This thematic, rather than historical or stylistic specialization is a natural outgrowth of the institution's collecting practices over the years and offers varied perspectives on the ways in which humans interact with the environments.

While the collection represents a diversity of artists, techniques, visual styles, subjects, and ideological positions, it is unified by two basic principles: In 1998, an endowment for Altered Landscape acquisitions was established through the generosity of the Carol Franc Buck Foundation.

Significant archives include materials from Earthworks artists Michael Heizer, Walter De Maria and Lita Albuquerque, environmental architects such as Rodrigo Perez de Arce in Chile, Smout Allen in England, and Richard Black in Australia, and the ongoing programs of the Center for Land Use Interpretation (CLUI) and Land Arts of the American West.

[5] The second Art + Environment Conference took place in 2011 and featured speakers: Diana Al-Hadid, Subhankar Banerjee, David Benjamin, Richard Black, Edward Burtynsky, Gaetano Carboni, John Carty, Pilar Cereceda, William L. Fox, Amy Franceschini, Fritz Haeg, Newton Harrison and Helen Mayer Harrison of The Harrisons Studio, Laura Jackson, Patricia Johanson, Chris Jordan, Thomas Kellein, Geoff Manaugh, Mandy Martin, Christie Mazuera-Davis, Paul D. Miller, Gerald Nanson, Jorge Pardo, Rodrigo Pérez de Arce, John Reid, Alexander Rose, Sean Shepherd, Mark Smout, Bruce Sterling, Nicola Twilley, Leo Villareal, Stephen G. Wells, Ann M. Wolfe, Liam Young.

[6] The third Art + Environment Conference took place in 2014 and featured speakers: JoAnne Northrup, Adam Duncan Harris, Claude d’Anthenaise, Petah Coyne, Bryndis Snæbjörnsdóttir, Mark Wilson, Bruce Sterling, Geoff Manaugh, Nicola Twilley, Yvonne Force Villareal, Elmgreen & Dragset, David Brooks, Kenneth Baker, Ugo Rondinone, John Giorno, William L. Fox, Mandy Martin, Dennis Scholl, Jamie Brown, John Carty, Guy Fitzhardinge, Henry Skerritt, Edward Morris, Susanna Sayler, Lauren Bon, Susannah Sayler, Helen Mayer Harrison, Newton Harrison, Ken Goldberg, Fernanda Viégas, Martin Wattenberg, Terry Evans, Elizabeth Farnsworth, Maya Lin.

[7] The museum participates in the Scholastic Art Awards program by providing secondary school students from northern Nevada a place to exhibit their works.