Henry Payer (the Des Moines Art Center’s 2026 Iowa Artist) regularly mines local historical archives for cultural materials that inform his artwork — bridging his Ho-Chunk heritage, American history, and the relationship between past and present. Inspired by his artistic practice, the Art Center presented “Archives and Art,” in collaboration with the State Historical Society of Iowa.
Archives and special collections offer rich windows into the past, and engaging with them is not limited to professional historians. In this talk, Andrew Klumpp, Education and Outreach Manager at the State Historical Society of Iowa, introduced the breadth of materials held in their archives and shared practical ways to access and use these resources. He also described how artists have partnered with the State Historical Society, plus other individuals and organizations to create dynamic and impactful collaborations that shed new light onto our shared past.
Recorded on February 22, 2026 at the Des Moines Art Center.
