About Norse Art Space

Norse Art Space is an independent contemporary-art organization based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Established in 2024 by artists and educators Joe Schaeffer and Cody Henrichs, Norse presents ambitious exhibitions, supports the development of artists, produces lasting publications, and creates opportunities for learning and dialogue around contemporary art.

Norse Art Space is the public-facing program of Norse Arts Foundation, a South Dakota nonprofit corporation.

  • Norse Art Space connects artists and audiences through exhibitions, education, publications, and artist-centered programming. We create meaningful opportunities for contemporary artists while helping people develop the knowledge, confidence, and curiosity to participate more fully in the visual arts.

    We believe that education transforms audiences into participants—and that ambitious cultural institutions can thrive anywhere.

  • South Dakota is home to talented artists, engaged audiences, and an increasingly active creative community. Yet artists still need more opportunities for sustained development, critical dialogue, professional presentation, and meaningful documentation.

    Norse was created to help address those needs. By connecting local and regional activity with broader contemporary-art conversations, we seek to strengthen the cultural life of Sioux Falls while expanding what is possible for artists working in South Dakota.

  • Artist-centered. We treat artists as partners and work to present their ideas with care, clarity, and integrity.

    Educational. We provide context that makes contemporary art more approachable without diminishing its complexity.

    Ambitious. We believe the quality of an institution should not be determined by the size or location of the community it serves.

    Connected. We bring artists, students, educators, collectors, and community members into sustained conversation.

    Enduring. We document exhibitions and regional art histories so their significance remains accessible beyond a single event.

  • Joe Schaeffer is an artist, graphic designer, and educator based in Sioux Falls. He serves as Associate Professor of Graphic Design at the University of Sioux Falls and maintains a studio practice exploring relationships among abstraction, structure, memory, technology, commerce, and visual language. At Norse, Joe contributes to artistic direction, design, publications, education, and institutional development.

    Cody Henrichs is an artist, curator, and educator with experience across contemporary art, museums, and higher education. He holds an MFA in Sculpture from the Rhode Island School of Design and a PhD in Art History from Brown University. At Norse, Cody contributes to curatorial direction, artist relationships, research, exhibitions, and institutional development.