1.Vote for your favorite

"The Still Meadow"
Oil on canvas by Susan Haygood
Artist Statement:
The Still Meadow" is a 60 by 20-inch oil that presents six horses standing quietly in a grassy field. I wanted to capture the calm presence and subtle individuality of each horse while situating them within a textured, almost tactile environment. Using a palette knife for the background and foreground allowed me to create layered, dynamic greenery that contrasts with the carefully detailed horses themselves. The result is a balance between stillness and depth—a scene that invites you to pause and connect with the quiet strength of these animals and their natural surroundings.

"Home"
Acrylic on canvas by Meagan Turbak-Fogarty
Artist Statement:
Community, art, and learning from others are at the heart of my practice, and I am deeply proud to be part of the Sioux Falls community. This piece serves as a thank you to the small local businesses that help make this city so vibrant and strong. Their presence, creativity, and resilience shape not only the local economy but also the sense of connection and belonging that defines Sioux Falls.

"Bowing Sunflower"
Relief engraving by Lindsay Twa
Artist Statement:
One of my earliest memories of South Dakota is taking a road trip in the late summer and seeing what seemed to be an ocean ablaze—vast fields of sunflowers proudly tracking the sun. Now, as an urban gardener in Sioux Falls, sunflowers are a central feature of my home landscape. Sunflowers ground me to this place, while also helping me contemplate the infinite: their seedheads create spirals in the Fibonacci sequence, an ideal, self-similar pattern that is found in many growth patterns in nature, mathematics, and was studied even by the ancients as a pathway to ultimate beauty.

Urban gardening is tied to my artmaking practice, and not just because I draw these forms from life. Both activities are a chance for fast wisdom: for learning by making mistakes, and for experiencing the challenges and heartbreaks when our hopes and ideas do not thrive. Of course, our farmers and ranchers know all about this. But for us city dwellers, wisdom can come very slowly. This is a unique print, carved from High Impact Polystyrene and printed with traditional methods of intaglio at high pressure to create an embossment on the paper. Printmaking, like gardening, offers similar opportunities for fast wisdom. The processes of intaglio, lithography, and engraving force me to tackle problems by breaking them into smaller steps. The results are always a blend of what I intended in dialogue with the uncontrollable aspects of printmaking’s techniques and materials. In this way, I open myself up to discovery through struggle.

"Downtown Delusions"
Acrylic and mixed media on panel by Jana Anderson
Artist Statement:
My painting practice revolves around micro and macro views of the landscape and the universe. Maps and star charts inform much of my abstract imagery as a method to visualize concepts of place and belonging.

This particular artwork was made as a reflection on returning to life living in downtown Sioux Falls. I used a map of downtown Sioux Falls, including my neighborhood, just north of DTSF proper, as well as underlying layers of star maps from different seasons as viewed from this region. There is a sense of searching for stability and belonging through the comforting structure of grids and geometry.

"The Falls"
Black ink on masonite board by Hector Curiel
Artist Statement:
This illustration depicts the iconic landmark in our city, highlighting its dramatic appearance during intense rain.

"Pine Triptych #1"
Disassembled pinecone on wood panel by Courtney Hart
Artist Statement:
Much like most of my work, this series emerged out of a keen observation and fascination with the organic beauty of the Midwestern landscape. 

As a lifelong avid collector of all varieties of Earth’s trinkets, treasures, and oddities, I find my my private collection is rife with unique seed pods from the prairie. These include milkweed pods, cottonwood seeds, acorns, and pine cones. I’m captivated by the natural beauty, shapes, and textures of these forms. I feel these pieces of my collection hold personal significance, representing my connection to this place I reside.

Upon examining the pinecones I’ve collected during walks along local rivers, prairie fields, and private properties, I was intrigued to identify the specific cones and the pine tree species they belonged to. This curiosity sparked a fascination with the vast ponderosa pine forests and the striking black hills blue spruce.

I began my exploration of this series by disassembling the cones, meticulously taking them apart, and removing their scales. As I progressed, I learned the optimal method for removing each scale, discovering the intricate inner workings of the cones, from top to bottom and inside out. This journey fostered a profound connection and understanding of the trees from which these armored seed pods originate. Although they are slow to open and patient for the specific conditions to do so, they are generous with their seeds. Ultimately, growing into the tall, spindly, conifer evergreens that adorn the landscape of South Dakota.

I then experimented with rearranging the scales in various ways, focusing on the natural forms, colors, and shapes of the cones and their scales. I played with the natural movement and rhythm that the scales provide. As I keep exploring this form and material, the series continues to evolve from a collection of one-sided, flat assemblages into more fluid, three-dimensional, organic forms.

"Eastway"
35mm Film - Porta 400 by Cole Caspar
Artist Statement:
The cover of night has a way to simplify life. The classic Eastway Bowl neon sign on a dark December night politetly asked for my attention. Bright colors, dark shadows and endless possibilities disappear in the darkness. Using film at Night forces you to take in your subject a little longer than normal.

"Purpose Perspective"
Acrylic on wood panel by Cameron Abbas
Artist Statement:
Inspired by the quiet beauty of everyday moments and humanity’s relationship with the natural world, Cam creates imagery that reflects harmony, stillness, and balance through simplified forms and intentional color. While this piece was not created as a direct depiction of Sioux Falls or South Dakota, its palette and composition invite a regional reading. The green border suggests the parks, trails, and open spaces that shape life in and around Sioux Falls, while the golden tones recall prairie light, seasonal change, and the warmth of the Midwestern landscape.

The sun is a recurring motif in Cam’s work. As one of humanity’s most universal symbols, it carries associations of renewal, rhythm, and hope, while also feeling distinctly connected to the expansive skies and open horizons of South Dakota. Through this combination of symbolic imagery and graphic simplicity, the piece reflects both a personal visual language and a quiet sense of place.

"Under the Same Sky"
Urethane resin, acrylic, and flashe on wood panel by Caitlin Pisha
Artist Statement:
Growing up on a ranch in Western South Dakota has been a major influence for me. My rural roots has formed a creative through line in both my work as a professional graphic designer and artist. I work across a range of media, exploring the intersection of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary artistry. Through my art I blend traditional Scandinavian folk art motifs with a modern twist, creating a playful, storybook-like experience that explores cultural nostalgia and personal identity. My artwork is color-driven, inspired by the my surroundings, memories, and emotions. Through my pieces, I aim to evoke a sense of connection to the region that has shaped me, drawing viewers into a world of whimsical, folkloric beauty that feels familiar and fresh.

The title “Under the Same Sky” came from reflecting on the timelessness of the sky with the passing of each day. Flowers are temporary and fleeting, and in many ways my life will be similar. I am but one of many flowers, blooming each brilliantly in their own time. This piece is a reminder to be attentive to the present beauty around me in all its facets.

"Patchwork"
Acrylic on canvas by Brit Carmany
Artist Statement:
This painting features patchwork quilts, a landscape, and still life inspired imagery. This collage of paintings is supposed to speak of home, seasons, heirlooms, everyday life, my maternal ancestors, and unknowable stories from the generation before me. I love a mix of realism and abstract like brush strokes /mark making. 

I am an art teacher and artist working in Sioux Falls. I have long been fascinated by the stories passed through generations, untold stories that everyday handheld objects hold, and the wonder I feel at anything from nature - specifically in the Midwest. Much of my work is inspired by collections, memories, poetry, and the 17th century Vanitas still life paintings that are heavy with symbolism and remind viewers that life is temporary.

"Lighthouse"
Oil on canvas by Breana Fischer
Artist Statement:
The Storm

At first I thought grief was a storm,

A raging tempest to stand tall against.

So I stood proud,

Feeling myself a lighthouse, a cliff, a pillar,

Withstanding the whipping gusts and torrent of tears.


My world became dark,

Lit by only the occasional flash of lightning.

I was filled with pain,

But I stood tall and I stood strong.

But the grief raged on...

And on...


And on.

Slowly, the strength of the wind

Cracked my foundations

And the rain washed away

My outer layers.


And I realized grief is also a river,

Created in a storm of tears,

Winding a path through my soul,

Changing the landscape forever.


Grief became a scar through me,

A deep canyon that few

Ever ventured down.

Marking my loss

"Day Parade"
Acrylic and wool fiber weaving by Amy Jarding
Artist Statement:
This weaving is a reflection of the layered identities and shifting landscapes that define Sioux Falls. Created entirely from thrifted yarn, “Day Parade” draws from materials that have already lived other lives—threads once part of garments, homes, or hands unknown—now reassembled into a new narrative.

The use of reclaimed fibers mirrors the cultural fabric of Sioux Falls itself: a city shaped by many histories, traditions, and communities. Each strand represents a different voice or origin, woven together not to erase individuality, but to hold it in harmony. Variations in texture, color, and weight echo the contrasts found across the region—from the flowing movement of the Big Sioux River to the layered stone formations of Falls Park, and the expanding urban landscape that connects them.

Working with thrifted yarn introduces unpredictability. Fibers may be worn, uneven, or limited in quantity, often requiring adaptation. This process becomes a parallel to the way communities evolve—through reuse, resilience, and reinvention. Nothing is wasted; instead, each element contributes to a larger whole.

Ultimately, this piece is about connection. It invites the viewer to consider how place is constructed—not just through geography, but through people, memory, and material. In weaving these threads together, the work becomes both a map and a meeting point, grounded in Sioux Falls yet open to broader interpretations of belonging.