Salt Lake City’s historic Pioneer Park is poised to host its first permanent art installation beginning in 2026. After a national call for artists by the Salt Lake City Arts Council’s Public Art Program, Long Beach, California-based artists James Shen (of People’s Architecture Office) and Jennifer Tran have been commissioned to design and install Common Roots in the City’s oldest green space.
Shen and Tran describe Common Roots as “a series of archways that symbolize the intricate root systems of trees and branches, as well as the overlapping migration routes of immigrant communities. Acting as a vibrant gateway into the park, the 'roots' of the artwork spell out 'Pioneer Park' in cursive letterforms inspired by scripts from languages historically and currently spoken in the surrounding neighborhood—including Chinese, Japanese, Greek, Arabic, and others. These colorful, flowing arches reflect the diversity of the communities and plant life that have shaped – and continue to shape – Pioneer Park."
This public art commission seeks to invite new interpretations of the space beyond the traditional “Pioneer” narrative. The park’s thousands of annual visitors will encounter a playful, thought-provoking design that celebrates the diversity of communities that have lived around Pioneer Park, both historically and today. “We are excited to create a landmark for such an important park in Salt Lake City, one with a rich history of immigration. As children of immigrants ourselves, we’re inspired by the different communities that have shaped Pioneer Park, and hope to celebrate their stories.” said James.
Felicia Baca, Executive Director of Salt Lake City Arts Council said “Public artworks like Common Roots help communities see themselves reflected in the spaces they share. By weaving together cultural stories, languages, and symbols, it turns a park into a place of connection, memory, and pride. It becomes a mirror of who we are, and who we’ve been.”
Process and Timeline
Artists James Shen and Jennifer Tran were selected from over 130 national submissions through a process led by the Salt Lake Art Design Board and approved by Mayor Erin Mendenhall in early 2025. The Utah Historical Society served as a key stakeholder during the artist selection process. The project aligns with the 2021 Pioneer Park Vision Plan and is supported by major city investment.
Final design coordination with city departments and park designers will wrap up by summer 2025. Fabrication and installation of Common Roots will follow, in step with Pioneer Park’s broader redevelopment, set for late 2025 through 2026. The park will reopen in 2026 with new amenities and this landmark artwork to enrich visitor experience and community connection.
The project is managed by the Salt Lake City Arts Council’s Public Art Program in collaboration with Salt Lake City Public Lands, with guidance from the Salt Lake Art Design Board and community stakeholders.
For updates on this project and other work by the Public Art Program, follow @slc_publicartprogram on Instagram. The Public Art Program is a service of the Salt Lake City Arts Council, a division of Salt Lake City’s Department of Economic Development.
