Art
Art was always a part of Paul’s childhood, introduced to him by his parents, but it was only years later that he became more aware of its life-changing impact. He chanced upon the romantic seascapes by J. M. W. Turner and the Pop paintings by Roy Lichtenstein at a visit to the UK’s Tate Gallery and was profoundly moved. That experience ignited within him a passion for art — and for making art accessible to more people.
The Seattle Art Fair was a showcase for the vibrant arts community of the Pacific Northwest. It went beyond private collectors and included expansive public programming.
28 pieces from Paul's personal art collection were exhibited at his museum, Experience Music Project (now Museum of Pop Culture), including works by Lichtenstein and Monet.
The Seattle Art Fair was a showcase for the vibrant arts community of the Pacific Northwest. It went beyond private collectors and included expansive public programming.
28 pieces from Paul's personal art collection were exhibited at his museum, Experience Music Project (now Museum of Pop Culture), including works by Lichtenstein and Monet.
Paul’s collection of artworks grew out of his own curiosity for the artist and the creative process. As that collection grew, so too did the interest in sharing it with others. For decades, Paul loaned artworks to major museums and galleries. Significant exhibitions, such as “DoubleTake: From Monet to Lichtenstein” and “Seeing Nature,” were created from within his collection via partnerships with local museums so he could bring these rare works to the wider public for their enjoyment.
Another example of Paul’s deep love for art was his creation of the Seattle Art Fair in 2015. In establishing it, he drew inspiration from international art fairs like those he attended in Venice and New York. The event is a unique celebration that showcases art and artists from Seattle, the Pacific Northwest, and the Pacific Rim and connects them to a global audience. He saw it as a unique opportunity to bring the art world to Seattle and to energize and inspire others in the community about the rewards of art stewardship.
The integration of public art projects has also become an important part of Vulcan Real Estate’s development philosophy over the years. That commitment is a direct result of Paul’s passion for making more art available and accessible to more people everywhere.
Additional
Stories
Stories
Exploration
Space
Paul pursued making space more accessible in ways that would fuel space innovation — including SpaceShipOne, the Allen Telescope Array, and Stratolaunch, the world's largest airplane by wingspan.
Science
Tech for
Good
Good
Paul believed technology could be leveraged to protect our planet, wildlife, and resources, and improve the lives of people everywhere.
Pacific Northwest
Seahawks
Paul purchased the Seattle Seahawks NFL franchise in 1997, and since then the team has gone on to make three Super Bowl appearances.
Exploration
Great Elephant
Census
Census
The Great Elephant Census was a massive undertaking to survey the remaining savanna elephants across the African continent. Results of this survey shocked the world into action.
Futurist
Microsoft
Paul's name is, of course, synonymous with Microsoft, the company he co-founded with his friend Bill Gates, which changed the trajectory of modern computing.