In 1994, the International Olympic Committee added “environment” as the third principle of Olympism alongside “sport” and “culture”.  In 2002, Susan Swartz was named the first Spirit of the Land Environmental Artist for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games.  Swartz remarked, “It’s not just about sports, but all viable areas that carry off the essence of the Games.  For the first time, the environment is being considered.”  She was commissioned to create two paintings to commemorate the 2002 games: Cascade Springs that showcases the aspens of the Wasatch Back near Mt. Timpanogos, and Soldier Hollow which features the mountains of Heber Valley, the backdrop of the biathlon, cross-country, and Nordic events.  Swartz’s work was also selected for the cover of the Cultural Olympiad program and Olympic Aid (now Right to Play), a non-profit event comprised of Olympians dedicated to using sport for development in under-developed countries.  Another Swartz painting “A Stand Alone” was signed by 100 of the 2002 Olympic Athletes and former medalists and was sold for a record $155,000 at an Olympic Aid auction. 

Susan Swartz Studios hosted an Open House and pop-up installation featuring the two commissioned paintings and other Olympic memorabilia in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Winter Games.  During the event, Swartz signed copies of Natural Revelations (link to book in shop), a 108-page catalog published in 2007 that features the Olympic paintings with text by Dr. Jane Goodall and Robert Coles and was a recipient of an Independent Publisher Book Award.