 New Exhibit of Textiles and Eco-Prints by Amanda Heidt on Display at the North Dakota State Capitol
BISMARCK, ND - North Dakota Council on the Arts (NDCA) is exhibiting a collection of textiles and eco-prints by North Dakota artist Amanda Heidt, on the 18th floor (observatory level) of the North Dakota State Capitol. The exhibit is open to the public through December 2026.
The exhibition features botanical eco-prints, loon-woven textiles, and printmaking works that trace the evolution of Heidt's artistic practice. Trained as a printmaker, Heidt explores the connections between process, pattern, and material through a body of work inspired by daily observation and the changing North Dakota landscape.
"Walking is an essential part of my daily practice. It is how I continue to learn to see," said Heidt. Through her regular engagement with the natural world, she documents subtle shifts in color, texture, and season that inform her creative choices. These observations are reflected in her botanical eco-prints, a process that transfers the pigments and tannins of leaves, flowers, and other plant materials directly onto paper or fabric, as well as in her woven textiles, many of which incorporate naturally dyed fibers.
Heidt's work bridges traditional printmaking and textile arts, highlighting the relationship between intention, experimentation, and discovery. "At its heart, this exhibition is about the joy of learning by making, the importance of paying attention, and the understanding that an artistic practice is always becoming," she said.
Originally from Bismarck and now based in Fargo, Heidt is an Assistant Professor of Practice, Research Printmaker, and PEARS Studio Coordinator at North Dakota State University. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Printmaking from Minnesota State University Moorhead and a Master of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Heidt is a co-founder of the Tiny Press Project, a mobile printmaking initiative spearheaded by NDCA's Art for Life program that expands access to art experiences across North Dakota. Heidt was an NDCA Individual Artist Fellowship recipient in Visual Arts for Fiscal Year 2025 (July 2024 - June 2025), and has participated as an apprentice under master artists in Finnish weaving through NDCA’s Traditional Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program.
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.
 2026 Governor's Photo Contest Honorable Mention Award in Wildlife category: “Whitetail Deer” by Karli Laber, White Horse Hill National Game Preserve
Also on View: Prints from the 2026 Governor's Photo Contest on display in the halls next to the Governor’s Staff Offices
A selection of winning photographs from the 2026 Governor's Photo Contest is also on display in the hallways surrounding the Governor's staff offices. This year's entries captured everything from community celebrations and iconic landmarks to outdoor adventures, wildlife encounters, and moments that remind us why North Dakota feels like home.
Partially supported by AAA, the contest continues to evolve, with a video category introduced for the first time in 2026. Winners were selected in the Events, Must See Places, Outdoors, Skies, Wildlife and Call it Home categories.
Category winners receive cash prizes and recognition from the Governor's Office, North Dakota Tourism and Marketing, and North Dakota Council on the Arts. The winning photographs will remain on display through November 2026. Following the exhibition, select works will be displayed at the Governor's Residence, while others will be rotated into conference rooms throughout the North Dakota State Capitol.
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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