Step Inside Southern Utah’s Art Scene with New Gallery Exhibits

Southern Utah's vibrant art scene is abuzz this January with a series of compelling exhibitions and events that showcase the region's rich artistic talent.

 

Red Cliff Gallery in St. George is hosting the "America on the Road Art Exhibit," opening on Friday, January 9, 2026. This exhibition invites visitors to explore diverse interpretations of American landscapes and experiences, ranging from hiking scenes to abstract expressions of the vastness felt upon first seeing Zion National Park. The opening reception and awards ceremony will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on January 9, with the exhibition running through February 5. The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m.

 

In Cedar City, the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) is unveiling three new exhibitions starting January 17, 2026. "The Flowing Line: Psychedelia & the Art Nouveau Revival" delves into the influence of Art Nouveau on psychedelic art, featuring Fillmore West concert posters. "Mass Produced: The Advent of Affordable Art" examines the early years of Associated American Artists through prints from the 1930s and 1940s. Additionally, artist Bianca Velasquez presents "You're the Best!," a reimagining of the concept of winning and achievement through reassembled trophies. These exhibitions will be on display through April 24, March 7, and March 7, respectively.

 

Meanwhile, the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA) in Salt Lake City is set to open "Altered States in the Acid West" on January 16, 2026. This major group exhibition brings together twenty-three contemporary artists who reconsider the stories, symbols, and cinematic language that have shaped ideas of the American West. Drawing inspiration from the "acid western," the exhibition explores how frontier imagery can be distorted, reframed, or undone, treating the West as an unstable, dreamlike terrain shaped by myth, belief, and competing histories. The opening reception will also feature the premiere of Ragnar Kjartansson's video work "Sunday Without Love," along with new exhibitions by artists-in-residence Sara Serratos and Jude Agboada, and "Instrumentos de silencio" by Gonzalo Silva & Susana Silva. A special performance by Chaz Prymek will accompany the event.

 

These exhibitions offer a unique opportunity to engage with the dynamic art scene of Southern Utah, reflecting the region's cultural diversity and creative spirit.