Plains Art Museum
North Dakota
Located in downtown Fargo, North Dakota, the Plains Art Museum is a leading fine arts institution known for its diverse collection and community engagement. Established through a merger in 1975, it features approximately three thousand works including national and regional contemporary art, traditional American Indian art, and folk art. The museum's collection includes notable artists such as Andy Warhol, Salvador Dalí, Ellsworth Kelly, Helen Frankenthaler, and Sol LeWitt. The museum occupies a renovated early 20th-century International Harvester warehouse, blending historic architecture with modern gallery spaces. It hosts rotating exhibitions, such as "Homing: Radical Re-Membering" and "Color Improvisations 3," which highlight contemporary textile art and ecological themes. The Plains Art Museum also engages the community through educational programs and initiatives like the former Rolling Plains Art Gallery, a mobile gallery that brought art to rural areas. Additionally, the museum supports Indigenous artists through podcasts and special exhibitions, fostering a rich cultural dialogue. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, it stands as one of North Dakota's premier art institutions, dedicated to preserving and promoting artistic expression.
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Tip: Visit during special exhibitions like the Spring Gala Art Auction to experience unique works and support living artists. Check the museum's website for current exhibitions and consider purchasing tickets in advance for popular events. The museum offers educational programs and occasionally hosts community events, making spring and fall ideal times to visit for a full cultural experience. Discounts may be available for students, seniors, and groups. Parking is available nearby in downtown Fargo.
Interesting facts
- •The museum's permanent collection includes works by iconic artists such as Andy Warhol and Salvador Dalí.
- •The Rolling Plains Art Gallery was a unique mobile gallery housed in a climate-controlled semi-trailer that toured rural communities in North Dakota and Minnesota.
- •The Plains Art Museum is one of only two museums in North Dakota accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
- •The museum hosts a podcast called '5 Plain Questions' featuring interviews with Indigenous artists, enhancing its commitment to Native American cultural programs.
History
The Plains Art Museum originated from the 1965 establishment of the Red River Art Center in Moorhead, Minnesota.
In 1975, it merged with the O'Rourke Art Gallery Museum to form the Plains Art Museum while operating the Rourke Gallery separately.
A split in 1987 led to the separation of the Plains Art Museum and the Rourke Art Museum.
The Plains Art Museum relocated from Moorhead to Fargo in 1997, settling in a renovated International Harvester warehouse acquired in 1994.
In 2003, it earned accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, marking it as one of only two museums in North Dakota with this distinction.
Place Guide
Permanent Collection
Features approximately 3,000 works including contemporary national and regional art, traditional American Indian art, and folk art by notable artists like Andy Warhol and Salvador Dalí.
Rolling Plains Art Gallery1993
A former climate-controlled semi-trailer gallery that traveled to communities in North Dakota and Minnesota, bringing art and education to rural areas.
Special Exhibitions
Rotating exhibitions such as 'Homing: Radical Re-Membering' and 'Color Improvisations 3' showcasing contemporary textile art and ecological themes.
Contact
Phone: (701) 551-6100
