12 stunning locally designed art collaborations at Starbucks

By Heidi Peiper/Starbucks Newsroom

Sometimes the piece may be a hidden gem to discover, a landscape taking shape in an airport concourse or a simple line drawing tucked away in an alcove. Other times it’s a show-stopper, like the two-story Siren that floats down an open staircase in Cambodia. Every #starbucks store has a story to tell through its art, including hundreds of one-of-a-kind works of art created by artists from nearby communities.

Lara Behnert leads the #starbucks global art program, working with artists and store design teams around the world. “When we look for artists, we look for muralists, printmakers, wood carvers – #people who work with their hands,” Behnert said. “We love finding emerging artists with a focused perspective and style, who feel in line with how we are – optimistic, thoughtful and full of new ideas. There’s an essence of joy at #starbucks, and we want #people to feel that through our collaboration with these artists.”
The bespoke pieces range from street art to traditional watercolor paintings, delicate paper tapestries to hand-forged metalwork. #starbucks was founded in 1971, so Behnert tends to look stylistically for work that feels contemporary to the years since. The commissions tell stories of coffee, community and sometimes #starbucks mythology.
“The mission and values of the company talk about inspiring and nurturing the human spirit one neighborhood at a time,” Behnert said. “Art is a powerful way to bring those ideas to life, and there’s no better way to do that than by creating jobs for artists in the communities we’re part of.”

More information on the press release