FACES | W Seattle
the HARPER room
Meet HARPER
Born and raised in Seattle, Harper has always had a fascination with planes. Growing up, she would spend hours watching aircraft take off and land at Boeing Field, dreaming of one day working at the Museum of Flight. That passion led her to Georgetown, a neighborhood deeply rooted in aviation history and industrial charm.
About
GEORGETOWN
Georgetown is Seattle’s oldest neighborhood, known for its industrial roots, artistic spirit, and love of all things vintage. Once a bustling brewery district, it now boasts a thriving community of artists, musicians, and makers who bring a bold and creative energy to the area.
The neighborhood’s historic brick buildings house quirky shops, art galleries, and some of Seattle’s best dive bars and breweries. Aviation lovers can catch a glimpse of planes at Boeing Field, while locals gather at the Georgetown Trailer Park Mall for one-of-a-kind finds and food truck bites.
With its mix of grit and charm, Georgetown is a haven for those who appreciate history, creativity, and a little bit of rebellion. Just a short drive from downtown, this neighborhood offers a vibe unlike any other in Seattle.
HARPER’s List
Immerse yourself in Harper’s world. Take a day trip or afternoon to explore their favorite dining experiences, shopping, and activities in Georgetown.
Share Your Experience on Social
Tag @wseattle @morganzion_
Use the hashtags #faceswseattle #harperslistseattle
COFFEE | Brother Joe
BRUNCH | Hangar cafe
HAPPY HOUR | ciudad
DINNER | kuma kitchen and bar
DRINKS | House of Smith wines
SHOP | the barn owl vintage goods
LIVE MUSIC | Jules Maes Saloon
WALK | georgetown garden walk
ACTIVITIES | museum of flight
SCENERY | oxbow park
harper’s Seattle Playlist
Born and raised in Seattle, Harper grew up on the raw, unfiltered sounds of grunge. With Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains as the soundtrack of her childhood, she’s always been drawn to the gritty, rebellious energy that defines the genre. The heavy guitar riffs and moody lyrics resonate with her love for Georgetown’s industrial charm. Lately, she’s been diving into underground and modern grunge-inspired bands, keeping the spirit of Seattle’s music scene alive. Whether she’s hanging out at a local dive bar or watching planes fly overhead at Boeing Field, there’s always a grunge anthem playing in the background.
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As the third best city in the U.S. for music fans, the city on everyone’s list for the best live music, and the place credited with the creation of its own music genre, Seattle is a music lover’s haven. W Seattle is one of many music destinations in the city, being the first hotel in North America with a W Sound Suite, a fully equipped private recording studio and creative space for artists. W Seattle also works with local artists to host weekly DJ performances and a monthly music series, W Seattle Presents First Fridays. In partnership with KEXP, First Fridays serves as an incubator for music acts on the cusp of bursting out of the Seattle scene. The first Friday of each month, First Fridays will showcase two live bands on the W Stage in the W Seattle Living Room. To book the Sound Suite, dial (206) 264-6125.
Creating harper
Words from the artist
“I started creating Skylar on an early Monday morning in the summer watching the sunrise from the 14th floor of W Seattle. I began my morning as I usually do with 15 minutes of meditation, followed by getting my coffee from Trace Market (black with a splash of almond milk). Once settled, I began to sketch and watched the Faces come to life.”
My creative process
“As I sketch, I think about each character's story, their life, personality, interests, friends and what they would tell a visitor about why they love their city. After I have finished the sketch and story, I begin the mural process. I usually paint at night as it is my least busy time of day.
I like to snack while I paint on nuts, hummus and veggies and sometimes a cheeky glass of wine to fuel my chill, creative vibes. Each painting is stylistically meant to look like a large crosshatch sketch, giving each a gritty and unique personality. My intent is to draw guests in through the character’s eyes. The gaze invites the viewer to feel the personality, comfort and depth of each face.”
“Skylar was my first non-binary character. I had to paint over SKylar and start over, which was super tough.
I was really struggling to get Their expression right. It was a struggle, but worth it in the end! I love Skylar so much!”
— Morgan zion
SHARE YOUR PHOTOS FROM THE harper ROOM
Share your experience in The Harper Room! Tag @wseattle @morganzion_ and use the hashtags #faceswseattle #slistseattle to be featured.
Faces Artwork
Shop original prints and hand-drawn artworks, including maps, coloring books, Faces prints, and original drawings from Faces at W Seattle.
Experience Seattle like a local
Discover the Emerald City like a Seattleite. Experience each Face’s favorite hidden gems.
*Please note that each face is an artistic creation of Morgan Zion. They are not based on real people.