The Grand Rapids Downtown Market, West Michigan’s premier culinary destination for both locals and visitors, offers unforgettable year-round experiences with its diverse food options, award-winning venue spaces, and vibrant public events. This year, the Market is thrilled to host a featured exhibit for ArtPrize 2025: The Olympism Exhibition.
Running now through October 4, the second floor Atrium of the Market Hall will be home to The Olympism Exhibition by Roald Bradstock. Roald Bradstock (a.k.a. the Olympic Picasso) is a two-time Olympic track and field athlete who competed at Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul 1988, and is a two-time Olympic artist, being involved at Sydney 2000 and PyeongChang 2018.
“The Market is a great space, there's so much great lighting here,” Bradstock said. “Its very exciting to display a new genre of art and to be able to be here in person and interact with everyone.”
This unique traveling exhibition showcases the creative talents of Olympic athletes who are also accomplished visual artists. It features multiple colorful 2D pieces, a 3D installation. A standout piece in the installation is “LA Rising,” part of Bradstock’s Olympic Rings Series. This interactive work invites the West Michigan community to become part of the art.
Inspired by the devastation of the Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year, the piece reflects the artist’s personal connection to the region, having lived in Los Angeles for six years and with many friends and family still there, Bradstock deeply felt the sadness, stress, and anxiety caused by the fires and used those emotions to create this piece.
“LA Rising” is a large, 10-panel piece created using charcoal (burnt wood) on paper (made from wood), a deliberate and symbolic choice. The use of these materials to create something beautiful serves as a powerful response to the destruction caused by the very same elements. The 2028 rings featured in the piece pay homage to the upcoming 2028 Olympic Games taking place in Los Angeles.
Each day during ArtPrize, Bradstock will be at the Downtown Market from 1:00pm to 6:00pm, inviting the West Michigan community to participate by coloring in one of the 2028 rings. As Bradstock shares, “It’s not just about looking at the work, but being part of history and sending a message from one community to another.”
Visitors are encouraged to make the Downtown Market a stop during their ArtPrize adventures to experience this unique installation. While there, they can also enjoy a bite to eat from the diverse selection of merchants in the Market Hall.
