What's Next for the Whale?
Out of the Blue, aka “The Whale,” is getting a new mural next summer! As part of a rotating mural program, the sculpture is repainted every 3–5 years, keeping the artwork current and reflective of the 9th and 9th neighborhood. The current mural, Point of Reference by Mike Murdock, has transformed the sculpture into a strong symbol of community, creativity, resilience, and harmony.
The Salt Lake City Arts Council’s Public Art Program wants your input to help shape the artist selection process and inspire the next muralist!
Phases
Next Steps
Call for Artists
The Arts Council is doing a Call for Artists for the new Whale mural from November 24, 2025, to January 2, 2026. Interested Artists are invited to apply online.
Apply for the Call for Artists
Stay Involved
To stay updated on the artist selection and the new mural for The Whale, follow this project by creating a shapeSLC account. If you already have an account, hit that "Follow" button at the top of the page!
With a shapeSLC account, you can stay in the loop on all things public art through shapeSLC by following the topic tags "Public Art" and "Arts Council".
Finally, don't forget to sign up for the Arts Council Newsletter and follow us on socials!