This cherished cultural flagship is one of the state’s most popular visitor attractions, as well as a valuable educational facility.
The Utah Museum of Fine Arts displays over five centuries of art from the four corners of the world. From Ancient Egypt to Pop Art, visitors are invited on a journey of discovery which offers some surprising twists and turns.From humble beginnings as a one-room gallery for local artists to display their work, the museum gradually began to take shape. By 1951 the collection comprised around 800 artworks and took its current name. In 2001 it relocated to the Marcia & John Price Museum Building on the University of Utah campus, just a few kilometres to the east of Salt Lake City centre. Since then it has expanded into a world-class facility with a permanent collection of nearly 20,000 exhibits.Purchase your ticket in the main entrance hall and pick up a map to guide you through the rooms, or book a place on one of the free guided tours. Get a flavour of your host state in the Utah and the West exhibit, featuring colourful portraits of Native American warriors and awe-inspiring landscapes, or travel back in time to Ancient Egypt with the museum’s priceless collection of artefacts from the age of the Pharaohs. Go psychedelic at the Art Since 1945 exhibit, or gasp at the intricately patterned weapons of Asian sword fighters.Once you’ve thoroughly explored the permanent collection, check to see if there are any temporary exhibitions or special events to coincide with your visit. Then contemplate your day over a drink or a snack at the café, before searching for a memento or two in the gift shop.Take the TRAX light rail service to the university campus for a quick and efficient journey to the museum. Free parking is available at the university but spaces are limited alternative free parking at weekends is offered in the nearby public car park, which charges during the week. The museum is closed on Mondays and public holidays.
