Taking pictures in public restrooms can get you in a lot of trouble, but seattlepi.com intern Joe Dyer managed to do it in a non-creepy way. (Mainly by asking permission and making sure the restrooms were empty, just for the record.)

I asked Joe to find some of Seattle’s best and most elaborate bathroom art — sometimes called latrinalia — and he came back with dozens of striking images showing just how elaborate this city’s bathrooms can get when a marker, pen or can of spray paint fall into the right (or wrong?) hands.

And I’m guessing that a few beers or a triple latte doesn’t hurt when it comes to inspiration.

Take a look at Joe’s pictures, with some Creative Commons Flickr images thrown in for good measure.









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Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 1 of / 57 Caption Close Image 2 of 57 A random (and conceited?) thought scrawled on the wall of the Honey Hole on Capitol Hill. A random (and conceited?) thought scrawled on the wall of the Honey Hole on Capitol Hill. Photo: Creative Commons Flickr photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/magnusdigity/21549559/sizes/z/in/photostream/ Image 3 of 57 A tag in the restroom at Caffe Vita on Capitol Hill. A tag in the restroom at Caffe Vita on Capitol Hill. Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 4 of 57 The restroom at The Night Owl hookah .bar in the University District. The restroom at The Night Owl hookah .bar in the University District. Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 5 of 57 Image 6 of 57 More of the restroom at The Night Owl hookah bar in the University District. More of the restroom at The Night Owl hookah bar in the University District. Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 7 of 57 A poem written on the wall of the now-shuttered Globe coffee shop on Capitol Hill. A poem written on the wall of the now-shuttered Globe coffee shop on Capitol Hill. Photo: Creative Commons Flickr photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/heyrocker/1759716128/ Image 8 of 57 The men's room at the Blue Moon Tavern in the University District. The men's room at the Blue Moon Tavern in the University District. Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 9 of 57 A not-so-helpful sign near the restrooms at Pike Place Market. A not-so-helpful sign near the restrooms at Pike Place Market. Photo: Creative Commons Flickr photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/danielspils/2105332511/ Image 10 of 57 Image 11 of 57 A restroom at Bauhaus Books & Coffee on Capitol Hill. A restroom at Bauhaus Books & Coffee on Capitol Hill. Photo: Creative Commons Flickr photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shaynekaye/5488770206/ Image 12 of 57 A wall of the women's room at the Tin Hat in Ballard. A wall of the women's room at the Tin Hat in Ballard. Photo: Sarah Rupp/seattlepi.com Image 13 of 57 The bathrooms at El Diablo coffee shop on Queen Anne. The bathrooms at El Diablo coffee shop on Queen Anne. Photo: Creative Commons Flickr photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tellumo/115001478/ Image 14 of 57 Inside the men's room at El Diablo. Inside the men's room at El Diablo. Photo: Creative Commons Flickr photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tellumo/115001209/ Image 15 of 57 Image 16 of 57 More from El Diablo.... More from El Diablo.... Photo: Creative Commons Flickr photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tellumo/115001068/ Image 17 of 57 Another (helpful?) wall inscription at El Diablo. Another (helpful?) wall inscription at El Diablo. Photo: Creative Commons Flickr photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tellumo/115001328/in/photostream/ Image 18 of 57 The upstairs restroom in the Cha Cha Lounge on Capitol Hill. The upstairs restroom in the Cha Cha Lounge on Capitol Hill. Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 19 of 57 The upstairs restroom in the Cha Cha Lounge on Capitol Hill. The upstairs restroom in the Cha Cha Lounge on Capitol Hill. Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 20 of 57 Image 21 of 57 The downstairs men's restroom in the Cha Cha Lounge on Capitol Hill. The downstairs men's restroom in the Cha Cha Lounge on Capitol Hill. Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 22 of 57 The downstairs men's restroom in the Cha Cha Lounge on Capitol Hill. The downstairs men's restroom in the Cha Cha Lounge on Capitol Hill. Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 23 of 57 A No Pants! Light Rail Ride participant outside a restroom at Sea-Tac Airport on Jan. 8, 2012. Nice clouds, huh? A No Pants! Light Rail Ride participant outside a restroom at Sea-Tac Airport on Jan. 8, 2012. Nice clouds, huh? Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 24 of 57 A temporary inscription inside a restroom at the Bottleneck Lounge on East Madison Street. A temporary inscription inside a restroom at the Bottleneck Lounge on East Madison Street. Photo: Creative Commons Flickr photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chuntr/1398940605/ Image 25 of 57 Image 26 of 57 The mirror in a restroom at Linda's Tavern in Capitol Hill. The mirror in a restroom at Linda's Tavern in Capitol Hill. Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 27 of 57 A restroom wall spotted at Seattle's Fremont Street Fair. A restroom wall spotted at Seattle's Fremont Street Fair. Photo: Creative Commons Flickr photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wonderlane/276890513/ Image 28 of 57 The men's room at The Comet Tavern on Capitol Hill. The men's room at The Comet Tavern on Capitol Hill. Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 29 of 57 More from the men's room at The Comet Tavern. More from the men's room at The Comet Tavern. Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 30 of 57 Image 31 of 57 More from the men's room at the Comet Tavern. More from the men's room at the Comet Tavern. Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 32 of 57 More from the men's room at the Comet Tavern. More from the men's room at the Comet Tavern. Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 33 of 57 A restroom at the Pacific Science Center. Kid friendly, no? A restroom at the Pacific Science Center. Kid friendly, no? Photo: Creative Commons Flickr photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/spaetz/4631356416/ Image 34 of 57 The men's room at the HoneyHole on Capitol Hill. The men's room at the HoneyHole on Capitol Hill. Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 35 of 57 Image 36 of 57 A restroom wall at the Allegro coffee house near the University of Washington. A restroom wall at the Allegro coffee house near the University of Washington. Photo: Creative Commons Flickr photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/magnusdigity/21549559/ Image 37 of 57 The women's restroom at Big Mario's New York Style Pizza on Capitol Hill. The women's restroom at Big Mario's New York Style Pizza on Capitol Hill. Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 38 of 57 The men's room at Cafe Racer Espresso in the Ravenna neighborhood. The men's room at Cafe Racer Espresso in the Ravenna neighborhood. Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 39 of 57 The door to the men's room at The Duchess Tavern in the University District in Seattle on Wednesday Feb. 1, 2012 The door to the men's room at The Duchess Tavern in the University District in Seattle on Wednesday Feb. 1, 2012 Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 40 of 57 Image 41 of 57 The women's restroom at the New Orleans Restaurant near Pioneer Square. The women's restroom at the New Orleans Restaurant near Pioneer Square. Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 42 of 57 A painting inside the restroom of Salty's in Seattle. A painting inside the restroom of Salty's in Seattle. Photo: Creative Commons Flickr photo Image 43 of 57 The men's restroom at The Central Saloon near Pioneer Square. The men's restroom at The Central Saloon near Pioneer Square. Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 44 of 57 The women's restroom at The Central Saloon near Pioneer Square. The women's restroom at The Central Saloon near Pioneer Square. Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 45 of 57 Image 46 of 57 The door of the men's room at The Central Saloon. The door of the men's room at The Central Saloon. Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 47 of 57 Evidence of an ongoing battle against graffiti in the men's restroom at Shorty's bar in Belltown. Evidence of an ongoing battle against graffiti in the men's restroom at Shorty's bar in Belltown. Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 48 of 57 A restroom at the JU JU bar in Belltown. A restroom at the JU JU bar in Belltown. Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 49 of 57 A restroom at the JU JU bar in Belltown. A restroom at the JU JU bar in Belltown. Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 50 of 57 Image 51 of 57 The mirror in a restroom at the JU JU bar in Belltown. The mirror in a restroom at the JU JU bar in Belltown. Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 52 of 57 The paper towell dispenser in a restroom at the JU JU bar. The paper towell dispenser in a restroom at the JU JU bar. Photo: JOE DYER / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 53 of 57 Seattle icon, the Hat N Boots, originally built as a gas station in 1955. It's now in Oxbow Park in Georgetown. The navy blue boot closest to the camera served as the men's restroom. Seattle icon, the Hat N Boots, originally built as a gas station in 1955. It's now in Oxbow Park in Georgetown. The navy blue boot closest to the camera served as the men's restroom. Photo: Karen Ducey / seattlepi.com Image 54 of 57 A sign on the door of a restroom at the EMP Science Fiction Museum. A sign on the door of a restroom at the EMP Science Fiction Museum. Photo: Creative Commons Flickr photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwichary/2677918505/ Image 55 of 57 Image 56 of 57 And another sign on the door of a restroom at the EMP Science Fiction Museum. And another sign on the door of a restroom at the EMP Science Fiction Museum. Photo: Creative Commons Flickr photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwichary/2677917215/sizes/z/in/photostream/ Image 57 of 57 Bathroom art: Stuff people do in Seattle's restrooms 1 / 57 Back to Gallery

A thing of beauty? Vandalism? A smart way for bars and coffee shops to stand out?

Maybe all of the above, depending on the situation. But you have to admit, Seattle’s bathroom art sure is superior to this hipster bathroom graffiti.

Want to see more? Check out latrinalia.org. (Warning: Not all images are safe for work.)

Visit seattlepi.com’s home page for more Seattle news. Contact Amy Rolph at amyrolph@seattlepi.com or on Twitter as @amyrolph and @bigblog.