diff --git a/model/src/utils/__init__.py b/model/src/utils/__init__.py
index ad58834..aa29844 100644
--- a/model/src/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/model/src/utils/__init__.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-from .get_model_name import get_model_name
+from .load_model import load_model
diff --git a/model/src/utils/load_model.py b/model/src/utils/load_model.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..332bea0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/model/src/utils/load_model.py
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+"""Definition of load_model function."""
+
+import logging
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import torch
+from minio import Minio
+from models import VisualCommunicationModel
+
+from shared.data_store import get_model
+
+from .get_model_name import get_model_name
+
+DEVICE = torch.device('cuda' if torch.cuda.is_available() else 'cpu')
+
+
+def load_model(
+    client: Minio,
+) -> VisualCommunicationModel:
+    """Instantiate model with weights loaded from latest model saved in
+    MinIO."""
+    assert isinstance(client, Minio)
+    # instantiate model
+    model = VisualCommunicationModel()
+    # get model object name
+    model_name_path = Path('model_name.txt')
+    model_object_name = get_model_name(path=model_name_path)
+    logging.info('using model: %s', model_object_name)
+    # load model from minio
+    model_checkpoint = get_model(
+        client=client,
+        object_name=model_object_name,
+    )
+    model.load_state_dict(model_checkpoint)
+    # clean memory
+    model_checkpoint.clear()
+    # move model to selected device
+    model = model.to(DEVICE)
+    logging.debug('finished')
+    return model