Art museum to host reception, discussion for ‘Porter Williams: Evolution of Black America’

The South Dakota Art Museum at South Dakota State University invites the public to the closing reception and panel discussion for “Porter Williams: Evolution of Black America,” an exhibition celebrating the work and legacy of the late South Dakota artist and civil rights activist.

The closing reception will take place Friday, June 12, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the museum galleries, followed by a panel discussion at 6:30 p.m. in the museum auditorium.

The evening will feature guest curators Jonathan Kelley and Zechariah Van Harris III, along with South Dakota Art Museum Advisory Board member Lawrence Diggs. Letishia Kelley will moderate the conversation, which will explore the continued relevance of Williams’ work through themes of lived experience, storytelling, activism and legacy — connecting the past to the present and asking what “evolution” means today.

“Hosting ‘The Evolution of Black America’ at the South Dakota Art Museum on the campus of South Dakota State University provides an important opportunity for students and the broader community to engage with work that expands how history is understood, represented and carried forward,” guest curator Jonathan Kelley said.

Kelley also reflected on his personal experience encountering Williams’ work. “Porter opened a portal of discovery for me — into Black history that was right here all along.”

Letishia Kelley emphasized the importance of the conversation as an opportunity to look beyond surface-level narratives. “I hope that this discussion illuminates Porter Williams so that people can understand him more deeply,” she said.

Donna Merkt, director of the South Dakota Art Museum, believes that the exhibition and its closing event will encourage deeper engagement with the art and its significance.

“Porter Williams’ work invites us to reflect on these important Black leaders and their stories, which helped shape South Dakota and our nation. We are honored to host this exhibition and to welcome all for a final evening of conversation, connection and learning,” Merkt said.

“Porter Williams: Evolution of Black America” features sculptures that reveal layered histories and a powerful commitment to justice, identity and cultural memory. Through his work, Williams presents Black American history as both deeply personal and widely resonant — offering viewers a space to reflect on where we have been, where we are now and where we go from here.

The closing reception and panel discussion are free and open to the public. This exhibition and its corresponding events are supported in part by the Revell-Dickerson Endowment. As a unit of SDSU, the South Dakota Art Museum receives significant operational support from the university. Additional operational support is provided by the South Dakota Arts Council (with funds from the State of South Dakota, through the Department of Tourism, and the National Endowment for the Arts) and museum members and donors.

The exhibition is open through the weekend of Juneteenth and closes June 21.

For more information, visit the art museum website or contact the museum at 605-688-5423. The South Dakota Art Museum is located at 1036 Medary Ave. on the campus of South Dakota State University in Brookings.