Salt Lake City has launched a search for a local artist to give its most famous public art installation a fresh new look. The city's Arts Council opened applications Monday for artists to redesign "Out of the Blue," the beloved 23-foot whale sculpture that has become an iconic landmark in the 9th and 9th District since its installation over three years ago.

This marks the first time the city is seeking a new design for the colorful whale sculpture, which debuted in 2022 and quickly captured the hearts of residents and visitors alike. Salt Lake City officials are specifically looking for a Salt Lake County-based artist or resident who can create what they describe as a "dynamic, community-centered mural" that celebrates the neighborhood's creativity and character.

The application process will remain open until the end of January 2, 2026, giving local artists plenty of time to submit portfolio examples. Following a comprehensive design review process, the selected artist will complete the new whale mural by late summer 2026. This is the first time the Arts Council has limited applications exclusively to Salt Lake County artists, reflecting the sculpture's deep connection to the local community.

"Given how hyperlocal this artwork is, we wanted to keep it in tune with what the community said about Salt Lake City," explained Renato Olmedo-González, public art program manager for the city arts council. "I expect quite a number of applicants because it's quite a popular artwork – perhaps the most famous mural in town."

The original whale sculpture was created through a different selection process when the city first sought artwork for the center of a roundabout at the intersection of 900 South and 1100 East. The city ultimately chose Stephen Kesler's whale design paired with local artist Mike Murdock's abstract sunset mural, collectively titled "Point of Reference." Since its installation, the whale has become more than just public art – it has evolved into a cultural phenomenon.

The sculpture's impact on the community has been remarkable. Local residents have created T-shirts and flags featuring the whale design, and the artwork even inspired one of the entries at Utah's first-ever Red Bull Soapbox race. At least one business in the district adopted the whale's original color scheme, embracing this unexpected neighborhood mascot that has brought renewed attention to the area.

The call for new designs comes after the city conducted extensive community outreach to understand what residents want in the next iteration. Over 1,700 people responded to a survey that closed just a month before the artist application opened. The results revealed clear preferences, with "fun," "community," and "iconic" being the three most frequently used words to describe their vision for the new design. "Unique" and "colorful" rounded out the top five descriptors.

"It's a pretty funky and unique area that prides itself on being quite different, and that came about in the survey," Olmedo-González told reporters. The survey responses came primarily from people who regularly visit the district for shopping and recreation, though more than a third of respondents actually live in the area. Participants praised the whale's accessibility to all residents regardless of their mode of transportation and noted how it draws people to local businesses.

The selection process will be thorough and community-focused. City officials will first review portfolios from Salt Lake County artists before narrowing the field to approximately three to five finalists. These selected artists will then be tasked with developing their own original concepts, likely influenced by the community survey findings. The finalist designs will be presented to an art design board in May 2026, with the winner to be announced later that month.

Following the selection, there will be a contracting phase during the summer before the winning artist is officially announced in August 2026. The city's Arts Council has allocated $12,500 for the new mural, funded through the 1.5% of city project funds dedicated to public art initiatives. This budget reflects the city's commitment to maintaining high-quality public art that serves the community.

The transformation timeline aims for completion by late summer 2026, giving the selected artist several months to execute their vision. City officials express confidence that the new design will have the same positive impact as the original. "We are very confident that whatever artwork ends up being selected will be quite strong, and it will make just as much of a splash as the first one did," Olmedo-González stated, maintaining optimism about the project's potential to continue bringing joy and community pride to the 9th and 9th District.