Exclusive Artist Collection: Kyler Martz
Art has been a part of the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Seattle since the very beginning. 10 years ago, this shrine to the craft of coffee opened on Seattle’s bustling, vibrant Capitol Hill. The first of the now six Starbucks Reserve Roasteries around the world, it allowed everyone to experience the magic of coffee roasting for the first time. The Roastery is beautiful and glowing even from the outside, a 15,000 square-foot gem in a restored 1920’s historic building.
Once you step inside the large wooden double doors, you’ll notice something else, too. There is artistry on display everywhere. Original art, a decorative wood ceiling, terrazzo flooring, a woven balustrade with steam-bent wood and hand-sewn leather railing covers. And of course, extraordinary Reserve coffees.
As the Seattle Roastery marks its 10-year anniversary, art created by local artists through the Starbucks Art Program is a natural part of the party. And now, you can take some of that artistic celebration home with you. We’re proud to introduce a new collection from artist Kyler Martz, exclusively available at the Seattle Roastery in celebration of this milestone anniversary.
From Sea Creatures to Sirens
Kyler is an internationally known artist, muralist, sculptor, and tattooist based in the Pacific Northwest. With work across Seattle, and the world, his unique, whimsical take on the northwest, fantastical sea creatures and all things nautical is truly original. His colorful retro-style combines the historic with the organic – he’s inspired by a mix of children’s books, old logos and vintage graphics and tattoos. Naturally, you can expect to see everything from whales and sea creatures to mermaids (and one famous Siren), along with a good dose of port towns from long ago.
After moving to Seattle from Idaho, Kyler lived in one of Seattle’s working waterfront neighborhoods. He had always sketched and doodled, and even though he grew up far from the ocean, his notebooks were filled with nautical scenes and images. Now, surrounded by the very things he had dreamed of, he was inspired and jumped into his art. After he caught the eye of a well known Seattle restaurateur, things started taking off. Kyler was hired to paint a mural on the outside of an award-winning restaurant, and although he had never painted a mural before, Kyler jumped right in. That changed everything.
Since then, he has worked with some of Seattle’s largest companies, perhaps none more than Starbucks. The lobby of Starbucks headquarters in Seattle features his mural of Costa Rica’s Hacienda Alsacia, Starbucks first coffee farm. From maps of the places coffee grows around the world, to a coffee-themed guide to the constellations, to the Starbucks Siren, his work also appears in Starbucks stores across the world. And now you can also have his work in your own home.
Kyler Martz Collection
Starbucks Reserve commissioned Kyler to design this carefully-curated 10th anniversary offering. The collection features a commemorative poster, t-shirt, collectible patches, coffee mugs and tumblers, all created by Kyler in his signature timeless yet modern style. Highlighting the collection are a few extremely limited-quantity original pieces: one hand-painted La Marzocco espresso machine, and three coffee pot sculptures.
As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of our beloved Seattle Roastery, we couldn’t think of a better addition than Kyler’s fantastical art. It’s a perfect fit in our Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Seattle, and one that you can add to your own collection. The art and artists that come from our communities are as important and individual as the coffees we source, roast and serve. Each a celebration of the place they come from, to be enjoyed and interpreted by each of us individually.
Learn more about Kyler’s work at kylermartz.com
