Local Gallery Showcases Missouri Artists

Contemporary artworks were donated by Simmons Bank

The State Historical Society of Missouri recently opened a new exhibition that includes contemporary artworks by Missouri artists in the SHSMO Art Gallery. The public is invited to an opening reception set for 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 25, at the State Historical Society’s Center for Missouri Studies, 605 Elm Street in Columbia.

Earlier this year, Simmons Bank in Columbia donated thirty-eight artworks of photography, ceramics, fiber, painting, and mixed media to the State Historical Society. Simmons Bank (formerly Landmark Bank) is well-known for its rich art collection initiated by Brenda Landrum Bingham when the institution was owned by her family. Her brother Mark Landrum grew the art collection and displayed important contemporary pieces in their banks throughout Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Simmons Bank’s art holdings, while international in scope, supported local and regional artists. Chronicling the last half-century of Missouri artmaking, the Simmons gift serves as an important addition to the State Historical Society’s art collection.

Joan Stack, the State Historical Society’s art curator, noted that Simmons Bank has shared parts of its vast art collections with several Columbia institutions, including the SHSMO.

“Many of the artists represented are acclaimed and collected both in their home state and at the global level,” Stack said. “Several of the artists have guided and supported other artists through their teaching.”

Among the significant pieces Simmons donated to SHSMO are works by former MU professors and students, including internationally known ceramist Bede Clark, a professor emeritus from MU’s School of Visual Studies. Stack said Clark is known for pieces that challenge standard notions about the nature of pottery by reimagining traditional forms and techniques.

Several internationally known Missouri photographers are represented in the donation, including renowned artist Deanna Dikeman, whose poignant images examine the intimacies of family, place, and domestic objects; Doug Koch, whose landscape work often explores environmental issues; and Carole Patterson, known for her compelling photos exploring human experiences, identity and creativity.

A selection of works by these and other artists included in the Simmons donation is on display in the corridor leading to the Guitar Galleries through Jan. 11, 2025.