125 Years of Collecting

Selections from the State Of Utah Alice Merrill Horne Art Collection

In 1899, Alice Merrill Horne, inspired by her lifelong education in the arts, introduced The Art Bill into the Utah State Legislature. Signed into law by Governor Heber M. Wells, the bill created the Utah Institute of Fine Arts, America’s first state-run arts agency. The newly-established Institute was given the mission to create and support Utah artists by collecting and displaying their artworks. 

125 years later, the Institute of Fine Arts has grown and evolved, with shifting names and missions. Today it is known as the Utah Division of Arts and Museums. The Division acts as a state coordinator and advisor on topics of importance to arts and museums communities. 

Despite its growth, the agency continues to place an emphasis on collecting work from Utah artists. Today, the State of Utah Alice Merrill Horne Art Collection comprises over 1,200 artworks and includes a variety of mediums, themes, and genres, from traditional oil paintings and bronze sculptures to photography and video art, folk arts, and performance art. Artworks from the Collection are displayed in prominent locations such as the Governor’s Mansion and the Utah State Capitol, in addition to public spaces of other agencies around the state. 

This traveling exhibition showcases a small selection of artworks collected over the decades. From recent acquisitions of living artists to artworks illustrating the state’s early history, discover the talent and variety of some of Utah’s finest artists.

Image credit:
Left image, detail: Rob Chipman "Zion Morning" Woodcut block print
Center image, detail: Anna Mackay Allred "Ohio Blue #1" Photo letterpress, woven silk tissue paper
Right image, detail: Emily Farnham "Jim Crawford" Oil on canvas

Resources

• Press Release
• Downloadable press photos
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• Educational Materials
  • “Why Teach Art?”
  • “Looking at Art”

2023-2024 Traveling Schedule