Sistine Chapel exhibition comes to Salt Lake City

Courtesy photo/SEE Attractions and Bridgeman Images

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SALT LAKE CITY — People from across the Wasatch Front will have the opportunity to view life-sized reproductions of frescoes from Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel in an upcoming exhibit in Salt Lake City.

“Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition,” produced by SEE© Global Entertainment, is a collection of 34 of the artist’s ceiling frescoes in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel, reproduced in high-definition photos that allow viewers to get face-to-face with the masterpieces. The exhibit will open at the Gateway in Salt Lake City on April 29 and run for a limited time.

“This exhibition gives visitors a chance to engage with Rome’s most iconic treasures in ways that were never possible,” said Martin Biallas, SEE© Global Entertainment CEO and producer of the exhibit, in a press release.

Michelangelo was commissioned to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican between 1508 and 1512 at the request of Pope Julius II. The frescoes illustrate several scenes from the Old Testament beginning with the creation of the world and ending at the story of Noah and the flood. The exhibit debuted in Dallas in 2016 and has since gone on to be shown in cities around the world.

The exhibition frescoes have been done with a special printing technique that emulates the look and feel of the original paintings. Self-guided tours through the exhibit take an hour to 90 minutes; audio guides are available in several languages, including to include Spanish, French, Chinese, Korean and German.

“We are delighted to bring this must-see interactive art exhibit to The Gateway,” said Vestar Regional Marketing Director Jacklyn Briggs in the press release. “This exhibit will be a perfect addition to our vibrant arts district we’ve created and provide a unique opportunity for visitors of all ages to engage and interact with beautiful art while visiting our space.”