NEHMA was founded in 1982 with the ceramic collection of philanthropist and namesake Nora Eccles Harrison.

The museum has since expanded to include over 5,500 objects focused on modernist and contemporary works created in the western region of the United States.

The core of the collection explores certain key art historical movements including Beat, post-surrealism, Santa Fe Transcendentalism, and Bay Area Abstract Expressionism.

The museum also collects and exhibits contemporary works that function as glimpses of the thriving art scenes found in many cities in the Western United States.

Throughout its history, NEHMA has been dedicated to collecting, preserving, and exhibiting modern and contemporary visual art.