About the Exhibition
The Visual Arts Center’s permanent collection began in 1961 as part of the Civic Fine Arts Center. When the Washington Pavilion opened, that early commitment to collecting continued and expanded. Today, the collection reflects the creativity, perspectives and artistic voices of South Dakota and the surrounding region. This exhibition brings together works acquired over the past 26 years, highlighting the artists who have helped shape the state’s visual arts landscape.
A museum collection is more than a group of objects on a wall. It is a living record of culture, ideas and history. Through careful documentation, research and long-term stewardship, these artworks connect past, present and future, allowing visitors to engage with the evolving story of art in South Dakota.
What a museum chooses to collect shapes how future generations understand this moment in time. The works in this exhibition represent individual acts of creativity that, through preservation and care, become lasting records of place, community and artistic expression. Together, they carry forward the history of South Dakota art while creating meaningful connections between today’s artists and tomorrow’s audiences.
Visitors can explore additional objects from the permanent collection through the digital collection portal below or at the permanent collection kiosk located near the entrance to the Visual Arts Center.
Explore the collection:
https://washingtonpavilion.pastperfectonline.com/
