March is Women’s History Month, which makes it the perfect time to announce Miss Art World South Dakota. Vermillion artist Klaire A. Lockheart. The Miss Art World South Dakota coronation occurred in the Wayne S. Knutson Theatre at the University of South Dakota on March 10th. Despite the importance of this event, the ceremony was closed to the public due to COVID 19 precautions. Lockheart was honored to receive her Miss Art World title on the campus where she earned her MFA in Painting.
“I am elated to represent our state as Miss Art World South Dakota,” Lockheart declared. She continued, “Women are vastly underrepresented in the art world, which is why I strive to create impactful artwork and share it publicly.” Lockheart is well known for creating representational oil on canvas portraits that address gender identity and feminism while incorporating her sense of humor. Her newest paintings are currently on display at the Washington Pavilion, in Sioux Falls, SD. She also creates fiber art to address the concepts of women’s art and women’s work.
For the coronation, Lockheart created her gown with gold fabric she printed by hand. To make the original printed pattern, she made props and costumes for plastic dinosaur toys so they appear to fulfill the traditional roles of artists and models. The wearable art features a raptor photographer and a spinosaurus painter. After photographing the scenes, she used the silkscreen process to transfer her design to the fabric. Lockheart will sometimes use dinosaurs in her artwork as an analogy for the perseverance of women because she said, “Women have been fighting for equal rights since the dawn of time.” Find out more about Klaire and to see her artworld visit klairelockheart.com
