Speaker: Christopher Atkins

Reimagining Rural America offers a rare opportunity to see Grant Wood’s Corn Room mural not just as a celebrated piece of art but as a symbol of a rural ideal that continues to shape American identity. In pairing Wood’s original work with modern reflections on rural life, this exhibition honors the artist’s legacy while inviting a new generation to consider the ongoing importance of rural America in the nation’s cultural landscape. Through this exhibition, the Sioux City Art Center aims to inspire visitors to appreciate the complexities, beauty, and resilience that define both the land and its people.

Biography:
Christopher Atkins is the Curator at Sioux City Art Center. From 2015-2019 he was Curator of Exhibitions at the Minnesota Museum of American Art, where he managed a variety of projects including site-specific installations, collection-focused exhibitions, and presented dozens of exhibition-related public programs. He was Coordinator of the Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program at Minneapolis Institute of Art from 2009-2015, working closely with other curatorial departments to increase the impact of Minnesota’s art communities and presenting various artist-in-residency programs. He holds M.Res & MA degrees in Visual Cultures from Goldsmiths College, University of London, and BA History of Art from the College of Wooster.