About

The Visual Art Collection has more than 700 pieces, including paintings, photographs, sculpture, and mixed media works. The unifying theme of the Collection is Utah. Each artist has a tie to Utah, they either live here or create here.

Salt Lake County honors the spirit and values of our residents through the Collection and each piece is on display at county facilities, with the majority displayed at the County Government Center on State Street and 2100 South in Salt Lake City.

Visit the Collection online to find your favorite art piece or works by your favorite artist or what art is at the county facility closest to you.

VIEW VISUAL ART COLLECTION

Yearly Acquisitions

Explore the Collection by year to find the works acquired.

View Acquisitions By Year

Visual Art Collection Acquisition Subcommittee

Art in Public Places receives an annual budget to purchase new artwork for the Collection. Our Visual Art Collection Acquisition Subcommittee, a part of our volunteer Salt Lake County Arts & Culture Advisory Board, reviews and recommends artworks to the Advisory Board for the County to purchase.

The Subcommittee includes one member of the Arts & Culture Advisory Board, at least one member of Salt Lake County staff, County residents with advanced knowledge of visual art, and other interested citizens.

Click here for more information about the Arts & Culture Advisory Board. 

Current Acquisition Subcommittee members are:

• Nancy Holman - Chair
• Jorge Rodriguez - Advisory Board Representative
• River August - Salt Lake County Employee Representative
• Lee Dever
• Dara Hartman
• Cara Krebs
• Tee Longhair
• Colour Maisch
• Sue Martine
• Nancy Rivera
• Jorge Rojas
• Sarahi Soriano
• Bianca Velasques
• Daphne Williams
• Niki Chan Wylie  

Donations

If you are interested in donating an art piece by a Utah artist to the Visual Art Collection, please contact Kate Ithurralde, the manager of the Art in Public Places program.

The Collection Subcommittee and the Arts & Culture Advisory Board carefully reviews potential art donations before they are formally accepted into the collection.

Nomination of Artwork

Salt Lake County Art in Public Places invites the public to nominate artwork—and welcome self-nominations from artists—for consideration in the Salt Lake County Visual Art Collection. Artwork submissions are reviewed annually between May and July. To submit a nomination, please complete the form below.

Nomination Form

Artwork Appraisals

Salt Lake County Art & Culture is unable to assist with artwork appraisals. If you need an appraisal, contact the American Society of Appraisers to find a qualified professional near you.

About

The Percent for Art collection are artworks created to complement a specific location or building. These art pieces are part of the design and construction of new county facilities and include sculptures, murals, and even stained glass.

Most installations are permanent, some are temporary, and each piece brings attention to and beautifies our County spaces. We have more than 100 Percent for Art installations throughout the Salt Lake Valley.

Visit the Collection online to find your favorite art piece or works by your favorite artist or what art is at the county facility closest to you.

VIEW PERCENT FOR ART COLLECTION

Explore the vibrant Percent for Art Collection, featuring diverse works located in each of Salt Lake County's six districts, showcasing the creativity and talent of our local artists.

VIEW BY DISTRICT

Percent for Art Ordinance

In 1982, the County Council adopted the Percent for Art Ordinance. This Ordinance sets aside 1% of capital improvement or development project funds to commission, purchase and installation of artworks at county facilities.

Click here to learn more about Percent for Art Ordinance.

Percent for Art Selection Process

Each project opportunity is advertised nationally and sometimes only in Utah. Anyone can submit their idea through the County’s Request for Proposal process. Each application is reviewed by a committee representing the County facility, the architect and construction firm, local art experts, and other relevant County staff.

Click here to see open Percent for Art Opportunities.

Community Engagement Exhibitions

Art in Public Places partners with various Salt Lake County agencies to bring unique art exhibitions and experiences to public spaces. The goal of these exhibitions is to create site-specific works that spark imagination and invite the community to engage with Salt Lake County owned venues, parks and other facilities.

View Exhibitions

Free Collection Tours

Tours of both the Visual Art Collection and Percent for Art Collection are free and available Monday through Friday. We limit groups to 20 people and tours last about an hour. Tours can be customized on request.

Please submit your tour request at least six weeks in advance. We will contact you to confirm date, time, and custom requests.

Civic Definition

1. You use civic to describe people or things that have an official status in a town or city  … the civic leaders of Salt Lake County.
2. You use civic to describe the duties or feeling that people have because they belong to a particular community …a sense of civic pride.

Overview

The Salt Lake County Civic Museum is an Art in Public Places project that provides welcoming spaces to spotlight unheard and often overlooked narratives of our community through the exhibition of cultural items (fine artworks, folk artworks, historical pieces, etc). 

Through the Civic Museum, each selected participant will showcase up to two cultural exhibitions at specific County facilities over two years, with oversight and support from the Salt Lake County Art in Public Places program. Participants will be selected via an open-call application process reviewed by a panel of County employees and community members.

The Salt Lake County Civic Museum is committed to promoting the mission and programming of artistic, cultural, and other community-based nonprofit organizations. Civic Museum participants will provide the County with a deeper understanding of shared experiences and innovative themes within their communities through the exhibitions they put on as a part of the project.

The desired outcome of the Civic Museum is to provide residents and visitors with a richer connection to Salt Lake County’s diverse voices.

For more details on the Civic Museum please read the 2024 Civic Museum Overview. 

Application Period

Interested organizations must submit a completed application via a Smartsheet's online form, to include supporting materials that describe their proposed exhibition pieces and demonstrate the civic/community significance of said pieces in alignment with Civic Museum goals. The current application period opens on June 12 and closes on July 26, 2024. All applications must be submitted by July 26 at 5 pm MST.

Eligibility

The Art in Public Places Civic Museum is open to arts-related organizations based in Salt Lake County. Eligible organizations include, but are not limited to, cultural and nonprofit entities with a focus on arts, culture, and community engagement. Individual artists are not eligible for this program.

Partnership Term

Selected partners will enter into a two-year partnership term with the Art in Public Places program. During this period, the program will work collaboratively with the partner organization to promote their mission and provide a dedicated space for showcasing their artistic work.

Application Process:

Interested organizations will need to submit a completed application form, along with supporting materials that demonstrate their artistic work and mission alignment. Before you submit your application please read the 2024 Civic Museum Overview. 

Applicants will not be able to save their application and return to it later. Once they hit submit, the application will be finalized and submitted. It is advised that applicants pre-write their answers in a word document and then copy their final responses into the application form. The 2024 Civic Museum Application Questions, the complete list of questions you will find on the application can be found HERE.

Notification of Selection:

Selected organizations will be notified of their acceptance into the program by August 2024. Upon selection, partners will enter into a formal agreement outlining the terms and expectations of the partnership.

Contact Information:

For inquiries or further information regarding the Art in Public Places Civic Museum partnership program, please contact:

Kate Ithurralde
Art in Public Places Manager
kithurralde@slco.org

Call for Artists: Interior Public Art Opportunity

Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Arts Center | South Jordan, Utah
Budget: Up to $220,000
Deadline to Apply: July 11, 2025, at 1:00 PM (Mountain Time)
Apply on CaFÉ →

Salt Lake County invites artists and artist teams based in the United States to apply for a major interior public art commission at the new Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Arts Center, currently under construction in the Daybreak community of South Jordan, Utah. Up to $220,000 has been designated for this project.

This call is open to artists who can bring bold, thoughtful, and site-responsive work to this new regional arts hub, designed to reflect the vibrancy of the surrounding community and the transformative power of the arts.

About the Project

The selected artist(s) will create one or more permanent interior artworks for the new Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Arts Center. This opportunity is part of a broader public art initiative for the building, with other exterior art projects planned under a separate call.

Located in the heart of Daybreak—a walkable, culturally rich, and rapidly growing area—the Arts Center is supported by a generous $25 million gift from the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation. Once completed, the center will be operated by Salt Lake County Arts & Culture.

Project Goals

Artists are asked to consider the following criteria in their proposals:

Required:

• Aesthetic Compatibility: Artwork should complement the architecture and enhance the visual experience of the space.

• Safety and Durability: Designed for long-term public use with minimal maintenance.

• Quality and Craftsmanship: Demonstrates artistic excellence, innovation, and thoughtful design.

• Scale Appropriateness: Well-scaled for the site and integrated into the building’s interior design.

Encouraged:

• Evoke movement or fluidity to reflect the dynamic nature of the arts.

• Connect with the venue’s “drape” design motif.

• Act as a catalyst for creativity, inspiring visitors and celebrating artistic expression.

• Establish a meaningful connection to the local community and surrounding natural environment.

Artist Selection Process

This is a two-phase competition:

Phase I – Qualifications
Artists submit a letter of interest, a resume, and up to 10 images of past work via CaFÉ by July 11, 2025. Up to five semi-finalists will be selected to develop a proposal and present it to the Selection Committee. Each semi-finalist will receive a proposal stipend.

Phase II – Final Proposals
Semi-finalists will present detailed proposals and meet virtually with the Selection Committee in fall 2025. One finalist will be selected for the commission.

Eligibility: Open to artists or artist-led teams legally able to work in the United States and with a valid U.S. Tax ID (SSN, EIN, or ITIN).

Key Dates

• Posting Date: May 27, 2025

• Optional Pre-Proposal Meeting (WebEx): June 20, 2025 at 4:00 PM MT

• Questions Due: June 27, 2025 at 1:00 PM MT

• Qualifications Due (Phase I): July 11, 2025 at 1:00 PM MT

• Notification of Semi-Finalists: July 23, 2025

• Mandatory Semi-Finalist Meeting (WebEx): August 5, 2025 at 4:00 PM MT

• Final Proposals Due (Phase II): September 17, 2025 at 1:00 PM MT

• Finalist Interviews: September 30, 2025

• Award Notice: October 7, 2025

• Anticipated Installation Completion: Early 2028

How to Apply

Visit CaFÉ to apply>
Visit Bonfire to download the full Request for Qualifications (RFQ) under the "Supporting Documentation" section.

Questions? All questions regarding this RFQ are to be directed only to Bibi Whitehead at BWhitehead@saltlakecounty.gov by June 27th, 2025, before 1:00 pm MT.

Call for Artists: Exterior Public Art Opportunity

Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Arts Center | South Jordan, Utah
Budget: Up to $300,000
Deadline to Apply: July 18, 2025, at 1:00 PM (Mountain Time)
Apply on CaFÉ →

Salt Lake County invites artists and artist teams based in the United States to apply for a major exterior public art commission at the new Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Arts Center, currently under construction in the Daybreak community of South Jordan, Utah. Up to $300,000 has been designated for this project.

This call is open to artists who can create bold, innovative, and site-responsive artworks that reflect the energy of the community and the transformative nature of the arts.

About the Project

The selected artist(s) will create one or more permanent exterior artworks for the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Arts Center. This opportunity is part of a multi-project public art plan for the building, with additional interior opportunities offered under separate calls.

The Arts Center is located in Daybreak—a vibrant, walkable, master-planned community that blends modern living with cultural amenities. The $25 million facility, supported by the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation, will be operated by Salt Lake County Arts & Culture and will feature a theater, gallery, and classrooms.

Project Goals

Artists are asked to consider the following criteria in their proposals:

Required:

• Aesthetic Compatibility: Art should enhance and harmonize with the building’s architectural and landscape design.

• Safety and Durability: Designed for long-term, low-maintenance outdoor display in a public setting.

• Quality and Craftsmanship: Demonstrates artistic excellence and innovation.

• Scale Appropriateness: Well-scaled to complement and integrate with the building and site.

Encouraged:

• Establish a bold, iconic identity for the venue.

• Incorporate dynamic lighting or reflective elements in harmony with the building’s glowing “lantern” concept.

• Support the Center’s mission by creating a welcoming, inclusive experience.

• Respond to the natural environment and cultural energy of the Daybreak community.

Artist Selection Process

This is a two-phase competition:

Phase I – Qualifications
Artists submit a letter of interest, a resume, and up to 10 images of past work via CaFÉ by July 18, 2025. Up to five semi-finalists will be selected to develop a proposal and present it to the Selection Committee. Each semi-finalist will receive a $2,500 honorarium (inclusive of travel and materials).

Phase II – Final Proposals
Semi-finalists will attend a virtual stakeholder meeting and present detailed proposals in person in Salt Lake City. One finalist will be selected for the commission.

Eligibility: Open to artists or artist-led teams legally able to work in the United States and with a valid U.S. Tax ID (SSN, EIN, or ITIN).

Key Dates

Posting Date: June 3, 2025
Optional Pre-Proposal Meeting (WebEx): June 20, 2025 at 4:00 PM MT
Questions Due: July 3, 2025 at 1:00 PM MT
Qualifications Due (Phase I): July 18, 2025 at 1:00 PM MT
Notification of Semi-Finalists: August 5, 2025
Mandatory Semi-Finalist Meeting (WebEx): August 15, 2025 at 12:00 PM MT
Final Proposals Due (Phase II): September 24, 2025 at 1:00 PM MT
Finalist Interviews (In Person): October 14, 2025
Award Notice: October 21, 2025
Anticipated Installation Completion: Early 2028

How to Apply

Visit CaFÉ to apply →
Visit Bonfire to download the full Request for Qualifications (RFQ) under the "Supporting Documentation" section.

Questions? All questions must be directed to Bibi Whitehead at BWhitehead@saltlakecounty.gov by July 3, 2025, before 1:00 PM MT.

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