DICKINSON — The Southwest Art Gallery and Science Center hosted a public artist reception Thursday, May 14, for its women’s
Western art exhibition
, bringing together regional female artists whose work reflects the landscapes, wildlife and culture of the Northern Plains and American West.
Guests gather during the artist reception for the women’s Western art exhibition at the Southwest Art Gallery and Science Center.
Kelly Harju / The Dickinson Press
The exhibition features paintings, sculptures and mixed-media artwork centered on ranching, farming and rural life across western North Dakota and eastern Montana. Organizers said the exhibit will remain on display through June 12.
The reception offered visitors an opportunity to meet the artists while enjoying wine, cheese and an assortment of snacks provided by
Fluffy Fields Vineyard and Winery
, along with a live guitar performance.
Troy Kuntz, board member of the Southwest Art Gallery and Science Center, pours wine for guests.
Kelly Harju / The Dickinson Press
Artists featured during the event included Daphne Clark, Afton Ray Rossol, Barb Kalenze Kraft, Oksana Zvyagelskiy, Trish Stevenson and Kelsey Jacobson.
Clark, a self-taught painter who began creating art in 2010, said painting became an outlet after an injury ended her years of long-distance running and ultramarathons. She later pursued graduate-level studies in fine art and painting through the Academy of Art.
Daphne Clark poses beside several of her artworks.
Kelly Harju / The Dickinson Press
“I bought books and tutorials and then ended up falling into doing a master’s degree program in fine art painting from Academy of Art,” Clark said.
Clark described her style as Western impressionism, intentionally leaving portions of her work open to interpretation.
“One of my goals when I’m painting things is to try to do enough detail that your brain tells you what it is, but not all the details, so I’m not interpreting the object for you,” Clark said.
She said she hopes viewers come away with a greater appreciation for the beauty of western North Dakota.
“We get so busy in the day-to-day, we forget that the areas around us are really quite gorgeous,” Clark said.
For Zvyagelskiy, art became both a creative outlet and a source of healing. Working primarily in graphite and charcoal, she said she rediscovered drawing after the death of her sister in 2023.
Oksana Zvyagelskiy poses beside several of her artworks.
Kelly Harju / The Dickinson Press
“I had two young kids and I was barely surviving,” Zvyagelskiy said. “I was going downhill mentally and I was like, ‘What can I do to find joy in my life again?’ So, I made a challenge to draw 10 minutes a day.”
One of her featured works, “Stockmen of McKenzie County,” depicts the first stockmen association meeting held a century ago. The original illustration was auctioned during the
North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame
2025 event, with proceeds benefiting the organization.
Oksana Zvyagelskiy’s artwork, “Stockmen of McKenzie County,” is displayed during the women’s Western art exhibition at the Southwest Art Gallery and Science Center.
Kelly Harju / The Dickinson Press
“It saved my life,” Zvyagelskiy said of returning to art. “I hope they feel familiarity and connection with it.”
Rossol’s work combines realism with expressive textures and abstract elements. She said her artistic process often includes layering joint compound and acrylic polymers to create dimension in paintings.
Afton Ray Rossol poses in front of several of her artworks.
Kelly Harju / The Dickinson Press
“I just didn’t want the flatness and I wanted a little more dimension to add some atmosphere,” Rossol said.
Raised in the region, Rossol said her work is heavily influenced by wildlife and time spent outdoors hunting, fishing and observing animals with her family.
“I hope it brings them joy and they can just think about their own experiences in nature or the American West,” Rossol said.
Among her recognized works is “Wise’n Wonderful,” an acrylic bison painting that received honorable mention recognition in Twin Falls, Idaho.
Afton Ray Rossol’s painting “Wise’n Wonderful,” an acrylic portrait of a bison, is displayed during the women’s Western art exhibition at the Southwest Art Gallery and Science Center.
Kelly Harju / The Dickinson Press
Stevenson, a Colorado native who has painted Western themes for roughly 30 years, said childhood visits to her grandparents near the
Little Missouri Badlands
helped shape her artistic interests.
“My grandfather was a bronc rider in his day,” Stevenson said. “I kind of got the romantic visions of a bronc rider as a kid and seeing the cowboys and going to rodeos and brandings really stuck with me.”
Trish Stevenson poses in front of several of her artworks.
Kelly Harju / The Dickinson Press
Working primarily in oils and pastels, Stevenson focuses on realism and movement in her pieces. She described art as another form of communication that can change how people view the world around them.
“It brings awareness to parts of your life that you might not see,” Stevenson said. “For instance, a painting of a dandelion might make you look at dandelions a little differently.”
Jacobson incorporates social, political and historical themes into her pastel wildlife artwork, drawing inspiration from her upbringing on a ranch north of Killdeer.
Kelsey Jacobson poses beside several of her artworks.
Kelly Harju / The Dickinson Press
“My biggest inspirations have always been horses, that lifestyle and being able to be in the country,” Jacobson said.
Four of her paintings were displayed at the Great Plains Art Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 2022 and 2024. Jacobson said the artworks resonate with many viewers, including members of Native American tribes and Indigenous communities.
Several paintings by Kelsey Jacobson, which were displayed at the Great Plains Art Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska, are featured during the women’s Western art exhibition at the Southwest Art Gallery and Science Center.
Kelly Harju / The Dickinson Press
She said her recent work has leaned more heavily into landscapes inspired by North Dakota’s scenery.
“I think North Dakota has some of the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets and, of course, landscapes,” Jacobson said.
Jacobson said she hopes viewers not only enjoy her work but also gain a greater appreciation for nature and history.
“I hope they enjoy my attempt to preserve the beauty of nature and understand that Mother Nature is the best artist of all,” she said.
Among those attending the reception was
Dickinson Mayor Scott Decker
, who said arts and culture play an important role in the community.
“The local artists that we have are just amazing,” Decker said. “I have purchased some of their art and have it in my house. It’s just something I really like to support.”
Decker said he believes involvement in the arts can help young people become more well-rounded alongside athletics and other extracurricular activities.
“I participated in sports while I was in high school, but I was also very engaged in playing music and doing art,” Decker said. “I think you can be well-rounded, that way you don’t have to be just the jock nor the artist.”
A bassist and guitarist perform during the women’s Western art exhibition reception.
Kelly Harju / The Dickinson Press
He added that arts and culture help broaden the community’s identity beyond manufacturing and energy industries.
“The cultural aspect of having art here allows individuals to come in and see that we’re not just a manufacturing or energy community,” Decker said. “We have artists here.”
“The pen is mightier than the sword.”
As a professional writer with more than 10 years of experience, Kelly lives by these words. With a bachelor’s degree in communication, majoring in broadcasting and journalism, and a fiery passion for writing that began in childhood, she uses the power of words to make an impact in the community — informing, educating, and entertaining a wide range of audiences.
As a journalist, what Kelly loves most about her job is the ability to bring unique stories to the public and give people a voice that can be heard around the world. Whether through print or digital platforms, her goal is to share stories people enjoy reading while spreading valuable information that supports the welfare of southwest North Dakota and its people.
