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South Dakota Art Museum

1990: 50 Works for 50 Years

Dale Lamphere

Young Long Soldier

Dale Lamphere currently resides in Sturgis, SD and is the South Dakota Artist Laureate. He has been a professional artist, sculptor and designer for over forty-five years. His work is represented in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, and he has completed over 50 large-scale public works.

Lamphere works in both figurative and abstract styles. His first works were assemblages of wood, canvas, metal and stone. But, he states, “I longed for something more immediately expressive and began working with clay, soon moving to cast bronze.”

This bronze portrait of Martin Long Soldier was modeled during Long Soldier’s rests between poses for Lamphere’s Tall Grass Walker. Lamphere remembered, “we took a break and Martin walked to the south door of the studio. The low afternoon sun illuminated his distinctive features and the wind blew back his hair. I can still hear Martin’s twinkling chuckle the first time he saw the result of that moment in bronze.”

View more works by Dale Lamphere. You can also watch this video of his December 15, 2020 live studio tour and talk for the South Dakota Art Museum Guild:

Dale Lamphere bronze portrait of Young Long Soldier

Dale Lamphere

"Young Long Soldier"
cast bronze, 1982
South Dakota Art Museum Collection, 1990.04.
Purchased by the 20th Anniversary Fund.

Jack Stengel, Ann McKay Thompson, Dale Lamphere 1991

Dale Lamphere (right) was presented the South Dakota Memorial Art Center Artistic Achievement Award in 1991. Museum Board members Jack Stengel and Ann McKay Thompson stand at left. Image: South Dakota Art Museum Archives.

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