Jimmie Jones: My Passion, My Odyssey

October 8, 2022 - May 17, 2023

Born to a prominent yet humble family in Cedar City, Jimmie F. Jones showed an affinity for nature and the arts early on. Jones had the determination to make a living as an artist—a dream that he not only chased but one that he actually achieved. Studying in both Utah and California, Jones honed his craft and took his talents abroad. He painted the environment and inhabitants of San Blas, Mexico for a number of years before returning to the region that captured his heart years ago: the American Southwest. 

Jones was a skilled portrait painter, but he believed his true calling was that of a landscapist. For several winters, he lived and worked at both the North and South Rims of the Grand Canyon, shoveling snow off the roofs and painting bathrooms. Over the years, the canyon became his muse; Jones studied the landscape and produced incomparable works, six of which are displayed here. These works are indicative of Jones's mastery of vertical and horizontal space within the sweeping landscape. He possessed an unyielding eye for the vistas before him, pursuing different vantage points and chasing the dynamic light. He dedicated many years to capture the environment he had connected with so deeply. "The Grand Canyon is my passion now,” Jones declared. “It’s like a lover you cannot get enough of. It’s my odyssey.” 

In 2007, Jones donated to SUU his Rockville home and his complete collection of artworks, including his own and those made by other artists. These significant contributions were foundational to bolstering the permanent collection of the Southern Utah Museum of Art and instrumental to the construction of the building that houses it.

Today, we honor his legacy with the dedication of this space as the Jimmie F. Jones Gallery, which will exhibit a rotating selection of the works he painted and those he collected. Here is a constant reminder of the remarkable talent and generosity of Mr. Jones inside "The House that Jimmie Built."

View More of Jimmie's Work 

In an effort to make SUMA’s collection more accessible to the public, a permanent, touchscreen kiosk has been installed next to the Jimmie F. Jones Gallery, allowing visitors to view Jones’ works, as well as other highlights from SUMA’s collection, that are not currently on display.

Patrons can also view Jimmie's work online through CatalogIt.