Exhibitions
DOMINIQUE “YOUNIQUE” COLEMAN: SOLE STUDY
Frist Art Museum / 919 Broadway April 10, 2025 - April 10, 2026
Dominique “YOUNIQUE” Coleman
The Frist Art Museum presents Project Uplift 2025: Sole Study, an installation of works by Nashville artist Dominique “YOUNIQUE” Coleman that explores the cultural and creative connections between sneakers, hip-hop, and individuality. Sole Study is the third iteration of Project Uplift and will be on view at the Frist beginning April 10, 2025.
Under the direction of Student Curator Gopal Pokharel (Sumiran) from Fisk University and Student Designer Myles Jones, a senior at Tennessee State University, Sole Study was created through Project Uplift, a program designed in partnership with Fisk and TSU to offer a student or recent graduate an opportunity to curate, design, market, and develop a program for an installation.
Installed in the Frist’s Grand Lobby Elevator, Sole Study offers an immersive experience within a common, accessible space. The elevator’s interior layout of vinyl prints was designed by Jones and features nine of Coleman’s digital artworks of iconic Nike sneakers, musical and sports references, and his thumbprint sole design. “YOUNIQUE talks about his practice as ‘rapping through art’ and Sole Study as a visual album—each work functions like a track contributing to the larger narrative of the series,” says Pokharel. “Together, the works represent the artist’s journey, playing on the words sole and soul to establish themes of self-expression and cultural pride; this dual meaning invites viewers to consider both the tangible imprint of their steps—their soles—and the intangible essence of their being—their soul.”
Project Uplift was conceived to distill the curatorial process into a short period of time so students can gain exposure to all aspects of exhibition planning. While typical museum exhibitions may take years of planning, Project Uplift is condensed into three months. “I feel the project allows artists to transform an untraditional space into a world or portal,” says Coleman. “A ten-second elevator ride could lead to life-changing inspiration. The goal is to build upon and expand what other artists have done in the past within Project Uplift, in hopes of inspiring and encouraging the future artists to continue to push further.”
Opening Conversations: Sole Study
Thursday, April 10, 5:00–8:00 p.m.
Auditorium
Gallery admission required
Join artist Dominique “YOUNIQUE” Coleman, Student Curator Gopal Pokharel, and Student Designer Myles Jones for a conversation moderated by Susan H. Edwards Curatorial Fellow Mouminatou Thiaw about the creative process behind the installation Sole Study. Coleman will share the story of his personal artistic journey and the inspirations that shape his work, while each student will discuss their individual creative pathways to the project. The session will begin and culminate with “Interlude,” an interactive drawing session co-facilitated by the Tennessee State University Arts and Social practice class, offering an engaging way to explore the themes of the exhibition.
Organized by the Frist Art Museum with Student Curator Gopal Pokharel
Lead Sponsor: Amazon
The Frist Art Museum is supported in part by The Frist Foundation, the Tennessee Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
