Public Art In Salt Lake City

While visiting Elif and Mina in Salt Lake City this past Christmas, we learned that there were over 250 murals in the city and its immediate surroundings. Elif had a printed list of them, and we visited as many public art pieces as possible in two weeks. There is an organization similar to The Avenue Concept in Rhode Island, Mural Fest. However, the amount of information they provide about the murals is minimal. I searched for the artists’ websites or other articles about their work.

This post will add to the collection we have been building about Public Art in Rhode Island.

Public Art In Different Forms

Although most public art pieces were murals, we saw some almost public art that one could purchase as garden ornaments. The sheer number of murals was impressive, but time allowed us to see less than a dozen. I will present them in the order we visited them.

Habitat by Traci O’Very Covey

We found the location by following the map directions, and the mural was stretching on a rather long wall. It evoked a sense of family and neighborhood with people jumping, playing with their pets, and dogs chasing frisbees. A visit to the artist’s website confirmed that feeling with a few more ideas. A very pleasant stretch of art indeed. (Instagram)

Click on the images to see them larger, uncropped, and read their titles.

Sugarpost Iron Works

Not exactly commissioned public art, Sugarpost seems to create humorous garden art displays from military and other sources of waste. The building featured a sizeable octopus hanging in the middle of it. There were many small characters carrying elves, riding motorbikes, or growling down to scare the passers-by. (Instagram)

Sandhill Cranes by Joseph Toney

The mural depicts three dancing sandhill cranes in vivid colors and high realism. It covers two facades of a small tower-like structure at the Allergy Research Group facility. Photographing most of these murals was challenging when the sun was positioned behind the art piece. That allowed photographing it by hiding in the shadow of the mural, thus getting fairly close to it. This was one such mural, but as luck would have it, we visited it a second time around while viewing a nearby public art. (Instagram)

Untitled (Courtney Mae Muir) by Lindsay Huss

The mural featured a very pleasant woman, but I had no idea that she was one of the Northwestern Shoshone. The mural is aimed at honoring the natives with a remarkable representative. She is in the midst of nature with a big smile. (Instagram)

For Our Loved Ones by Bill Louis

The mural appeared to depict Hawaiian lives and culture. The strong hint to me was the plumeria blossoms used to create leis. I did not know the artist and his background, but on one of the Web pages, I found an article about this mural where he explained that “our loved ones and those in the Pacific Islander community that have passed from COVID-19. They are floating into the Heavens where they will watch over us. It was inspired by my family, my culture, and my community.” (Instagram)

While photographing the mural, Jan found one of her favorite subjects, ice abstracts. That too, qualifies for public art!

Gilgal Sculpture Garden

Gilgal Sculpture Garden offers a collection of works by a local masonry contractor and Bishop of the 10th Salt Lake LDS ward, Thomas Battersby Child, Jr. Although he was not a sculptor, he was determined to learn the art and produce twelve sculpture arrangements and many more stones engraved with writings.

He even used a unique method of carving the stone using an oxyacetylene torch usually used for welding. The name has biblical origins and signifies twelve stones. The tall stone column had a figure sculpted using some kind of wire. I took a zoom shot and likened it to the LDS angel Moroni that sits atop the temple in Salt Lake City. (Instagram)

Extraordinary Elementals by Kiptoe

The sizeable mural on a long stretch of wall was impressive, filled with gods, goddesses, and maybe even some superheroes. On his page about this mural, the artist says, “Gaia stands in the middle as an anchor for these gods and warriors, colliding into a concussion of energies.” It was one of the hard ones to photograph as the sun was almost directly behind it. As I took a series of shots for stitching later, Jan focused on some details. (Instagram)

Depths of the Abyss by Dan Toro

Another sizeable mural on a long stretch of a wall. This one did not have the sun behind it, and I took several frames and later stitched them with some difficulty. Correcting the perspective and distortion proved challenging. But I managed to get it straight in the end. I wish they did not have the dumpster at one end of it. The opening image is a detail of the mural baring its teeth! (Instagram)

Nothing Lasts by Evan Jed Memmott

I photographed the last two murals rather quickly, mainly because we were running out of time, and I was getting tired. This mural grabbed my attention with its patterns and even colors reminiscent of some Turkis kilims. It seems to reflect the personal motto of the artist according to the page about this one. (Instagram)

Darling, You Are a Work of Art by Rian Kasner

This mural was like an ever-present compliment. It depicts five figures in various dance positions, each deserving of the banner hanging over them. In addition to painting murals, Rian is also a photographer. His Web site has plenty of samples of his various creations. (Instagram)

So, we ended our hunt for public art in Salt Lake City. Thanks to all the artists who share their creations with the public; they are delightful. You should top off your efforts with a cup of fine Turkish coffee and some baklava. The best baklava in Salt Lake City is at Kahve Cafe, which our daughter owns. You will not regret visiting it! Take care all.