The 49th edition of the Utah Arts Festival has kicked off in Salt Lake City, drawing large crowds and bringing together a diverse array of talented artists eager to showcase their work.
Among them is sculptor Garett Loveless from Draper, who is displaying his bronze statues for the third consecutive year.
Loveless, who won Best in Show at last year’s festival, has brought a piece titled “Self-Reflection” to this year’s event.
The inspiration for this sculpture stemmed from a personal remark made about Loveless, which led him to ponder perceptions both internal and external.
“As soon as they said it, I realized it was true,” Loveless explained.
He added, “This piece is all about perception. It’s about how the outsider will see things the individual does not know — there are gaps in the reflection … they see things more clearly than the individual.”
The 2025 festival features over 800 artists, dancers, and musicians from across the country along with contributions from more than 900 volunteers working tirelessly behind the scenes.
Besides visual art exhibits, attendees can enjoy a variety of food and beverage stands, an interactive kids zone, live graffiti art, and film screenings throughout the weekend.
Newcomer Mandy Henebry has traveled from Boise, Idaho, to display her unique color clay pots at the festival.
With a dedication to ceramics spanning 35 years, Henebry aims to distinguish her pottery in an age-old art form.
“Pottery is one of the oldest art forms in the world, and it’s hard to stand apart with such an old art form,” she noted.
Another participant, Cory Ballis, has brought his blown glass creations from Fresno, California, despite facing some challenges from the weather.
On a particularly windy Friday afternoon, Ballis lost several glass pieces, yet he managed to keep his display full of vibrant dishware.
His distinct dish designs are inspired by imagery from space satellites, featuring colorful swirling patterns.
“Everything starts as clear glass at 2,100 degrees, and then I hand mix all the colors myself. I have 15 different colors that I mix,” Ballis said, reflecting on his craft.
With two decades of experience, Ballis emphasizes the precision required in blowing glass: “It’s very unforgiving. You have to be really precise with what you’re doing, and you have to pay attention all the time. It’s really hard to do, so it takes a lot of practice. It’s a challenge, and I enjoy that.”
For those interested in attending the Utah Arts Festival, tickets are available for purchase at uaf.org.
Options include single tickets and various multi-ticket packs such as a four-pack, a ten-pack, a family pack, and a VIP option.
Children under 12 can enjoy the festival free of charge.
The event runs daily from noon to 11 p.m. until Sunday, hosted at Library Square in Salt Lake City.
image source from：deseret
