If you think museums are all “do not touch” signs and hushed tones, Crystal Lopez would like to blow some confetti in your face—literally. Inside her Utah Selfie Museum on State Street in Murray, visitors can push a button and unleash a flurry of glitter, strike a pose with angel wings, or dive into a Froot Loops-themed ball pit big enough to make Toucan Sam jealous. 

Crystal Lopez is queen of the Utah Selfie Museum. (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals)

 “It’s an interactive museum where you can come to take pictures and videos,” said owner Lopez. “We have 13 different backgrounds that you can just play with, have a good time, and get some good content while you’re at it.”

Lopez, who calls herself a “serial entrepreneur,” her heart—and her phone’s camera roll—are in the Selfie Museum. “I first experienced one in Seaside, Oregon, called the Upside Down Art Museum,” she recalls. “Then we visited the Museum of Selfies in Vegas. I just thought, ‘This would be fun to bring to Utah.’”

And so she did. Opening just over a year ago, Lopez and her 13-year-old daughter Sapphire built and painted the entire place themselves—transforming what was once a dark tattoo shop into a bright, cheerful playground of color and creativity. 

Sapphire says, “People my age love taking photos and posting on TikTok or Instagram. It’s nice that there’s something like this now.”

Step inside, and it’s easy to see why Sapphire calls it “a fun place for people my age.” Each photo station is more imaginative than the last. “We have a confetti room with a confetti cannon,” Lopez says. “You step in, push the button, and it blows confetti everywhere. There’s a money room with a clawfoot tub, fake gold bars, and a money gun so you can make it rain.”

Visitors can also pose in a retro diner, a boxing ring (“You can put on gloves and join the fight”), a ball pit filled with giant Froot Loops, or even an alien abduction scene—complete with inflatable cows. There’s also a regal “Queen or King Room,” a “Flower Room” and an “Angels and Demons Wall,” where guests can choose their wings.

“Some people bring different outfits—like dresses for the confetti room or even pets,” Lopez says. “We’ve had people bring their dogs and cats. We love it when they get creative.”

So what makes a great photo? “Lighting and angles,” Lopez says. “That’s why we have ring lights at every station. But the real trick is just having fun. It shows in your pictures when you’re really enjoying yourself.”

Most guests use their phones, but Lopez says professionals are welcome, too. “Some bring cameras, but cell phones work great. You can set the timer or do videos. We even have a 360 booth for slow-motion spins.”

Admission is simple: $10 for kids 13 and under, $20 for adults, with one-hour bookings—though Lopez admits, “If they want to stay a little longer, that’s not a problem.”

Crystal Lopez founder of the Utah Selfie Museum. (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals)

Lopez describes herself as someone who “thrives in chaos.” Between her multiple businesses and raising Sapphire, she finds joy in keeping busy. “I need lots to do,” she says with a grin. “But this place has been my favorite. It’s creative, it’s fun and it brings people together.”

And Sapphire? She’s the museum’s unofficial creative consultant. “I like the Froot Loops room the best,” she says. “And watching people fight in the boxing ring. It’s fun when they bring costumes.”

Business is growing, Lopez says, thanks to partnerships with Groupon and GetOutPass. “We’re also hoping to work with local high schools for fundraisers and school pictures,” she adds. She’d even love to collaborate with other Murray businesses—maybe bringing “pop-up selfie stations” to local events.

Holiday themes are also in the works. “We’re really festive people—we have like six Christmas trees at home,” Lopez laughs. “We’d love to get Santa in here for photos. Hopefully, we can get some arrangements with the North Pole.”

Until then, visitors can book appointments online at utahselfiemuseum.com for private one-hour sessions between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

And yes, Lopez insists, everyone should take at least one selfie before leaving. “You are part of the art,” she says with a wink. “That’s the whole point.” 

The Utah Selfie Museum is located at 4889 S. State St.

Crystal and Sapphire Lopez clown around—because resisting an alien photo op is futile. (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals)