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John Held, Jr.

December 6, 2024 - April 26, 2025

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John Held, Jr., 1889 - 1958. 'Boy in Hammock Asleep with Fallen Book,' 17.1 × 15.7 cm, HBLL Special Collections.

Among the Jazz age's most iconic artists was cartoonist and illustrator John Held, Jr. As his work graced the covers of magazines like Vanity Fair, Life, Cosmopolitan, and The New Yorker and as his designs found their way into newspapers, advertisements, and books across the country, Held became known for his colorful drawings of flappers, his humorous illustrations of college life, and his sharp, witty social commentary on American culture in the 1920s and 30s.

In this exhibition, you'll find yourself delighted by the artist's ingenious depictions of the era, found in magazines, newspapers, books, drawings, watercolors, linocuts, movie posters, and even games. Though a century has passed since these artworks' publication, their relevance, candor, and whimsicality has not yet faded.

John Held, Jr. is organized by Glen Nelson with the assistance of John Murphy. It is made possible by donors to the Center for Latter-day Saint Arts.

Current Exhibitions

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Of Souls and Sacraments

Symbol and Context in Christian Art
Open through March 1, 2025
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Counterpoint

Selections from the MOA Collection from the 1960s and Beyond
Open through December 7, 2024
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The Difficult Part

Brian Kershisnik: A Mid-Career Retrospective
Open through May 3, 2025
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Crossing the Divide

American Art from the Permanent Collection
Opening September 20, 2024
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Reconciliation

Biblical Imagination in German Expressionist Prints
Open through October 19, 2024
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Off Kilter, On Point

Art of the 1960s from Colorado State University
Open through December 7, 2024
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Joshua Meyer: Eight Approaches

October 3, 2024 - January 18, 2025
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Plexus No. 29

Ongoing
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