Burien artist Cable Griffith creates eerie, video game-influenced paintings of Pacific Northwest forests, featuring unsettlingly bright landscapes, giants, and UFOs. His work has earned commissions and exhibitions across Washington, including a glass tile mosaic at the Redmond Downtown light rail station and shows at the Tacoma Art Museum and the Museum of Northwest Art. Griffith also serves as department chair and associate professor at Seattle University’s Cornish College of Arts. In a Q&A, he discusses his move to Washington, the influence of video games like 'The Legend of Zelda,' and the challenges of creating public art.
This article matters because it highlights how a regional artist blends personal experience, video game aesthetics, and public art to engage diverse audiences. Griffith’s success in securing both gallery exhibitions and public commissions demonstrates the growing intersection of digital culture and traditional painting, as well as the importance of local artists in shaping community spaces. His reflections on public art funding and audience engagement also offer insight into the practical realities of working as an artist today.