Event Details:
September 23 // Best of Show Art Preview & Reception // Old Courthouse Museum Sioux Falls // 7:30 p.m.
September 24-25 // Art Market // Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Sioux Falls // 10 a.m.
“The Northern Plains Indian Art Market (NPIAM) is one of the longest-running Indian art shows in the country,” said Jim Mathis, ADwerks certified “advertologist.” “We’ve had over 800 artists from seven states and two Canadian provinces.”
The NPIAM was established in 1988 by American Indian Services before Sinte Gleska University of Rosebud took over in 2004.
2022 Art Market Jurors
CJ Brafford // Executive Director // Ute Indian Museum
Joe Williams // Director of Community Eduction of Native American Programs // Plains Art Museum
Mary America Lynn Meredith // Publishing Editor // First American Magazine
The art market takes place in Sioux Falls from September 23 to 25 this year, showcasing hundreds of Native American artists and their artwork.
“We’ll have a lot of local artists that people recognize like Jennifer White, Wade Patton, Keith Braveheart, Dwayne Wilcox, and Donald Montileaux,” said Mathis.
During the full art market on September 24-25, find all of the artists at the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Sioux Falls. On Saturday, the market will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and it’ll be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
“There’ll be clay work, sculptures, lots of paintings, photographs, and even functional art like pottery. Any kind of visual art you can imagine is going to be represented.” -Jim Mathis
“It’s $5 daily or $7 for a two-day pass and children under 12 are free,” explained Mathis.
Each artist will have their own booth full of a variety of their art for people to purchase.
“Artists can submit multiple pieces in multiple categories,” said Mathis.
Fact
Native Peoples Magazine rated the NPIAM one of the top ten Indian art markets in the nation.
In order to qualify for the market, artists must be a member of one of the Northern Plains tribes, including a few tribes that are recognized from Canada.
All submitted pieces will come from Native American artists and be in a variety of types including pottery, jewelry, paintings, photographs, sculptures, beadwork, and more.
“Some will be very modern Native American art, some more traditional, and everything in between,” said Mathis. “There are 19 different categories of art in the program and chances for the artists to win thousands of dollars in prizes.”
“Typically we will have people from all across the region come to look at and buy the art. It’s one of the things the artists look forward to.” -Jim Mathis
Before the show begins, the winning pieces are chosen. On the evening of September 23, head to the Old Courthouse Museum at 7:30 p.m. for the Best of Show Art Preview & Reception.
“It’s a nice chance to see those winning pieces individually and meet the artists up close and personally, which is always a pleasure,” said Mathis.
The entry fee to this exclusive opportunity is $25. Here many galleries, museums, and collectors will come to make their purchases before the main event.
“So the Augustana University collection at the Washington Pavilion has bought a piece every year that this program has been around,” said Mathis. “A lot of collectors who are fans of Native American art will come and buy pieces before anybody else has a chance to buy them.”
If interested in supporting the non-profit organization, feel free to make a tax-free donation on the website.
