EXHIBITIONS ON MAIN

Exhibitions on Main is a program built to display local artists vision, story, or artistic idea in a year-long exhibit on Main Street, which is free and accessible to the public. Artwork is placed on the bottom five panels in one of the four kiosks along Main Street between 200 and 300 S. The exhibitions are photographs, journalistic stories, physical and digital artwork with an artist statement, etc.

2025/2026 applications are closed.

Applications for 2027/2028 will open February 1, 2027

Questions? Email Kai Henriksen, kai@downtownslc.org.

2026/2027 Featured Artists

Black and white photo of a woman with curly hair wearing glasses and a black velvet top, smiling with her arms crossed against a plain background.

Brooke Elayne

Brooke Elayne (or Brooke Elayyne) is a Utah-based artist with a background in painting, drawing, digital art, and tattoos. She is inspired by nature and patterns and uses those elements to tell stories viewers can connect to. We are all searching for somewhere to belong and her art is an invitation to reflect on where we have been, where we are going, and where we are now.

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A stylized illustration of a fox with a house on its back, smoke coming from chimney, against a cloudy sky background.
A colorful illustration of an owl perched on a stand against a patterned background with blue, purple, green, and dark shades.
Illustration of a house on the back of a wolf, with three bird head sketches to the right and a website and social media handle at the bottom.
A stylized illustration of a dog with an open mouth as if barking or howling, with a house on its face and dripping liquid. The background has a decorative, floral pattern.
Artwork of a fierce green, yellow, orange, and brown wolf with blue eyes, surrounded by black birds with yellow accents, set against a dark background with abstract red and blue elements.
Portrait of a woman with curly black hair, wearing hoop earrings, a floral necklace, and a black jacket, smiling in an indoor setting with blurred background.

Esther Kasue

Esther Kasue is a multidisciplinary artist and the founder of EMK Kreations, a creative platform dedicated to uplifting marginalized communities through art and design. As a first-generation African American raised in Utah by Kenyan immigrant parents, Esther’s work is deeply rooted in celebrating Black beauty—an often overlooked and suppressed narrative in the United States. Drawing inspiration from their cultural heritage, Esther creates mixed media works that highlight the depth, resilience, and elegance of African and Black identities. Through EMK Kreations, they offer original artwork, prints, custom designs, and community-based programming, with a strong focus on youth mental health and creative education. Esther’s practice is both personal and communal, using art as a tool for representation, dialogue, and empowerment.

My work exists as both a tribute and an invitation. Through mixed media, texture, color, and pattern, I celebrate Black beauty and culture while creating space for reflection, dialogue, and connection. As a first-generation African American, my identity and lived experiences heavily inform my practice. Much of my inspiration comes from my Kenyan heritage and the stories, traditions, and resilience passed down through my family. I founded EMK Kreations as a way to extend my art beyond the canvas—using creativity to uplift African and minority communities, challenge limited perspectives, and amplify underrepresented narratives. Whether through fine art, wearable design, or teaching youth to explore their creativity, my goal is to make art accessible, affirming, and transformative. Each piece I create is an act of reclamation and celebration, honoring the beauty that has always existed, even when it has gone unseen.

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A painting of a woman with dark skin wearing a purple and green striped shawl, holding a stick, with her eyes covered by pink horizontal brushstrokes, surrounded by abstract pink, white, and gold splashes.
A vibrant mixed-media artwork of a woman with dark skin, decorated with white face paint and jewelry, set against a colorful, abstract background with swirls, flowers, and geometric patterns in orange, blue, red, and yellow.
A crowd of children wearing green uniforms and yellow collars, with many faces edited to look like sketches or drawings with a white outline. The background features an abstract, pixelated green pattern. Overlaid at the top is text about reflection a
A colorful painting of an elderly woman with traditional jewelry and a patterned fabric. The background is made of vertical wooden sticks. Text on the left side reads, "Can you trace the origins of your history?" The art style emphasizes vibrant colo
A woman with curly hair sitting cross-legged with her hands raised, surrounded by a colorful artistic background of pink, purple, green, and cream. The background includes textured elements resembling flowers or foliage and the words 'WILD' and 'FREE
Empty parking garage with white arrow painted on floor, concrete ceiling with fluorescent lights, and a view of building windows outside.

WALKSLC

I moved to Salt Lake City over 20 years ago. I've always enjoyed walking around the city and riding public transit, allowing me to slow down and observe the people and places around me. I started posting walking videos of Salt Lake City in 2018, creating the YouTube channel WalkSLC. These videos gave a first-person view of different neighborhoods and events, allowing viewers to visit (or revisit) them from anywhere. I transitioned to photography in 2023. I enjoy exploring hidden corners of the city, as well as finding new perspectives on familiar sights. I hope to encourage others to appreciate the city and get out to explore it more.

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Low-angle view of a historic building with a tower and illuminated 'CENTER' sign, seen through a modern glass and steel structure with reflections and geometric patterns.
Black and white photo of a city building facades showing windows, brickwork, and fire escape stairs on the left side.
Nighttime view of a modern building with illuminated windows and colorful lighting on the exterior, including purple and orange accents.
Black and white photo of illuminated decorative lights in the shape of bows, creating a festive or decorative pattern at night.
Ceiling with hanging chandeliers and industrial pipes, some clouds visible on the sky skylight windows.
A woman stands outdoors during sunset, wearing a blue top, beige skirt, and accessories.

Denyse Davis

Denyse R. Davis is a queer, Filipino-American artist based in Salt Lake City whose work addresses contemporary social issues including LGBTQ+ rights, race, and everyday life. With a background in Community Health, their practice considers the relationships between lived experience, art, and systems of power.

Their perspective is informed by a wide range of life experiences, including volunteer work in hospice, extensive travel throughout the United States and Europe, and even an appearance on reality television. These experiences continue to shape their interest in connection, place, and human complexity.

Denyse’s work has been exhibited across the American West in galleries, public spaces, and festivals. Highlights include their solo exhibition Eclipsing Erasure at DTLA Proud, which centers the trans community, as well as presentations at Layton Hospital, the Utah Queer Film Festival (2025), and Joshua Tree Music Festival.

Working across murals, commissions, installation, and painting, Denyse is known for expressive brushwork and vibrant acrylic color, often exploring movement and emotion through portrait and figurative work.

Their work invites viewers to reimagine the world through a surreal lens, where visibility and transformation are both personal and shared.

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Colorful painting of three people enjoying a meal at a table, with bright pink, red, blue, and black colors. The people have exaggerated features and are smiling.
Colorful painting of two people, a woman with dark curly hair smiling and waving, and a man with a beard, sitting at a table with food. The background is red with white brush strokes.
Colorful abstract painting of two women at a social gathering. One woman, with dark curly hair, is smiling and laughing; the other, with blonde hair and blue skin, is sitting with her hand near her face. There is a glass and a plate on the table. The
A colorful painting of two people at a table with food. One person is a woman with blue skin, drinking from a water bottle, wearing a blue top and striped skirt. The other person is a man with blue skin, smiling and holding food. The background is re
A colorful painting depicting two people seated at a table, with a vibrant background and food on the table. The title 'Across the Table' by Denyse R. Davis is at the top, and there is descriptive text about the artwork on the right side.

Previously Featured Artists

2025-26
2024-25