Peter McKinnon
Seattle Artist, Graphic Designer & Founder of Cedar Skye Gallery and MerchMuse
Peter McKinnon is a Seattle-based artist and graphic designer whose creative journey began at age five with a crayon mural on his bedroom wall. Today, he’s the visionary behind Cedar Skye, an online art gallery, and MerchMuse, a hub for politically inspired design and merchandise. With decades of experience in visual storytelling, Peter’s work spans fine art, digital illustration, branding, and design for major corporations.
Peter launched his career at top design firms in Seattle, quickly gaining recognition for his innovative style. His creative talent led to high-profile roles at industry leaders like Microsoft and AT&T, where he contributed to brand development, marketing campaigns, and iconic product design. Passionate about combining art and activism, Peter continues to create impactful visual content that resonates across platforms and generations.
Background:
Peter McKinnon is a multidisciplinary artist and graphic designer from the Seattle area, known for blending traditional artistry with digital design. Raised in a creatively rich home—his father an interior designer and his mother a well-known local astrologist—Peter was immersed in visual culture from an early age. Though he once dreamed of becoming an actor, a pivotal push from his father redirected his passion toward graphic design.
A graduate of the Art Institute of Seattle, Peter began his career at top-tier design firms of Ted Mader and Associates and Van Dyke Design. His portfolio includes logos, book covers, signage, brochures, and corporate reports for major Northwest companies. One standout project: designing the complete bus system map for Community Transit in Everett, Washington, combining clarity, function, and design precision.
Peter also worked at Microsoft as a lead creative designer and art director, where he helped shape the visual identity of major products like Windows and Microsoft Office. Afterward, he helped launch a tech start-up, creating their brand identity, marketing materials, and first e-commerce website.
Through it all, Peter has stayed true to his roots in art—working in watercolor, digital illustration, and photo-based designs using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Today, he shares his evolving body of work through Cedar Skye and MerchMuse, continuing to inspire and innovate at the intersection of art, design, and culture.
