North Dakota’s diverse art scene runs the gamut from burgeoning art alleys to large and small galleries and collections within museums. All present something entertaining and inspiring to audiences.
Expand your horizons and improve your physical and mental health by visiting North Dakota’s unique galleries, museums and outdoor murals. A recent study found that 84 percent of those participating in art-related activities reported good health and satisfaction.
Did you know there is an 8-foot giraffe head at the N.D. Museum of Art in Grand Forks? The giraffe is part of “Barton's Gallery,” a reconstruction of the New York apartment of Barton Lidice Benes. This museum also includes the Betty and Monte Factor Collection of sculptures from material salvaged around London, and the museum’s new art program features free take-and-make art packs to inspire your inner artist.
The Plains Art Museum in downtown Fargo has a vast collection of art in several mediums and rotates roughly 12 special exhibitions and smaller exhibits each year. The current exhibit through May 30, “High Visibility: On Location in Rural America and Indian Country,” allows visitors to engage with installations, performance works, interdisciplinary work and traditional two- and three-dimensional pieces reflecting perception, realities and issues of rural and Native nation life.
At North Dakota’s largest museum, four museum galleries trace the state’s rich history from its earliest geologic formation 600 million years ago to today. The N.D. Heritage Center and State Museum in Bismarck features a “Prairie Post Office” exhibit. The “Fashion and Function: North Dakota Style” exhibit explores North Dakotans’ wardrobes of yesterday and today.
The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Washburn is a museum of artifacts from the Corps of Discovery. In addition to many artifacts from the expedition, the museum features the Bergquist Gallery and aquatints of Native Americans by Swiss painter Karl Bodmer.
Art can also be found outdoors! Outdoor murals on buildings and art alleys enhance truly unlimited spaces and are seen throughout North Dakota. To learn more, visit www.ndtourism.com/articles/outdoor-art(link is external).
The N.D. Council on the Arts created a comprehensive list of art experiences you can easily access and add to your vacation plans, at www.arts.nd.gov/guide-nd-art-and-cultural-destinations(link is external).
This is just a sampling of inspiring art throughout the state. Learn more at https://belegendary.link/NDArts(link is external).
EXPLORE OUR STATE’S ART SCENE
