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In 1950, South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã native Harvey Dunn exhibited a selection of his paintings in De Smet, South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã, showcasing scenes of the state's homesteading era, along with portraits and works from his distinguished career during the Golden Age of Illustration. Dunn donated most of these works to South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University, becoming the foundation of the South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã Art Museum's collection. This exhibition recreates Dunn's original 1950 display as closely as possible, complemented by archival materials that highlight his enduring impact.

Ben Reifel (1906-1990), born on the Rosebud Reservation, was the first Lakota person elected to the U.S. Congress, serving five terms following a distinguished career with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. A passionate advocate for the arts, Reifel loaned his personal collection of Plains art to the South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã Art Museum in 1977, founding its first Native American collection, which his family later donated permanently. This exhibition showcases select pieces from that collection, many with deep personal connections to Reifel.

For over a century, the South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã General Federation of Women’s Clubs has been a key advocate for the arts in the state. In the early years, this collection traveled across South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã, serving as a mobile exhibition that brought fine art to communities throughout the state, igniting interest in the arts before the establishment of the South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã Art Museum. In 1950, the General Federation of Women’s Clubs endorsed the creation of an art museum, providing essential support for fundraising efforts and culminating in the donation of this collection as a foundational gift to the museum.