Two young girls sit closely together on a bench in an art museum, smiling as they take a selfie. One girl wears a sweatshirt that says love means family and the other has a red headband and yellow rain boots. Paintings hang on the wall behind them.

UMFA Receives Art Bridges Foundation Funding Through  Nationwide ‘Access for All’ Initiative  

The Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA) at the University of Utah has been awarded funding from Art Bridges Foundation, the national arts nonprofit founded by philanthropist Alice Walton. The funding is part of “Access for All,” an Art Bridges initiative providing $40 million to 64  museums nationwide.
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Framed portraits of people in traditional attire and body art are arranged on a white gallery wall, showcasing cultural expressions and patterns in a well-lit exhibition space.

New Exhibition Shares a Living Legacy with UMFA Visitors this August

Comprised of over 150 photographs and narratives, Tatau displays the work of Samoan tattoo masters (tufuga tā tatau), with a special focus on the influential Sulu‘ape family.
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Four parchment panels display a dynamic pencil sketch of a horse in motion, with its mane flowing and legs extended as if galloping. The panels are aged and show visible wear along the edges.

UMFA Receives Bank of America Conservation Grant

The grant will fund conservation treatment on drawings discovered within the framework of Chiura Obata’s (1885–1975) "Two Running Horses" (1932) during conservation efforts also funded by Bank of America in 2022.
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A woman with short dark hair, wearing a brown top with gold stripes and small gold earrings, smiles at the camera in front of a blurred, light-colored background.

Nancy Rivera Joins UMFA Staff in Key Director Role

The Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA) at the University of Utah is pleased to announce Nancy Rivera as the UMFA’s new director of planning and program. Nancy is a talented artist, curator and arts administrator who will lead cross-departmental work to creatively utilize the collections, exhibitions, and programs of the UMFA to engage and expand participation across new and existing audiences.
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A teacher stands near students drawing at their desks in a classroom. A photo of a mountain is projected on a screen behind her, and colorful educational posters decorate the wall.

UMFA Educator Honored with NAEA Award

The Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA) at the University of Utah is thrilled to announce that Katie Seastrand, UMFA’s manager of school and teacher programs, has been awarded the 2023 Pacific Region Museum Education Art Educator Award by the National Art Education Association.
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A woman with straight, light brown hair and blue eyes smiles at the camera. She is wearing a black top and dangly earrings, with a blurred yellow and beige patterned background.

UMFA Announces New Modern and Contemporary Curator

The Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA) at the University of Utah is delighted to announce that Emily Lawhead has joined the UMFA staff as associate curator of modern and contemporary art.
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Three people pose together outdoors, dressed formally. The woman on the left wears a sleeveless red dress and glasses, the woman in the center wears a bright blue suit, and the man on the right wears a black tuxedo and bow tie.

Price Family Establishes Major Endowment at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts

$5 million endowment will support UMFA executive director position The Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA) at the University of Utah (the U) has received a $5 million gift from […]
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A confident woman with short hair in a black off-the-shoulder dress and shawl stands with arms crossed, wearing large earrings and bracelets, set against a dramatic orange and red sky background.

Many Wests Offers More Inclusive View

A groundbreaking, nationally touring exhibition re-examining the American West through modern and contemporary art is coming to Salt Lake City in early 2023.
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A person wearing glasses and a mask points to a painted horse on a large folding screen while others observe, suggesting an educational or guided art presentation.

Research and Grant Roundup

Research, Awards, and Conservation Grants awarded to the UMFA.
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A woman with wavy brown hair wearing a colorful beaded necklace and a black top smiles at the camera. The background is softly blurred with hints of yellow and blue.

UMFA Announces New Senior Curator

The Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA) at the University of Utah is delighted to announce that Alisa McCusker has joined the UMFA staff as senior curator.  McCusker brings to […]
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