Utah. Utah is a state in the Western United States. It is represented in art through a diverse range of landscapes and cultural themes that reflect its natural beauty and rich heritage. Artists often capture the striking red rock formations, expansive deserts, and majestic mountains, with iconic locations like Zion National Park and Arches National Park serving as popular subjects in both paintings and photography. The state’s unique geological features inspire works that celebrate its dramatic scenery, often using vibrant colors and light to convey the atmosphere of the American West. Additionally, the representation of Utah's cultural history is reflected in art that explores themes related to Native American heritage, pioneer history, and the influence of Mormon settlement, showcasing traditional crafts, contemporary pieces, and murals that tell the stories of the state's diverse communities. Utah is one of the Mountain states, sharing the Four Corners region with Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. It also borders Wyoming to its northeast, Idaho to its north, and Nevada to its west. In comparison to all the U.S. states and territories, Utah, with a population of just over three million, is the 13th largest by area, the 30th most populous, and the 11th least densely populated. Urban development is mostly concentrated in two regions: the Wasatch Front in the north-central part of the state, which includes the state capital, Salt Lake City, and is home to roughly two-thirds of the population; and Washington County in the southwest, which has somewhat more than 180,000 residents. Most of the western half of Utah lies in the Great Basin. Utah has been inhabited for thousands of years by various indigenous groups, such as the ancient Puebloans, the Navajo, and the Ute. The first Europeans to arrive - in the mid-16th century - were the Spanish. Because of the region's challenging geography and harsh climate, it only became a peripheral part of New Spain. Even while it was Mexican territory, many of the Utah region’s earliest European settlers were from the United States; notable among these were Mormons who were fleeing marginalization and persecution in the United States and arrived via the so-called Mormon Trail. In 1848, after the Mexican–American War, the region was annexed by the U.S., becoming part of the Utah Territory, which included what later became Colorado and Nevada. Disputes between the dominant Mormon community and the federal government delayed Utah's admission as a state: in 1896, after it agreed to outlaw polygamy, it was admitted as the 45th state. People from Utah are known as Utahns.