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January 1, 2026 December 31, 2026 America/Chicago 2026 Exhibitions : We Hold These Truths Introducing the 2026 Exhibition Theme As we planned our exhibitions for 2026, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the DAI team and a panel of regional arts professionals asked one powerful question: What is American art? We reached a clear conclusion: American identity holds many truths—complex, diverse, and sometimes contradictory—and art uniquely expresses every story, perspective, challenge, and hope that shapes our nation’s past and present. In 2026, we invite you to explore these truths with us. Throughout the year, we’ll host exhibitions, classes, and programs that celebrate the many facets of American art and identity. Reflect, create, and share with us: What does your truth look like? Read more about the theme Exhibition Schedule Q1: Truths of Culture and HistoryOn view January 12–April 3, 2026 Fur Trade Nation: An Ojibwe’s Graphic HistoryCarl Gawboy Ojibwe Adornment In Ribbons, Cloth, Beads, and FurWendy Savage Part of our 2026 "We Hold These Truths" programming.Funding provided by the Minnesota Humanities Center and the National Endowment for the Arts Q2: Truths of Community 2026 Annual Member ShowTheme: We Hold These Truths Part of our 2026 "We Hold These Truths" programming.Funding provided by the National Endowment for the Arts Q3: Truths of Visual Language Ish Meets a MermaidJonathan Thunder, Vera Bianchini, Camila Guillen Send FlowersCody Paulson and Stephen Pestalozzi Part of our 2026 "We Hold These Truths" programming.Funding provided by the National Endowment for the Arts Q4: Truths of Self and Materials Lauren Faherty, Robb Quisling, and Andrew Webster Part of our 2026 "We Hold These Truths" programming.Funding provided by the National Endowment for the Arts We Hold These Truths Events and Classes [tribe_events tag="We Hold These Truths" view="list"] Thank You to Our 2026 Exhibition Advisory Panel Christina Woods, Deb Eagle, Tia Keobounpheng, Paul LaJeunesse, Wendy Savage, Jesse Switters, Madeline Kayser, Aurora Webster, Meg Litts, Robb Quisling, Jonathan Thunder, Sam Zimmerman Duluth Art Institute
August 3, 2026 October 2, 2026 America/Chicago Ish Meets a Mermaid Register for the reception & artist talk, August 27 Ish Meets a Mermaid is a short film based on a reimagined Ojibwe story, directed by Jonathan Thunder, produced by Vera Bianchini, co-written by Tashia Hart, with cinematography by Jeff Saunders. This exhibition reveals the artistry of the cast and crew who brought Ish Meets a Mermaid to life. As viewers enter the exhibition, they are guided through the journey of the film’s creation with behind-the-scenes moments from production, original props, storyboards, costumes, and stories shared by the cast and crew, finishing with an in-gallery viewing of the film itself. By expanding our view outward from the finished product, the exhibition reveals the many layers of artistry, collaboration, vision, and labor required to produce a project like Ish Meets a Mermaid. This exhibition encourages the viewer to follow their curiosity about the process of filmmaking, and recognize the invisible creative work that goes into an art form as accessible as film. Artists Jonathan Thunder director, co-writer, and co-star Vera Bianchini producer Tashia Hart co-writer Read more about the artists in the sidebar Explore the audio tour, extended content, and ongoing virtual exhibition on Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app. Part of our 2026 "We Hold These Truths" programming. Funding for this program provided by the National Endowment for the Arts. Duluth Art Institute
August 3, 2026 October 2, 2026 America/Chicago Send Flowers Register for the reception and artist talk, August 13 Send Flowers takes the postcard as its medium. A postcard, often overlooked as ephemera, becomes a centerpiece in the language of care and human relationship. This exhibition asks the viewers to notice visual language in their day to day—the billboard we pass by, or the digital consumption of art on our personal devices. Art surrounds us—let’s slow down and smell the flowers. Mailable postcards fill the gallery walls with an illustrated garden, each adorned with unique, hand-designed flowers, inviting viewers to pause, pluck their floral of choice, write a note on the back, and mail it off, sending a little piece of the exhibition to someone they love—all from within the gallery. The gesture recalls the universal symbolism of flowers and the lost art of hand-written mail. Transforming a small act of connection into a lasting, collaborative art experience. Explore the audio tour, extended content, and ongoing virtual exhibition on Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app. Part of our 2026 "We Hold These Truths" programming. Funding for this program provided by the National Endowment for the Arts Send Flowers is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. Duluth Art Institute
