NORTHWEST
Cascadia Art Museum
EDMONDS, WASHINGTON
One of the newest museums in the country, the Cascadia Art Museum celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2025. Located just a few steps away from Puget Sound in Edmonds, Washington, Cascadia was founded to provide a platform for artists who lived and worked in the region from 1870-1970. This hyper-local focus presents a unique set of challenges along with opportunities to fill a gap in the art history of the nation.
Executive Director Sally Ralston has lived in Edmonds for 34 years and is deeply engaged with the cultural life of the area. She sees education as an important component of Cascadia’s programming. “Schools are cutting art programs, and we are filling that gap.” She also emphasized Cascadia’s unique focus. “We are the only museum in the country dedicated to Northwest artists. We’re advancing the work of women, minorities, and other artists who historically made substantial contributions to the region’s cultural identity. Cascadia believes that recognizing these hitherto neglected artists gives us a fuller understanding of Northwest art history.” Ralston describes Cascadia visitors as “art discoverers.” She is planning a major retrospective of the history of art in Washington. It will open in January 2027 and will be accompanied by a two-volume set of books, an invaluable addition to understanding the scope and diversity of American art.