SLC.gov

April 29, 2026

A new community-informed mural will be installed this summer in Salt Lake City’s historic Japantown, bringing renewed visibility to one of the city’s last remaining cultural corridors as major changes take shape in the surrounding downtown area.   
 
The Salt Lake City Community Reinvestment Agency in partnership with the Salt Lake City Public Art Program, and a community-led Japantown Art Committee, has selected muralist Cole Eisenhour to design and install the work. The mural will be located on the north-facing wall of the Multi-Ethnic Senior Highrise (MESH), overlooking 100 South.  
 
Eisenhour was recently introduced to the community and has begun engaging with stakeholders as project moves into final design. The mural reflects input gathered through ongoing community engagement and a broader effort to strengthen Japantown as an active cultural corridor.  

“This mural reflects the voices and vision of the Japantown community,” said Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “It honors a history rooted right here in this neighborhood that has too often been overlooked, while creating space for that story to be seen, shared, and carried forward.” 

Once a vibrant hub for Japanese American life, Salt Lake City’s Japantown spanned several downtown blocks. Following World War II incarceration and later urban renewal, nearly all Japantown was demolished in 1966 to make way for the Salt Palace. Today, a single block remains along 100 South, anchored by the Japanese Church of Christ and the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple. 

Eisenhour’s design draws on the concept of kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, highlighting cracks rather than concealing them. The mural will feature interconnected visual elements representing generations of Japanese American life in Utah, with flowing gold forms symbolizing connection, healing, and continuity. 

“The goal is to create a visual narrative that reflects both the history and the ongoing story of Japantown,” said Marcus Lee, CRA project manager. “Each element is part of a larger composition that speaks to resilience, identity, and community.” 

The mural is expected to be installed later this summer and represents the first step in a broader effort to expand public art along Japantown Street. 

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About the Salt Lake City Community Reinvestment Agency 
The Salt Lake City Community Reinvestment Agency (CRA) partners with the community to support strategic development, expand housing opportunities, and strengthen neighborhoods. Through targeted investment and long-term planning, the CRA works to create more connected, resilient, and vibrant areas across Salt Lake City. 

About Salt Lake City Arts Council 

The mission of the Arts Council is to promote, present, and support artists, arts organizations, and arts activities to further the development of the arts community and to benefit the public by expanding awareness, access, and participation.