The Gates of Paradise to be Unveiled at BYU
PROVO, UT – A rediscovered masterpiece is about to be unveiled at the BYU Museum of Art. In 2015, 42 crated gypsum casts were found at BYU-Hawaii, comprising a complete set of panels molded from the Gates of Paradise. The original 17-foot-tall structure was made by Renaissance sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti for the doors of the Florence Baptistery, and it was affectionately christened “the Gates of Paradise” by the artist Michelangelo. After a decade of research and restoration, the newly gilded gypsum casts are ready to be unveiled in their new permanent home in Provo. They will be on view at the Museum of Art (MOA) in the exhibition Gilded Paradise beginning February 20th.
“It is a profound honor to be entrusted with this plaster cast of Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise by our colleagues at BYU–Hawaii,” said Director of the MOA Janalee Emmer. “We have accepted this responsibility with humility, recognizing both the artistic and educational significance of the work. We envision it as an enduring source of learning, reflection, and inspiration—and we hope visitors will be inspired and amazed by the remarkable story of its journey from Florence to Provo—for generations to come.”
It took Ghiberti from 1425 to 1452 to create the original Gates of Paradise, and they’ve been an icon of the early Italian Renaissance ever since. Artists and pilgrims traveled across Europe to see and study them, and the doors’ grandeur, beauty, and artistry have made them one of the most influential works of art in history. The MOA’s plasters were cast in the 1980s from molds taken from the original Gates shortly after World War II as part of an effort to ensure that Ghiberti’s masterpiece could be preserved.
"This stunning replica will give our campus community a unique opportunity to see Ghiberti's work up close for years to come,” said Maddie Blonquist, the MOA’s Curator of Religious Art, “while the exhibition itself is full of engaging educational content and immersive projection displays that bring Florence to Provo. It is sure to impress and not to be missed."
Initially acquired by BYU-Hawaii, the plasters were stored for decades in hopes of being prepared for eventual display there. These plans did not come to fruition, and the crates remained in storage until 2016, when Sharon Gray, a former BYU Art Education Professor and current service missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, rediscovered them and recognized them at once. The Universities, with the assistance of Bill and Barbara Benac, agreed to transfer them to Provo, and a team of professionals led by John Adams began the long process of restoring them and preparing them for exhibition. This involved finding and repairing damage, restoring lost detail, treating and gold leafing each panel, building an armature to support them, and installing the finished masterpiece.
“There were a lot of unknowns from the beginning. We had to come up with ways to do the repairs and to pull out the detail that was missing,” Adams said of his team, comprised primarily of BYU students. “The students are amazing. I’ve estimated that there’s about 13,000 hours that students have put into restoring this plaster object.”
On Friday, February 20, the MOA will celebrate with two opening events for the public. At 11:00 AM, the Museum will host an interfaith panel featuring Jewish, Muslim, and Christian on the importance of the stories depicted in the Gates of Paradise. From 7:00 to 10:00 PM, the MOA will host an Art After Dark celebration with live music, refreshments, and activities based on the masterpiece. Both events are free and open to all.
“The MOA is thrilled to announce a lineup of docent-led tours and gallery talks, offering the unique insights of various experts,” said Philipp Malzl, head of the MOA’s Education team. “In the coming months, MOA Director Dr. Janalee Emmer, art historian Dr. Elliott Wise, and MOA Head Fabricator John Adams will share the symbolism found in this work, how it made its way from Florence to Utah, and how rough plaster casts transformed into the glistening, glided work we can now admire. The crowning event follows on April 2, when an ensemble of distinguished BYU’s faculty and students will perform a glorious Holy Week Sing-Along concert of Handel’s Messiah, putting the subject of Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise to music.”
Gilded Paradise will be open until October 24, 2026. Afterward, the Gates will be moved within the Museum to their new permanent home in the atrium. Details of the exhibition and its associated events, as well as a preview of the 10 largest panels, are available at https://moa.byu.edu/gilded-paradise/.
ABOUT THE BYU MUSEUM OF ART
One of the largest and best-attended university art museums in the Mountain West, the BYU Museum of Art offers a dynamic exhibition schedule that includes displays of its permanent collection, world-class traveling shows and thought-provoking exhibitions organized by museum curators. One of the museum’s most important roles is its contribution to the academic mission of Brigham Young University. From the research and study of the artworks in the permanent collection, to the teaching and learning that occurs in classrooms and galleries, the museum plays an important role in the academic pursuits of many students at BYU. Concurrently, the museum seeks to connect to broad community audiences through its exhibitions, educational programming, and online outreach.
