President, David Dee Fine Arts; Director Emeritus, Utah Museum of Fine Arts
Salt Lake City, UT
David Dee has worked for decades in the fine arts. He served as Curator of Japanese art, and from 2002 – 2009 as Director, of the Utah Museum of Fine Arts at the University of Utah. Since 2012, he has operated his own gallery specializing in historical art of the American West. He enjoys working with customers to build and shape their collections, and with museums whose programs enrich their communities.
Since 1982, David has served as a trustee, and now co-chair, of his family’s charitable foundation. These opportunities have fueled his passion for philanthropy, especially in the arts, education and conservation sectors. In 2012 David co-founded the Utah Grantmakers Alliance, which provides a forum for family foundation trustees and donor-directed fund holders to communicate and collaborate. He has served as trustee and development chair of the Utah Symphony | Utah Opera since 2010, helping to build the nation’s premier music education outreach programs.
David attended Stanford University where he double-majored in Japanese Language and Literature, and Political Science. He also received Master’s degrees from the University of California, San Diego in Pacific International Affairs, and the University of Utah in Art History. He and his wife, Karen Gardner Dee, met at Stanford and raised their four children in Salt Lake City.
David’s passions include fly fishing throughout the West with family and friends; visiting art museums, skiing the Wasatch mountains, and spending time with his children. He also enjoys playing the violin and attending music and theater performances.
DCI Partner: Karen Gardner Dee
