Latter-day Saint art showcased at Salt Lake City's Church History Museum

An exhibition titled "Work and Wonder: 200 Years of Latter-day Saint Art" is now open at the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City. The exhibit showcases a variety of artworks created by, for, and about members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1830 to the present.

Laura Paulsen Howe, team lead from the Church History Museum, explained that the exhibition explores what it means to be a Latter-day Saint through thematic rather than chronological displays. “The exhibition highlights four different themes that examine what it means to be a member of the Church,” said Howe. These themes include 'Memory and Archive,' 'Individual and the Church,' 'Sacred Spaces,' and 'Identity.'

The exhibition has been organized with contributions from donors associated with the Center for Latter-day Saint Arts. Curators like Heather Belnap have collected pieces over five years, presenting various mediums including paintings, sculptures, textiles, and video art. “We have video art, a lot of textiles, which have been incredibly important to our tradition, and illustrations,” said Belnap.

Curator Ashlee Whitaker Evans emphasized the diversity of artists featured in the exhibit. She highlighted Julie Yuen Yim's painting "Partake of His Goodness," noting its traditional Chinese brushwork style. “It’s this wonderful melding of these scenes where Christ heals and bringing [that] into every time, every place, every location,” Evans said.

Among notable works are Harry Anderson's "The Second Coming" and Avard Fairbanks' sculptural frieze from the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago. A famous quilt from 1857 has also been reunited after being cut in half years ago.

Belnap expressed hope that visitors would gain an expanded understanding of art's power in spiritual contexts. “We also hope that it expands people’s understanding of the power of art to draw closer to God,” she said.

Evans added that she hopes this exhibit will spark discussions about Latter-day Saint art. “Our hope is that this exhibit will be a springboard for so many dialogues about what Latter-day Saint art is,” she stated.

Howe encouraged visitors to see both familiar and new pieces in the exhibition: “I hope people will come and see familiar pieces they’re excited to see and new things that will delight.”

The exhibition runs until March 1, 2025, with free admission. It aims to engage visitors both spiritually and artistically.