The permanent collection is divided into four thematic focus areas: Altered Landscape Photography, Art of the Greater West, Contemporary Art, and the Work Ethic in American Art. These thematic, rather than historical or stylistic, specializations are a natural outgrowth of the institution’s collecting practices over the years.
The Center for Art + Environment houses more than 75 archives comprised of 20,000 items in its Archive Collections and over 6,000 books in its Research Library.
Inspired by the landscape and the unique geological formations of the Black Rock Desert, the museum building is considered one of the most distinguished architectural achievements in Nevada.