Skip to main content
Concordia College Art Collection

Life as an Artist

cropped cy running 2.jpg

Figure 4: Cyrus Running at work on a mural.

Much of Running's work was influenced by his childhood in rural South Dakota. Many of his pieces reflect this with the repeated subject matter of small towns, landscapes, and farms. Running was always inspired to create, as he asserted in an interview with William Siemering, “I’m in art because my older brother drew pictures, and as a child I was always fascinated by colors. Now I look at shapes and colors and think of design all of the time.” (12) The large body of Running’s work that is part of the Concordia College Art Collection displays not only a wide variety of work, but showcases the evolution of his artistic style.

Cyrus Running’s artistic style fluctuated many times throughout his career. In 1956 Running’s “Mexican style” came to fruition from the time he spent studying in San Miguel, where he received his Master of Fine Arts. (13) Running’s Mexican style leaned more heavily towards abstraction in contrast to his work in previous years. (14) In addition to the Mexican influence of his work, Running was also inspired by his travels to Europe over the course of the 1960s, and later in 1970 traveled with Olin Storvick on an archaeological expedition in Israel. (15)

cy2.jpg

Untitled (Three Kings) by Cyrus Running

 Running’s teaching obligations at Concordia meant less time for creating his own art, though much of his work is prevalent around the Red River Valley area. During his artistic career, Running has completed commissions at sites such as Trinity Lutheran Church in Ellsworth, Iowa, Instituto Allende in San Miguel, Mexico, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, and many others in local locations. (16) One of the most important exhibitions that have played  a big part in showcasing Running’s work took place in 1969, located on Concordia’s campus in the Berg Art Center. The exhibition was center on a broad number of artworks ranging from his time as a student at St. Olaf College, his classic oil cityscapes, some pieces capturing his Mexican style influence, and contemporary work he created in 1969. (17)

(12) Cyrus Running, interviewed by William Siemering, 1.

(13) Baker, "Cyrus Running",11.

(14) Ibid.

(15) Ibid.

(16) Baker, Claudia. "Cyrus Running",23.

(17) Kay Can, “Cyrus Running’s Works Form Major Show.” Fargo Forum, January 12, 1969. Running, Cyrus M. 1913-1976. Biography Files Collection. Concordia College Archives.

Figure 4: "Cyrus Running Working on a Mural," 1963, Running, Cyrus M., 1913-1976, Biography Files Collection, Concordia College Archives.