 New Exhibit “Dakota Territory” by Chris Wakefield on Display at the North Dakota State Capitol
BISMARCK, ND - North Dakota Council on the Arts is exhibiting Dakota Territory, a collection of mixed media on canvas by North Dakota artist Chris Wakefield, on the 18th floor (observatory level) of the North Dakota State Capitol. The exhibit is open to the public through December 2025.
The exhibition features 30 artworks that reflect Wakefield’s personal observations and experiences in both North and South Dakota. “This show represents just a small cross section of my observations during my time here in the Dakota Territory,” Wakefield notes. “It’s a portrayal of the beauty, wonder, romanticism, risk, danger, mystery, hope, and heartache all woven into the tapestry of this once very wild place.”
Wakefield’s work explores the layered history of the region—its landscapes, wildlife, and people. “These paintings are my contribution,” he writes, “so that we take time to reflect and remember this grand ground, its wildlife, the people with names we know along with the countless others whose names we will never know, but who all lived here and died here to make this the place we exist today.”
Influenced by a childhood shaped by pop culture, Wakefield describes his creative process as intuitive and expressive. “I just have fun, get lost in the color, throw paint on the canvas and see what happens,” he says. “It’s where I feel the happiest, like I’m doing what I was meant to do.”
The exhibition is open during regular Capitol Complex business hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors should use the public entrance on the south side of the Capitol.
 Also on View: Photography by Jill Edinger in the Governor’s Staff Offices
A selection of nature photography by Bismarck-based artist Jill Edinger is also on display in the Governor’s Staff offices on the ground floor of the Capitol.
Edinger’s work highlights the subtle beauty of North Dakota’s natural environment. “Photography is about slowing down and really seeing what’s around us,” she explains. “I’m drawn to those small, often overlooked moments in nature—a bird taking flight, the light hitting a field just right, a deer pausing to listen.”
Her images reflect a deep connection to the Northern Plains and encourage viewers to look more closely at the world around them.
Members of the public are welcome. Please stop into the Governor's Office on the first floor to request a viewing.
To learn more, including a list of current and past featured artists, visit NDCA's Featured Artists at the Capitol webpage.
North Dakota Council on the Arts is the state agency responsible for the support, development, and preservation of the arts throughout North Dakota and is funded by the state legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.
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For More Information Contact:
Rhea Beto | 701.328.7594 | rbeto@nd.gov
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