LIBRARY EXHIBIT SPACES

THE GENE NELSON ATTIC

The Gene Nelson Attic is the Provo City Library's large exhibit space.  We are dedicated to bringing in art, science, and history exhibits from around the country.

The Attic is located on the 4th floor of the Academy Wing of the Library, accessible only by elevator. Use the elevator at the West end of the building.

 ON DISPLAY NOW 

THE GENE NELSON ATTIC

ABOUT THIS EXHIBIT: 

Art as Design as Art explores the space where graphic design and fine art overlap—where function, communication, and expression coexist. This exhibition begins with a simple idea: nearly everything we see and interact with has been designed by someone. From the clothes we wear and the furniture we use to magazines, books, and advertisements, these objects were imagined, constructed, and refined through creative decision-making by an artist.

Design is often viewed as purely functional, while art is seen as expressive. This exhibition challenges that distinction. The works presented here move fluidly between design and art, demonstrating that usefulness does not diminish artistic value and that artistic intention can exist within everyday visual communication. By placing graphic, commercial, and traditionally painted works side by side, the exhibition highlights the shared foundations of skill, composition, and visual language across disciplines.

Presented in The Attic at the Historic Provo Library, Art as Design as Art invites viewers to slow down and look more closely at the designed world around them. By reframing familiar objects and images within a gallery setting, the exhibition encourages a broader understanding of creativity—one that recognizes art and design as interconnected practices shaping how we see, think, and experience everyday life. 

ARTIST STATEMENT: 

My work exists at the intersection of graphic design and fine art. I began my creative education in painting and illustration, developing a strong foundation in drawing, composition, and material process. Over time, I expanded into graphic design—not as a departure from fine art, but as a way to integrate traditional studio practices into contemporary visual communication. Influenced by artists who blurred the boundaries
between art and design, such as Marcel Duchamp, Andy Warhol, Shepard Fairey, and Banksy, I combine hand-drawn, painted, and illustrative methods with digital tools, allowing each medium to inform the other. Rather than letting technology define creative limits, I use it as one part of a broader process rooted in intention, craft, and visual problem-solving. 

PLAN YOUR VISIT

The Attic is open Monday - Friday from 3:30 - 8:00 pm. 

The Attic is located on the 4th floor of the Academy Wing; it is most accessible by elevator, but we can open the stairs for elevator-free access. 

THE ANDERSON ART GALLERY

The Anderson Art Gallery is dedicated to showcasing the best local art our community has to offer. This gallery is located on the Second Floor of the Academy Building, Room #220.