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Art & Architecture

The Man with the Plan

Kletting's Original Site SketchRichard K.A. Kletting, the building’s chief architect, designed the Utah State Capitol in 1911 as a part of a competition between many premier architects of his time.  Considered by many as the “Dean of Utah Architecture,” Kletting designed many other prominent local buildings such as Saltair and the Salt Palace.  He was born July 1, 1858 in Wurttemberg, Germany and traveled to the United States with two of his brothers in 1883.  Kletting came to Salt Lake City unintentionally when he followed his bags from his scheduled stop in Denver.  He was hired by an architectural firm the day after he arrived.

The Capitol Art Collection -
From the Old to the New
Visitors to the gloriously restored Capitol will see several new and spectacular additions to nearly 70 familiar works--the murals, governors' portraits, and sculptures officially listed as permanent loans to the Collection from the Utah Arts Council's Alice Collection. Many of the free-standing works of art are now installed in restored spaces that enhance conservation and cleaning. New period frames have been constructed for some of the paintings. Appropriate mounts and newly written labels that tell the story of each painting and artist are part of the public art program in the restored Capitol. There are 91 works inside the Capitol that were not on display prior to its restoration. These include new murals in the House and Senate Chambers and new sculptures inside niches of the four piers of the Rotunda.