What does Latter-day Saint art look like? From breathtaking pioneer landscapes to contemporary installations, you can now explore Work & Wonder: 200 Years of Latter-day Saint Art at the Church History Museum, an exhibition that offers a rich and inspiring journey through the creative expressions of our faith and culture.
Organized by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Center for Latter-day Saint Arts, Work & Wonder features over 120 original works spanning three centuries, making it the largest and most comprehensive exhibition of its kind.
Curated by Heather Belnap, Ashlee Whitaker Evans, and Brontë Hebdon, the exhibit showcases works from across the globe. You’ll see a wide range of materials, styles, and cultural perspectives that reveal the profound depth and diversity of Latter-day Saint creativity.
Jump Into the Past, Present, and Future
Walking through the gallery, it’s clear that LDS art is so much more than just what you’d find in missionary pamphlets or chapel hallways. Instead, visitors are invited to explore a vibrant, evolving tradition of artistic expression.
Curator Heather Belnap says you can expect to “see the diverse, rich, and profound heritage that we have as a people.”
Here are a few can’t-miss highlights:
- The Fourteenth Ward Relief Society Album Quilt, a stunning portrait of women in Salt Lake City over 150 years ago
- The 10-foot tall “The Second Coming” by Harry Anderson, one of the most recognizable images in the LDS faith
- The storied plaster frieze “Eternal Progress” on display now for the first time since its unveiling at the 1933 World’s Fair, crafted by Avard Fairbanks
- “Hanging Family History” by Valerie Atkisson de Moura, a modern installation honoring generations of matriarchs on tiny, intricate paper triangles
- “Zona de concentración,” an interwoven steelwire installation symbolizing Jesus Christ by Mexican artist Ricardo Rendón
Inspiring & Engaging for All Ages
The exhibition offers something inspiring for everyone. Work & Wonder invites visitors to see how art can illuminate the gospel.
With activity carts and docents greeting visitors of all ages, it can be a meaningful, exciting experience for kids and youth, too. If you’re bringing little visitors, check out the Center’s website to get their family gallery guide.
“We really feel like everyone that comes will be edified both, spiritually as well as artistically.” Says curator Ashlee Whitaker Evans.
Sitting in front of the wall of paintings of Jesus Christ, one can’t help but feel the warmth and love for the Savior evident through the different artists’ renderings. With each artist’s voice, the gallery becomes an international testimony meeting of experiences as members of the Church.
Plan your visit today and experience the inspiration of Latter-day Saint art like never before.
Work & Wonder: 200 Years of Latter-day Saint Art
Open now until March 1st, 2025 at the Church History Museum
(45 N W Temple St, Salt Lake City, UT 84150)
Museum hours: 10-6pm, & open late until 8pm on Tues, Wed, & Thurs (closed on Sundays).