Name: John O'Connell Exhibition/Tribute
Start: 2026-10-21
End: 2026-10-21

Visit Salt Lake

Salt Lake is the place where the Wasatch mountain peaks frame city streets. Sure, Salt Lake's famed for our winter powder ([four legendary ski resorts](https://www.visitsaltlake.com/things-to-do/skiing-snowboarding/) just 30 minutes from downtown), but that's just one season's story. Summer brings families [hiking through wildflower meadows](https://www.visitsaltlake.com/things-to-do/outdoor-recreation/) before cooling off at a Jazz game or the Gateway fountains. Autumn paints our mountain canyons in gold, perfect for morning strolls that end at local coffee shops. Spring? That's when you might spot baby bison on Antelope Island before heading to the Eccles Theater for a Broadway show. Our soaring Wasatch Mountains rise dramatically from downtown Salt Lake, creating a place where every day offers both natural wonders and urban energy. And while we sit perfectly between the [national parks](https://www.visitsaltlake.com/things-to-do/outdoor-recreation/state-national-parks/) with Yellowstone's geysers and Utah's red rock country, the real magic happens right here, where everyone can [discover the history](https://www.visitsaltlake.com/plan-your-visit/about-salt-lake/) of the city as they find their own rhythm between mountain adventure and city life.

Sports Salt Lake

Exhibition: October 8–28, 2026 Reception: Thursday, October 22, 4:30–7:00 p.m.Family and Friends of John will be attendingJohn O'Connell came to painting late, then spent the rest of his life making up for lost time. Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, he grew up in a big Irish neighborhood in the urban Northeast and made his first painting at 28, following stints in engineering school, construction, and music. He studied at Massachusetts College of Art and the University of Connecticut, taught at Middle Tennessee State University, and joined the University of Utah faculty, where he was associate professor of Painting and Drawing for more than two decades. His paintings layered organic forms, weaving industrial textures and decomposition. Utilizing his knowledge of construction and the erosion of material, he crafted massive, artificially aged, archaeological structures. "The only history that is there is the history I put there," he said. He approached teaching as a mentor rather than an instructor. "I went into the arts because I couldn't say what I needed to say any other way, and I think most students are there for very similar reasons." He died on June 14, 2026, at 64.This calendar listing is brought to you by NowPlayingUtah.com, Utah's one-stop, online website for arts and entertainment events, powered by the Utah Cultural Alliance.

John O'Connell Exhibition/Tribute

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