Purple Rain in the Emerald City

Over the course of his towering music career, Prince Rogers Nelson went by any number of names — Jamie Starr, The Artist Formerly Known as Prince, The Purple One — but for this new show at MoPop, he’s simply called Prince from Minneapolis . The emphasis on his hometown reflects the content of the show, organized by the Weisman Art Museum at the University of Minnesota. The collection showcases striking work by several Minneapolis photographers who Prince sought out to help craft his image, and illuminates the artist’s intense connection to his city. The 50-some artifacts also reveal the inspiration Prince provided to visual artists, including Seattle’s own Troy Gua, whose meticulously crafted “Le Petit Prince” dolls pay small-scale homage to the giant music legend. (MoPOP, April 6, 2019 – Jan. 4, 2020. $26-$28)