Through a keen awareness of the spaces we inhabit—whether interior or exterior, natural or built, real or imagined — Space Maker explores the tensions, histories, and myths that shape our experiences of the world. These works, created by a variety of artists in a dynamic range of media, question the bonds between place and identity, reflect on our relationships to the land, and explore the realities that emerge when an imaginary world is created.

Space Maker is a celebration of the University of Utah’s artistic community. The thirty-plus artists featured in this exhibition serve as faculty within the University of Utah’s Department of Art and Art History and comprise a diverse group of thinkers and creators who share a commitment to their work as artists and educators. This exhibition provides a snapshot of their distinct and varied art practices, which include traditional and innovative techniques from charcoal on paper and hand-built ceramics to digital coloring and 3D models. These artworks were largely created over the past year and undeniably influenced by individual and collective experiences of a tumultuous time marked by stay-at-home-orders, nationwide anti-racist protests, and a growing awareness of the impact of climate change on our environment. Together they offer us a space to observe, reflect, and connect.

Space Maker is curated by Nancy Rivera, a Mexican-American visual artist, curator, and arts administrator based in Salt Lake City. Rivera is the visual arts coordinator for the Utah Division of Arts and Museums.

Image: Sight Lines: Recent Work by University of Utah Faculty, 2018, courtesy of Utah Museum of Fine Arts