Utah Museum of Fine Art

Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA) is the premier arts institution in the state. Its impressively wide-ranging collections cover over 5,000 years, including an assortment of different civilisations and time periods throughout history.

The museum began life at the start of the last century on a very small scale as a one-room gallery for local artists. By 1951 it had increased to 800 artworks, and was given the title Utah Museum of Fine Arts. Due the continued growth of the collections, along with a desire to further enhance the experience of visitors, the museum moved to the Marcia and John Price Museum Building in the University of Utah in 2001.

Grab a ticket and a map from the entrance lobby where you can also enquire about the free tours of the permanent exhibitions that are run for groups. Today there are over 20,000 objects contained in the collections, from ancient relics to contemporary art. These include artefacts from the incredible ancient Egyptian society, swords from Asia and items from the chivalrous medieval knights of Europe. By way of contrast, the Art since 1945 exhibit displays a wide range of bright and arresting pop art, along with vibrant photography.

Local history and culture are explored in the Art of Utah and the West exhibit. This area contains beautiful watercolour representations of the imposing and arid Utah deserts, along with images of Native American warriors indigenous to this area.

When your feet need a rest, head to the museum café for a snack or a hot drink. Head outside to the outdoor seating area and enjoy the summer sun as you relax. The museum's gift shop contains a wide selection of gifts and souvenirs so be sure to pick something up for the art lovers back home.

Located on the University of Utah campus, the Utah Museum of Fine Arts is situated three kilometres from the centre of Salt Lake City. There is a TRAX light rail service which will bring you here. Parking on the campus is free of charge, but it can be very difficult to find a space. A nearby public car park is also available – this is free at weekends, but you have to pay during the week. UMFA is closed on Mondays and at the weekend.