Robert S. Olpin was an American art historian and professor, most prominently associated with the University of Utah. He specialized in the study of Western American art, with a particular focus on the artistic heritage of Utah. Olpin authored and co‑authored numerous scholarly works, exhibition catalogs, and reference texts on Utah artists and regional art history. His publications include surveys of Utah art, analyses of individual artists, and contributions to broader studies of American art. In addition to his academic writing, Olpin served in curatorial and administrative capacities at Utah cultural institutions, helping to develop collections and public programs that highlighted the state's artistic legacy.
Olpin’s career combined teaching, research, and museum work, and he is recognized for advancing scholarship on the visual arts of the Intermountain West. His contributions continue to be referenced in academic circles, museum exhibitions, and publications concerning regional American art.
