Part of soccer photo collage at Lawrence City Hall was pulled down during storm, but city says it will be back up soon

Four other works in the city's public art exhibition are on display now

photo by: City of Lawrence

"Soka Kila Mahali" is pictured on the side of Lawrence City Hall in May 2026, before part of it was pulled down by high winds.

Wondering where the giant soccer photo collage on the side of City Hall went? Part of it came loose in this week’s storms, but it will be going back up soon.

The collage of photos of soccer games in the streets of Goma, Congo, is by photographer Gary Mark Smith and is titled “Soka Kila Mahali,” Swahili for “Soccer Everywhere.” It’s supposed to be on display until August as part of the city’s Unmistakable Public Art Exhibition, and was put up on the outside of City Hall a couple of weeks ago.

The photos were on a banner that was attached to the building, but during Monday’s severe weather, one corner of it was pulled down, said Cori Wallace, the city’s communications director.

“Yes, the evening of the storm the west corner was pulled down due to wind!” Wallace said. “They are going to put it back up as soon as they can.”

“Soka Kila Mahali” is one of six artworks in this year’s Unmistakable Public Art Exhibition, which is soccer-themed for the FIFA World Cup. Four of the other artists’ works are on display right now in downtown Lawrence.

“Gestura,” a steel and acrylic sculpture by Nathaniel Pierce, is at Seventh and Massachusetts streets; “Fútbol 50 v 50,” a painted steel sculpture by Randall Warren, is in front of the Lawrence Public Library; “Close up, Far Out” and “Six Sides of Connection,” window graphics by Alicia Kelly, are at 812 Massachusetts St., the Explore Lawrence office, and 920 Massachusetts St., The Roost; and “FRGMNTS {WRLD CP 26},” a set of colored panels in a metal frame by Javy Ortiz, is on Massachusetts Street between Eighth and Ninth Streets.

The sixth work in the exhibition, “Lawrence United F.C. Wearable Public Art as Cultural Narrative” by Tim Hossler and Lizzy Arnold, will be pieces of Lawrence-themed soccer gear available for purchase at certain downtown shops during the World Cup.

The city has announced it will be holding an opening reception and walking tour for the exhibition on Friday, June 5, as well as a second walking tour on Friday, June 29. Both will start at 5:30 p.m. at Ninth and Massachusetts streets.