A familiar name found in kitchen cupboards across America has its roots right here in North Dakota.

Cream of Wheat was created in Grand Forks in the late 1800s and went on to become one of the country’s most recognizable brands. Its success was driven not only by the product itself, but also by an ambitious advertising campaign that brought fine art and illustration into American homes.

The September exhibition features selections from Bruce Gjovig’s private collection of Cream of Wheat advertising art. The collection highlights the remarkable artwork used to promote the North Dakota-born brand, including advertisements created by some of the leading illustrators of their time, such as N. C. Wyeth and Jessie Willcox Smith.

Long before digital advertising, companies relied on talented illustrators to tell stories and capture the attention of consumers. Cream of Wheat became particularly known for richly illustrated advertisements that appeared in magazines and other publications across the country. Today, these works offer visitors an opportunity to consider advertising through a different lens—not simply as marketing, but as illustration, design, storytelling and a fascinating piece of North Dakota history.

The Member Gallery will feature Plains Impressions, an exhibition by Williston artist Daphne Clark.

Clark’s work reflects her observations of life and landscape on the Northern Plains. Through her paintings, she captures moments that can easily be overlooked—the character of the land, the changing atmosphere and the everyday scenes that make life on the plains distinctive.

At the heart of Plains Impressions is a simple invitation to slow down and look. In the busyness of daily life, it can be easy to move through our surroundings without really seeing them. Clark’s work encourages viewers to pause, observe and appreciate the beauty found in the world around us.

Together, September’s exhibitions offer two perspectives on our region: one looking back at a North Dakota product that became part of American visual culture and another celebrating the landscapes and moments that continue to shape life on the plains today.