Sioux City Art Center Collects: 2020 – 2024

October 3, 2024

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February 9, 2025

Founded in 1914, the Sioux City Society of Fine Arts was united in itseffort to promote the arts in Sioux City. Many of the members were avid collectors of art, and they gathered regularly to discuss artistic and cultural issues. By the 1920s, the Society had expanded from a relatively private group to a thriving civic organization that organized exhibitions in public spaces throughout the city. In 1938, the Society of Fine Arts made two important decisions: it renamed itself The Art Center Association of Sioux City and it established a permanent collection of artworks. This latter decision resulted in the founding of the permanent collection through donations of approximately 20 artworks.

Today the Sioux City Art Center, as we are now known, has more than 1200 objects and we continue to add artworks, in all media, to the permanent collection. They are added by a few different means; we have accepted gifts from generous collectors, families, and foundations, and we have made purchases directly from artists whose exhibitions we’ve had on view. This is our way of archiving our exhibition history, contributing to the career of artists in our community, and building a collection for future generations to appreciate.

What you see in this gallery is a selection of artworks that have been collected between 2020 – 2024. They include artists from Sioux City and the Midwest region, as well as nationally recognized artists. As we continue fortifying the collection, it is our intention that the collection reflects the diverse creative communities and artists who call this region home. It is our hope that the permanent collection will show the Art Center’s commitment to creativity, diversity, and innovation, and an invitation to our visitors to engage with art in new and meaningful ways.