The Great Salt Lake: An Uplifting Artistic Oasis

Exhibition of works from the Salt Lake County Visual Art Collection, curated by Salt Lake County Art in Public Places

Opening Reception
Friday, April 18, 2025, 5-7pm

April 18, 2025 – December 15, 2025
Salt Lake County Government Center
2001 South State Street, South Building

Utah boasts some of the most diverse landscapes in the country, from the red rock formations of Southern Utah to the lush Uintas. The Great Salt Lake stands out as one of the most stunning and influential landscapes in the state. The exhibition “The Great Salt Lake: An Uplifting Artistic Oasis” aims to educate and highlight collaborative efforts supporting the Lake. Through art from the Salt Lake County Visual Art Collection, explore with us how artists use themes of environmental art, reflection, and memory.

The Great Salt Lake has inspired generations of artists and serves as a vital life force, supporting the land and wildlife around it. As an ecosystem of national significance, it impacts bird migrations on an international scale and influences snowpack levels in our mountains. Additionally, the Lake holds cultural importance for Utah’s Indigenous groups, including the Ute, Paiute, Goshute, and Shoshone.

This exhibition emphasizes the importance and impact of the Lake on our local community. Through artwork inspired by the environment, we can also explore the Great Salt Lake’s influence on artists in Utah. Using Salt Lake County resources and artistic inspiration, the exhibition tells the story of the Lake and encourages deeper exploration of its significance.

With a direct connection to the Great Salt Lake, “The Great Salt Lake: An Uplifting Artistic Oasis” spotlights this vital relationship. What memories do you have of the Great Salt Lake?

This exhibition was programmed in partnership with Wake the Great Salt Lake.

Image is “Two Spirits Fling Goodbye to the Parting Day” by Mabel Frazer, oil on canvas, 1930, courtesy Salt Lake County Arts and Culture