Starbucks Reserve — letting you take home a piece of her art to remember your visit. Exclusively available at the Starbucks Reserve Empire State Building store, this unique collection features a t-shirt, fan, tote, drinkware, and a one-of-a-kind, locally produced puzzle from New York’s Par Puzzle.
We believe that the art and artists in our stores connect each of us to the humanity all around us. That we each experience it, enjoy it and interpret as individuals. And that every community, artist, and creation is as individually exquisite and beautiful as our coffees.
