Sarah Hurt on Building Seattle Art Source | Canvas Rebel

From Career Pivot to Pacific Northwest Institution: The Story Behind Seattle Art Source

Canvas Rebel Sits Down With Seattle Art Source Founder Sarah Hurt on Eight Years of Building Something Beautiful

Some of the best businesses start not with a grand plan, but with a pause — a moment to stop, reflect, and ask what you actually want to build.

That’s exactly how Seattle Art Source came to be. When Sarah Hurt’s previous career chapter closed, she resisted the urge to simply grab the next available opportunity. Instead, she spent a year and a half in deliberate reflection. She worked with a coach to make sense of a winding professional path and figure out what truly motivated her. What emerged was a clear and compelling through line. She wanted to run her own operation, connect people with beauty, and be an advocate. In 2016, Seattle Art Source was born. Eight years later, it has grown into the industry standard for art advising in the Pacific Northwest, Sarah says.

Weathering the Storm

The journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Like any small business, Seattle Art Source has had to stay nimble. It’s had to keep growing and adapting in a landscape where standing still means falling behind. Surviving the pandemic shutdowns was its own crucible. Sarah counts herself fortunate, though. She built the business on a foundation of great hires, loyal clients, and a community that showed up when it mattered. “If we could survive Covid and being shut down during the pandemic,” she says, “then we can get through anything.”

The Business Today

Today, Seattle Art Source represents over 50 artists. The majority are based in the Pacific Northwest, a reflection of Sarah’s deep commitment to keeping local creative talent visible and supported. The business operates across multiple touchpoints. These include a brick-and-mortar location in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood and a robust online presence. Together, they make the full collection available to buyers worldwide. There are also white-glove service options for individuals, interior designers, and complex commercial and public art scopes. It’s a model built around access. The belief is that original art should be within reach for everyone — whether that’s someone looking for one special piece for their home, or a developer curating an entire building.

The Woman Behind the Vision

Sarah grew up the eldest of three in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her family valued service, curiosity, and the unconventional path. Living on a boat, traveling to Europe and West Africa, and experiencing the world well off the beaten track gave her a lasting sense of curiosity and openness. That same curiosity still shows up in everything she does. It turns out the most winding paths make for the most interesting destinations.

Read the full interview on Canvas Rebel here.