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 collaborative initiative between Fisk and TSU that gives students or recent graduates an opportunity to curate, design, market, and program an art installation.
Installed in the Grand Lobby Elevator of the Frist Art Museum, Sole Study offers an immersive, accessible experience. On view through April 10, 2026, the exhibition features twelve artworks by Nashville artist Dominique “Younique” Coleman that explore cultural and creative intersections between sneakers, hip-hop, and individuality.
Coleman describes his practice as “rapping through art” and the exhibition as a visual album—each piece functioning like a track contributing to the broader narrative. The works reflect Coleman’s personal journey and play on the words sole and soul to express themes of self-expression and cultural pride.
Through depictions of iconic sneakers, musical and sports references, and his signature thumbprint sole design, Coleman illustrates how sneakers can serve as powerful storytelling tools. While rooted in African American culture, the works resonate across diverse backgrounds, inviting all viewers to reflect on their identity and share their own stories.
Pokharel, a senior computer science and mathematics major from Nepal, believes in cross-disciplinary learning. “You can learn from anyone and anywhere,” he says, quoting his mother. Jones, a Memphis native majoring in graphic design, views art as a therapeutic tool and a guide through life’s challenges.
Born in Murfreesboro, Dominique Coleman is best known for digital illustrations and paintings. His multidisciplinary creative practice includes illustration, photo compositing, and graphic design.
Reminder: Two current exhibitions at the Frist Art Museum—David C. Driskell & Friends: Creativity, Collaboration, and Friendship and Kindred Spirits: Intergenerational Forms of Expression, 1966–1999—will close on Sunday, June 1, 2025. Don’t miss these powerful shows. Thirty-minute exhibition tours are held Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. (gallery admission required). A final Curators’ Perspectives discussion of Kindred Spirits will take place on Sunday, May 25, 2025, from 2:00–3:00 p.m.
