Utley is a graduate of North Carolina State University, College of Design where he received a bachelor’s degree in architecture. His career as an architectural intern/designer has both influenced and provided a rich source for his work. He went on to receive a Master of Fine Art from Lesley University College of Art and Design in Cambridge Massachusetts. Utley has shown nationally and internationally. Exhibiting his work in solo and numerous group exhibitions that includes the 2021 Venice Biennale Architectura for his collaboration with Evoke Studio for the Five Points Plaza public artwork. His executed works can be found in private, public and university collections including North Carolina State University and Johnson C Smith University.
He is a public artist, who has been awarded projects from the City of Raleigh (Raleigh NC), the Arts and Science Council (Charlotte NC), and the Durham County Public Arts Commission (Durham NC). He has been a finalist in two international calls for entries, the UNCC Charlotte Remembrance Memorial in Charlotte NC and the “I AM A Man” plaza in Memphis TN. Both projects were collaborative works with local artist and design firms.
