The Springville Museum of Art is honoring John Hafen, one of the most influential Utah artists, in the first major retrospective of his work.
According to Allison Pinegar, head of exhibitions and programs, the exhibition features 64 of Hafen’s paintings. The exhibit is sourced partially from the Springville Museum of Art’s collection, with the rest of the pieces on loan from other museums and private owners.
“This is the first time that all of these artworks have been together in one place, probably ever. It’s really special to see that kind of full scope of his career,” Pinegar said. “We really owe a lot to John Hafen as an institution, so it feels fitting for his retrospective to be in these galleries, but also really important for us to be able to honor him, and come full circle with this legacy of his.”
Hafen’s impact on the institution began in 1903. Hafen was one of two artists who donated original artwork to Springville High School, beginning the collection that grew into the current Springville Museum of Art.
“He really believed deeply in this idea that (everyone) should have access to original art … that surrounding themselves with original art and with beauty would elevate their lives, and in turn, create a better society for everyone,” Pinegar said. “The idea that (beauty) can improve your life just by surrounding yourself with it has become very important to us.”
The exhibition includes more than just Hafen’s paintings. In one of the galleries, visitors can sit on long wooden benches to peruse the recently published biography “John Hafen: Utah’s Poet Painter,” which was cowritten by the Springville Museum of Art’s former director Vern G. Swanson and art historian Angela Swanson Jones.
As a nod to the artist’s poetic nature, several walls include quotes, such as this one from Hafen’s writings: “All nature proclaims that luxuries, such as are beautiful, are necessary for the happiness of the human family.”
Hafen was originally born in Switzerland, but he moved to America as a child, studied painting in France and settled down in Utah. He specialized in landscapes and preferred 'plein-air,’ or outdoor painting — meaning he liked to pack up his canvas and easel and cart them around, often hiking to find a good spot, then settled in to paint what he saw.
“It really feels like he's trying to portray the feeling and the sentiment of a place and a scene more than trying to portray an accurate depiction of exactly what that might look like in the real world,” Pinegar said.
Hafen’s paintings have bold, visible brush strokes and a texture that lends itself toward impressionism, but he favored the subtler palettes of the tonalist movement, which gives each painting a sense of cohesion and mood.
“(The paintings are) very beautiful and quiet ... he paints these quaint and intimate scenes that are meant to draw you in,” said Samantha Leonard, a visitor from North Carolina. “You can hear it, and you can feel it, whenever you look at it.”
Museum educator Elena Free designed pamphlets for the exhibit with prompts like “Can you find a quiet place where you might like to sit?” and “If you could jump inside of this painting, what sounds would you hear?” The prompts are meant to help young museumgoers immerse themselves in the art and engage all five senses.
“It's kind of nice, because the parents can look and read labels if they want, while they can kind of send the kid on a little scavenger hunt … it also becomes a conversation starter for parents or caregivers with their kids,” Free said. “Sometimes it’s a helpful access point, regardless of your age. I like to explore paintings that way, too.”
The John Hafen exhibition opened in August and closes almost a year later on July 25, 2026. Within that time, Hafen’s depiction of the Utah mountain scenery is on display for the general public to explore at the Springville Museum of Art.