A Legacy of Art and Environment

Established in 1931, the Nevada Museum of Art was co-founded by Dr. James Church—a pioneering climate scientist, humanist, and interdisciplinary scholar at the University of Nevada, Reno—and the Latimer Art Club, a group of dedicated landscape painters led by Lorenzo P. Latimer who sought to capture the natural beauty of the region. A decade later, the Museum gained new momentum through a generous gift from Charles Cutts, whose donation of rare books, a modest art collection, and his residence helped solidify the institution’s foundation.  Today, the Nevada Museum of Art along with its Institute for Art + Environment, continues to uphold these founding values.  By fostering meaningful engagement with art and culture and supporting interdisciplinary research and scholarship, the Museum remains a vital educational resource for all. This spotlight exhibition in the new Thomas and Pauline Tusher Library includes paintings by Lorenzo Latimer, historical photographs, and a major sculpture by Maya Lin that memorializes Mount Rose.