Monkeyshine Rogue Art

Monkeyshines is a long-running Tacoma tradition that blends public art with a city-wide treasure hunt. Each year around Lunar New Year, a group of anonymous glass artists—lead by Ms. Monkey—hide small handmade art pieces, most famously glass orbs and medallions, throughout public spaces like parks, sidewalks, and neighborhoods. The pieces are often themed around the Chinese zodiac and are meant to be discovered by anyone out exploring the city. The focus isn’t competition or profit, but surprise, joy, and a sense of shared experience.

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Rogue Monkeyshines are unofficial art pieces made and hidden by community members who participate in the same spirit. An important part of the tradition is caring for the city while you search. Many participants bring bags and pick up litter as they hunt, turning the experience into both an art adventure and a community cleanup. Leaving Tacoma cleaner than you found it is considered part of the culture and respect behind Monkeyshines.