Sculpting in Time: Land Art in the 21st Century

As historical land artworks re-enter public view, this panel asks what it means to care for artworks made from stone, fire, and time. Using new installations on Powder Mountain as a starting point to explore land art in the region more broadly, this discussion explores how institutions can honor the integrity of past works while introducing them to new audiences, in new contexts. What do maintenance and stewardship mean when the original impulse was anti-institutional, ephemeral, or site-specific?
This discussion is grounded in the specific challenges of land art in the American West, from its geographic isolation to the logistical demands of presentation. But it also pushes beyond logistics: What principles should guide us when we revisit historical works? How can we remain artist-centered in our approach to conservation and re-presentation? And what might a next generation of land art look like—responsive to climate, history, and public life?
The panel will explore the need for long-term commitment and adventurous new thinking in how we care for land art, especially at a moment when institutions are increasingly returning to earth-bound, elemental, and large-scale practices. Moderated by Powder Art Foundation Artistic Director, Matthew Thompson, this panel discussion will pose thought provoking questions to experts Jordan Carter and Mika Yoshitake.

Visit the How to Get Here page on the UMFA website for information on parking, public transit, and wayfinding instructions.

Presented by: The Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Powder Art Foundation, and Dia Art Foundation

Image Credit: Davina Semo - Reflector (2020 - 2024). Installation view, Powder Mountain. Photographer: Tristan Sadler

Host or Publisher Utah Museum of Fine Arts