The many museums that are dedicated to showcasing the art of different eras, peoples and cultures, are wonderful places to go to develop new understanding and insights about the artists and the message they are relaying through their art. Often, a sense of connection is developed between the museum patron and the artist. In some ways, thoughtfully viewing the pieces within a museum of art can even provide a spiritual experience and can bring about increased self awareness and understanding.



For those who work diligently to create the beautiful and meaningful art exhibitions that are found at a fine art museum, they strive to create presentations of art that lift and inspire. In most cases, the overriding desire is to foster an experience for the visitor through the various exhibitions that will nurture a more reflective state of mind, will increase the capacity for deeper inquiry, will foster a greater commitment to excellence and integrity, and will heighten the appreciation for other people, their cultures and ideas.

As of yet, the Museum of Art at BYU, or Brigham Young University, does not have a large following outside of the Mountain West where it is located. However, the facility, located in the college town of Provo, Utah, is one of the largest art museums in the region and it draws a significant number of visitors throughout the year, thanks to the dynamic rotation of art exhibitions that are showcased yearly.

The BYU art museum features an extensive permanent collection of art, world-class traveling art shows and a variety of unique temporary gallery exhibitions that help to fulfill the unique mandate and goals of the museum, as set out by the administration of the university and the museum. Accordingly, one of the most important roles of the museum is to contribute to the overall academic mission of the university.

From aspects of research and detailed study of the artwork in the museum collections, to the instruction and learning that happens in the art exhibitions, galleries, and classrooms, the museum is seen as playing a key role in the academic goals and objectives of many students at BYU. The museum also connects to broader community audiences through its many varied art exhibitions and community educational programs.

Since it first opened its doors in the fall of 1993, the Museum of Art at Brigham Young University has quickly become recognized as one of the premier university art museums anywhere in North America. In 2004, the Association of Art Museum Directors conducted a survey of more than 150 member museums. The BYU facility ranked number one in attendance for university campus art museums.

The BYU art museum has a permanent collection that in comprised of more than 16,500 art objects, which have a special emphasis on American historic art and religious art. The American art history collection is made up of paintings, photography, prints and works of sculpture from the later part of the 18th century to the present time. This collection includes significant pieces from the Hudson River School landscape paintings and many works of American impressionism as well.

Aside from the many permanent art exhibitions that the BYU Museum of Art features, the facility also frequently houses a number of traveling art exhibitions that come to them on loan from some of the world's finest museums. Some of the exhibitions that have been recently featured have come from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the London Museum, the Vatican, the Israel Antiquities Authority, and many other well-known collections.