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Tommy Smith III has spent decades documenting the heartbeat of Minneapolis music culture through the lens of his camera. This remarkable exhibition showcases his rare and intimate photographs of Prince and legendary musicians of the Minneapolis Sound, spanning from the late 1970s through some of the most iconic eras in music history.Featuring images captured across nine extraordinary moments in time, the exhibition takes visitors from early rehearsals and candid backstage scenes to electrifying performances at celebrated venues such as First Avenue and Metropolitan Stadium. Smith’s photographs preserve the spirit, energy, and evolution of a revolutionary musical movement that changed popular culture forever.
Included are breathtaking moments from the Controversy, Purple Rain, and Lovesexy eras, along with many rarely seen photographs that reveal both the artistry and humanity behind the music. Through Tommy Smith III’s lens, audiences are invited into a deeply personal visual journey celebrating creativity, performance, friendship, and the enduring legacy of Minneapolis music history.
This exhibition is a living archive of sound, style, and cultural transformation captured by one of Minneapolis’s visionary concert photographers.
Thursday, June 4, 2026
5–9pm
First Thursday Open Studios
Solar Arts Building
711 15th Ave NE
Minneapolis, MN
Live Music 2nd Floor Gallery Stage: Sadie Maguire, Aisa Micaiah, Pedro Bayón, Abdul Sesay, and Jun Sugiyama.
Art Studios & Galleries are open to shop! Be sure to check out co-host of this exhibit Michelle Streitz Prince Museum located in studio 203.
Free and open to the public. Kids and families welcome.
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Event Venue
Solar Arts Building, 711 15th Ave NE,Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
