Utah art as activism: Protecting the Great Salt Lake.

Art in Utah has always been shaped by the land, from red rock canyons to alpine peaks. Today it also carries an urgent message: our environment is at risk. Nowhere is this more evident than the Great Salt Lake, which has reached historic lows in recent years. As a Salt Lake City artist, my work uses illustration not only to celebrate Utah’s beauty but also to call attention to the environmental crises threatening our future.

The Great Salt Lake as subject and symbol

The Great Salt Lake is more than a landmark, it is an ecosystem that supports millions of migratory birds, moderates Utah’s climate, and sustains local industries. Yet shrinking water levels put these systems in jeopardy. Through art, I aim to visualize both the lake’s surreal beauty with its pink waters, mirrored skies, and salt-crusted shorelines, and its fragility. Art becomes a way to hold space for both wonder and warning.

Why art matters in activism

Illustration can simplify complex issues and make them accessible. A single image of the receding shoreline or a split-colored salt pond can communicate urgency in a way statistics alone cannot. Utah art, when tied to activism, creates conversation and invites people to see themselves as part of the story — as both caretakers and beneficiaries of the land.

Ski culture, snowpack, and the lake

The health of the Great Salt Lake is directly tied to snowpack in the Wasatch Mountains. When winters are dry, less snowmelt flows into the lake, accelerating its decline. For Utah’s ski culture, this connection is critical: strong snow years mean both better skiing and a healthier watershed. In this way, the lake has become a symbol not just for conservationists, but for everyone who loves Utah’s outdoors.

Art as a call to protect what we love

By weaving the Great Salt Lake into my illustration work, I hope to inspire others to think about conservation differently. Art can make the invisible visible.  From microscopic brine shrimp to the long-term impacts of drought, and encourage action. Whether it’s reducing water use, supporting policy changes, or amplifying awareness, every effort matters.

Utah art as activism is about more than aesthetics. It’s about using creativity to protect the places we love. The Great Salt Lake embodies the beauty, complexity, and urgency of Utah’s environment, and through illustration, we can tell its story in a way that sparks both admiration and responsibility.