Role of the Museum

One of the largest and best-attended art museums in the Mountain West, the BYU Museum of Art offers a dynamic exhibition schedule that includes displays of its permanent collection, world-class traveling shows and thought-provoking exhibitions organized by museum curators. One of the museum’s most important roles is its contribution to the academic mission of Brigham Young University. From the research and study of the artworks in the permanent collection, to the teaching and learning that occurs in classrooms and galleries, the museum plays an important role in the academic pursuits of many students at BYU. At the same time, the museum connects to broad community audiences through its exhibitions and educational programming.

Campus Contributions

The Museum of Art is an integrated teaching and research environment. Student employees and interns receive academic and pre-professional training in many fields relating to art museum practice. The university’s masters degree in Art History and Curatorial Studies is a formal collaboration between the museum and the art history area of the Visual Arts Department in the university’s College of Fine Arts and Communications. Museum personnel teach a number of courses offered in both undergraduate and graduate programs and supervise master’s theses.

Inside the Museum

The Brigham Young University Museum of Art is a four-story, modern facility of more than 102,000 square feet in size. The museum houses ten exhibition galleries, an auditorium, classrooms, a small theater, a print study room, a gift store, and security and administrative offices. The museum also contains state-of-the-art design, fabrication, imaging, registration, and storage areas. The Museum Café overlooks a beautiful sculpture garden.

Design and Architecture

The Museum of Art was designed by Los Angeles architect James Langenheim. Former directors of lighting and design at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, LeMar Terry and Stuart Silver, assisted in determining the sophisticated lighting requirements and the best functional use of space. Prominent personnel from such associations as the Smithsonian Institution, the Getty Museum, and the National Gallery of Art also contributed to the design and planning of the building. The objective of these designers was to construct an art museum that not only exhibited art but was itself a work of art. The building’s articulated triangular shape provides a constant change in size, direction, form and light.

Notice: Visitors may be filmed, photographed, or recorded by the BYU Museum of Art for educational and promotional uses, including for posting on the BYU Museum of Art website, facebook pages, and other public websites.