Amazon HQ2’s art collection includes 47 artworks by 13 ArtLifting artists, driving significant impacts for artists with disabilities.

Partnering with ArtLifting, Amazon sought to celebrate the history and resilience of the Arlington community, particularly honoring Queen City, a historic Black neighborhood founded by formerly enslaved people during the Civil War. The workplace design strategy focused on providing team members with hospitality and comfort.

To accomplish these goals, ArtLifting curated an expansive collection of original artwork and reproductions by disabled artists of color to activate key areas where Amazon team members work and connect. The final artwork was curated into stunning gallery walls, uniting the vision for hospitality, impact, and diverse representation. By creatively weaving a powerful legacy into HQ2’s visual landscape, Amazon designed a workplace that reflects both its commitment to inclusion and its respect for local history.

“ArtLifting lifts people up. Our employees appreciate this representation of our values.”

- Patrick Miller, former Director of Facilities at Amazon

ArtLifting CEO and Co-founder Liz Powers (left) and ArtLifting artist Yvette (right) stand before a vibrant gallery wall at Amazon HQ2, showcasing a collection of bold, abstract paintings by BIPOC artists. Photography by Lani Nance at LNance Photography.

Realizing a vision of community and connection

Amazon has a reputation for integrating high-impact, thought-provoking art installations across their properties, using them to tell meaningful stories and create a sense of place. At HQ2, their vision was to create a headquarters that not only showcased innovative design but also celebrated the region’s heritage and reflected a deep commitment to inclusion and community.

To bring this vision to life, Amazon partnered with ArtLifting and Seneca Group, a real estate advisory firm. Together, they curated a collection of 47 artworks by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) contemporary artists, whom have lived experiences with disability. This collection serves as a powerful expression of Amazon’s dedication to fostering equity and amplifying diverse voices.

Amazon recognized the importance of connecting the artwork to Queen City’s heritage, paying tribute to a place that once stood proudly as a symbol of freedom and community. Through the selection of ArtLifting artists, Amazon honored Queen City’s legacy and reinforced a spirit of connection and resilience within their new campus.

The result is a series of striking, colorful abstract artworks displayed throughout the office. Highlights include a curated large-scale gallery wall in the café, featuring various BIPOC ArtLifting artists, and an installation of Erik Jensen’s original artwork Techcombs, made from hand-dyed keyboard keys along a main corridor.

Amber Burgess, Senior Real Estate and Facilities Manager at Amazon, points at one of the keys in Erik Jensen’s original artwork Techcombs. The nine by five feet piece is made out of thousands of upcycled computer keys. Photography by Lani Nance at LNance Photography. 

The impact of art and storytelling

By purchasing both original artworks and print reproductions with ArtLifting, Amazon generated the financial impact equivalent to over 80 months of rent for ArtLifting artists.* For the artists the project was financially impactful and deeply meaningful, providing a prestigious platform and a sense of validation for their work and stories.

The significant investment in contemporary artists with disabilities, diversifies Amazon's art collection, demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity. In displaying ArtLifting artists' work in public and high traffic areas, these values become embedded into the physical space and corporate culture. Additionally, by purchasing a collection of work Amazon is making significant investments in working artists while offering their teams an opportunity to connect deeply with the artists' work and stories.

For Quána Madison, an artist whose work now hangs at HQ2, Amazon’s support means much more than a sale. Quána, a breast cancer survivor with disabilities, shared that Amazon’s acquisition of her art has had a powerful financial and emotional impact on her life. She explained that Amazon’s services provide her with essential items more easily, which is especially valuable due to her lived experience with chronic illness. 

Similarly, Barbara Barnett, a U.S. Army veteran, shared how Amazon’s dedication to purchasing her art has provided vital support through both personal and financial hardships. The consistent commitment to an inclusive art strategy in Amazon workplaces builds economic security for working artists with disabilities.

“I’m so happy that Amazon acquired my art. I use their services regularly, which makes an incredible impact on my life as a person with disabilities. It allows me to access items and save energy when I’m too fatigued to drive.”

- Quána Madison, Artist

“Their consistent commitment to purchasing my art has continued to help me during challenging times, financially saving me from losing my home. Emotionally, as a veteran managing PTSD and MDD, buying my art always gives me hope to keep creating and claiming my own space in life.”

- Barbara Barnett, ArtLifting Artist

Amber Burgess (left), Liz Powers (center left), Yvette (center right), and an Amazon team member (right) pose in front of ArtLifting artwork showcased at Amazon HQ2. Photography by Lani Nance at LNance Photography.

Partnering for social impact at HQ2 and beyond

Amazon’s HQ2 project sets a standard for how corporate workplaces can incorporate art to honor heritage, support marginalized communities, and enrich the experience of everyone who enters the building. 

Amazon’s partnership with ArtLifting represents a significant investment in artists across the United States. The partnership underscores Amazon’s dedication to leveraging their workplaces to foster equity and honor community stories, creating an environment where art, history, and progress intersect. 

John Schoettler, VP of Real Estate & Facilities worked closely with the ArtLifting team to bring art to their Seattle offices. About the partnership John stated: “Amazonians in our Seattle office were extremely supportive of our initial work with ArtLifting. They connected with the artists and their personal stories immediately.”

“We are ready to take [our partnership with ArtLifting] to the next phase and help elevate the lives of many by including more art across our corporate offices and Tech Hubs in the United States.”

- John Schoetler, VP of Real Estate & Facilities at Amazon

Media

• Amazon News | 18 must-see art installations at Amazon’s second headquarters in Arlington, Virginia

Images

1. Banner: Vibrant ArtLifting artwork installed in a gallery wall style in the Amazon HQ2 café space.

2. Original artworks by Charles Blackwell, Mia Brown, and Yasmine Iskander are displayed gallery-style in a lounge at Amazon HQ2. 

3. Artist Yvette stands in front of six of her original artworks, including both traditional rectangular shapes and circular pieces.

4. A close-up view of Yvette’s six original artworks, prominently displayed in an Amazon HQ2 office space.

5. Justin Ellis’ original artwork Westworld is showcased in an office space at Amazon HQ2.

6. Five original pieces by Justin Ellis are displayed side by side in an office space at Amazon HQ2.

7. Liz, Yvette, and an Amazon employee thoughtfully examine the artwork displayed in Amazon’s HQ2 café. 

8. Erik Jensen’s artwork Techcombs is featured in a corridor at Amazon HQ2.

Photography by Lani Nance at LNance Photography

*Rent calculated based on average rent for 900-square-feet one bedroom apartment in the United States, rentcafe.com