The Square Life

Contemporary art can be a scary thing. It is challenging, esoteric, and often viewed as elitist. What’s important to understand about contemporary art, however, is that with a little bit of understanding and context, it becomes exciting, engaging, and even entertaining. Below is a crash course on the best places to see artwork in Utah. There has never been a better time for contemporary art in Utah, and here’s why:

SALT LAKE ART CENTER
20 South West Temple, Salt Lake City
Newly appointed director Heather Ferrell has brought a renewed energy to this powerhouse of Art Centers. If you go there in January, you will see works by the likes of Kara Walker, Jenny Holzer, and Sue Coe. If you don’t know who they are, Google them. Trust me, this is a big deal.

UTAH MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
410 Campus Center Drive, Salt Lake City
Just-hired Jill Dawsey from the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) brings a whole new level of expertise and excitement to one of the coolest museums in the west. The UMFA has, in my opinion, the best permanent collection in the state.

KIMBALL ART CENTER 638 Park Avenue, Park City
Next time you’re in Park City, forget the cheesy tourist galleries on Main Street and instead opt for the sophistication and refinement of this beautifully restored art space.

BYU MUSEUM OF ART North Campus Drive, Provo
Jeff Lambson has come in from the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, D.C., and made an immediate impact. Go to the MOA right now and check out the Dan Steinhilber exhibit downstairs, one of the best shows to ever come through Utah.

SEGO ART CENTER 169 N. University Ave., Provo
Jason Metcalf has turned Provo inside out by curating monthly exhibits that stun, impress, and stupefy. Whether it’s giant amorphous structures, bulletproof beer cozies, or thousands of books forming a giant wall, the exhibits at Sego are always intriguing and backed up with scholarship from some of the best art minds in Utah.

CENTRAL UTAH ART CENTER
86 North Main Street, Ephraim
Started by Adam Bateman and run by Jared Latimer, the CUAC has cemented itself as a forerunner in contemporary thought and practice. With its stunning location in downtown Ephraim, the CUAC is well worth the drive just to see the building, let alone the world-class contemporary artists exhibiting there.