Public Art

A stainless steel sculpture with a twisting double-helix form in front of new medical facility.

Utah Public Art Program Celebrates
New Additions to the Collection

It’s been a very busy summer for us, and we’re excited to share some updates with you!

We were honored to attend numerous ribbon-cutting ceremonies this summer throughout Utah to celebrate new state facilities along with public art pieces commissioned through our program. You can view a gallery of photos here.

Pictured above is Mark Aeling’s piece, “Nexus,” installed in front of the brand-new U. of U. Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine. This facility provides access to innovative training opportunities for more than 500 students across 26 clinical and science departments. Inspired by the double helix of DNA and the human spine, Nexus serves as a metaphor for life itself — making it a great addition to the School of Medicine.

A group of people standing underneath a vibrant ceiling installation

Next, we traveled to St. George to celebrate the grand opening of the Utah Tech America First Performing Arts Center, along with SOFTlab’s new piece, “Field of Motion,” pictured above. Inspired by wind, waves, and choreographed performance, the installation features thousands of precisely cut and bent brass fins. The tips of the fins are finished in vibrant colors inspired by local desert wildflowers, creating a sense of movement as people walk beneath it. The artwork’s dynamic design echoes the energy of dance and performance, creating a natural connection to the space.

At the end of August, MTECH opened its newest campus — a large education and training facility in Heber City. We also celebrated Scot Olson’s bronze sculpture, “A Foundation for Success” (pictured below), along with the dedication of the building. Inspired by the peaks of Mount Timpanogos, the base of the sculpture serves as both a metaphorical and literal foundation for students. The two figures showcase a range of disciplines taught at the institution, emerging from this foundation and symbolizing students’ potential for future success.

A man stands next to an exterior sculpture of a nurse figure and welder figure emerging from a sculpted stone base.

We wrapped up our summer of ribbon-cutting celebrations in Logan at the new USU Thomas and Patricia Willis Veterinary Medical Education Building. The college will play an important role in addressing Utah’s shortage of veterinarians and preparing the next generation of veterinary professionals. Commissioned for the building, Dawn Agnew Mundell’s bronze and granite sculpture, “A Long Tale,” features a life-sized female veterinary figure joined by a dog, foal, and cat. The figure represents the future of veterinary medicine, while the animals reflect the different stages of life and the wide range of patients veterinarians may care for throughout their careers.

A bronze sculpture of a female sitting on a granite base, interacting with a dog, cat, and small foal.

We want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to everyone who helped bring these new facilities to life. And, of course, a special thank-you to the talented artists whose pieces now enhance those spaces. We are thrilled to welcome these works to the Utah Public Art collection!