Great Salt Lake: America's Inland Sea and Her Birds
Solo Photography Exhibition by Linda Dalton Walker at Red Butte Garden
There is a moment every artist remembers when everything shifts. For me, it happened roughly at the turn of the century. I was standing on a hillside at Farmington Bay, paintbrush in hand, working on a landscape painting of the Great Salt Lake. Suddenly, a massive gray bird with a six-foot wingspan took flight, its long S-curved neck and frayed feathers cutting right across my view.
I froze. My brush stopped mid-stroke. I reached for the camera I kept nearby for reference photos and snapped a few frames. That bird was a Great Blue Heron, my "spark bird." It didn't replace my love for oil painting; instead, it expanded it. My camera became an indispensable extension of my brushes, capturing the raw, fleeting moments in the field that continue to inspire my photography and oil paintings to this day.
Now, after twenty years of chasing light, wading through shallow mudflats, careening in airboats, and soaring overhead in a Cessna, I am deeply honored to invite you to my upcoming solo exhibition in Salt Lake City.
Great Salt Lake: America's Inland Sea and Her Birds | Exhibit
Growing up in the arms of the Great Salt Lake, floating in its hyper-saline waters with my siblings, and building sandcastles along its shores, this inland sea has always been part of who I am. But over the past two decades, as I've lain flat on foam pads along dirt roads or crouched in reeds watching Eared Grebes, Snowy Egrets, and Phalaropes, the landscape has dramatically shifted. The shorelines where I once sat to capture close-ups of spinning shorebirds are increasingly dry and cracked. This exhibition is a collection of both intimate bird portraits and sweeping lake landscapes, an authentic visual diary of the vibrant life that relies on this ecosystem, and a quiet plea to protect what we stand to lose if these waters disappear.
Meet the Artist Reception at Red Butte Garden
Whether you are a lifelong bird lover, an admirer of Utah's wild landscapes, or someone who wants to learn more about our local ecosystem, I would love for you to experience these images in person.
Please join me for the:
Meet the Artist Reception on Saturday, September 12th.
2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Please join me for the reception.
I’ll be sharing the behind-the-lens stories, the conservation challenges facing our birds, and the sheer joy of watching an inland sea come alive.
Exhibition & Venue Details
Exhibition Title: Great Salt Lake: America's Inland Sea and Her Birds
Dates: September 4 – September 29, 2026
Meet the Artist Reception: Saturday, September 12 | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Venue: Red Butte Garden and Arboretum Visitor Center Gallery
Address: 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108
Admission: Exhibit gallery viewing is free. To enjoy and view the garden, general admission is required, or free for garden members.
Artist Portfolio: View more work at www.lindadaltonwalker.com
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Do I need tickets to view the Great Salt Lake photography exhibit at Red Butte Garden?
A: Viewing the exhibit inside the Red Butte Garden Visitor Center Gallery is free to shop and view. However, if you wish to explore the outdoor botanical garden grounds, general garden admission fees apply (free for Red Butte Garden members).
Q: When is the Meet the Artist Reception with Linda Dalton Walker?
A: The artist reception will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM in the gallery space at Red Butte Garden and Arboretum.
Q: Are the Great Salt Lake bird and landscape prints in the exhibit available for purchase?
A: Yes, fine art prints featured in the Great Salt Lake: America's Inland Sea and Her Birds exhibition will be available for purchase through the Red Butte Garden gallery.
Q: Where is Red Butte Garden located, and where should I park?
A: Red Butte Garden and Arboretum is located at 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, near the University of Utah campus. Parking is free in the main Visitor Center lot.
About the Photographer
Linda Dalton Walker is an award-winning wildlife and nature photographer based in Utah. Raised near the shores of the Great Salt Lake, she has spent over twenty years documenting the fragile ecosystem of this inland saline sea and the millions of migratory birds that rely upon it.
In 2024, Linda was awarded Highly Commended by Bird Photographer of the Year and featured internationally in Conker Magazine (UK). Whether flying over the wetlands in a Cessna, careening through shallow waters in an airboat, or lying flat on dirt roads, Linda strives to use her lens to inspire conservation and raise awareness for threatened wildlife habitats. Her photography also serves as field inspiration for her oil paintings.
To view her portfolio, purchase fine art prints, or learn more about her work, visit:
Connect on Instagram: @lindadaltonwalkerart
