IMMERSIVE PORTRAIT EXHIBITION OPENS JUNE 11 AT VASILIOS PRISKOS WALKWAY
Salt Lake City — SonderSLC, a public art installation by photographer Kelli Freshman will have a second edition for the public to enjoy, opening June 11, 2026, at the Vasilios Priskos Walkway, 147 S Main Street. The exhibition documents the people whose daily work and presence shape Salt Lake City. From baristas, bartenders and barbers, to Ambassadors, accountants, and artists, the exhibit highlights downtown users whose contributions keep the city moving.
Through portraits and interviews, Freshman turns a busy downtown corridor into a living archive, a record of Salt Lake City at this particular moment through the voices and faces of those who know this place the best. This year’s installation expands the project’s original vision, pushing viewers to look beyond first impressions and reckon with the depth of the people around them. Each portrait is a reminder: every passerby is living a life as rich and meaningful as our own.
“The longer I work on Sonder, the more convinced I become that curiosity has the power to change how we move through the world. Every person I’ve photographed has challenged an assumption, surprised me, or taught me something I didn’t know. This project is my invitation to slow down, look closer, and remember that every person around us is carrying a story worth knowing.” — Kelli Freshman, Artist
Opening Reception
An opening reception will be held Wednesday, June 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Art Garten, 152 S Main Street. The evening includes brief remarks from Freshman and project collaborators. The exhibition will remain on view throughout the summer.
SonderSLC is part of the CoCreate Artist-in-Residence program, a collaborative initiative of The Blocks Arts District that brings original creative projects to non-traditional downtown locations. More than a public art program, CoCreate is designed to deepen the connection between artists and the communities they work in.
About the Blocks Arts District
The Blocks is a visionary initiative of the City and County to promote the abundance and vibrancy of our creative community, facilitate partnerships and collaborations, and activate underutilized spaces to establish Downtown Salt Lake City as the premier cultural district of the Intermountain West. For more information, visit theblocksslc.com or follow @THEBLOCKSSLC on social media.
