Mia’s 2023 Holiday Gift Guide

For many of us, this may be the most robust holiday season in years: bigger gatherings, perhaps bigger stockings. Or maybe you came to appreciate a more subdued season, and want to carry on (quietly). Either way, the Store at Mia has you covered with artful objects for celebration and contemplation, festing and nesting. Come early on Black Friday to shop and see the special exhibition “In Our Hands: Native Photography, 1890 to Now” for free. Become a contributing Mia member and you’ll save 10 percent on store purchases, and you can gift memberships as well.

Here, we’ve asked museum staff—who know their artful objects—for their favorites.

Pearl Earrings by The Vintage Royalty

“There’s nothing I love more than a statement earring, and The Vintage Royalty knocks it out of the park every time. Get the Lorena earrings for the bold accessorizer in your life. If you’re looking to make a statement with a more subdued color palette, the Pearl Earrings are a great option (bonus points for the Vermeer reference).” —Anna Dilliard, Adult Programs Specialist

Amalia’s Mesoamerican Table: Ancient Culinary Traditions with Gourmet Infusions

“One of my favorite things is to shop for a good book. Being from Guatemala, when I find a book by a Latin American author—or, better yet, from Guatemala—you bet I’ll be buying that for family and friends. This year, I’ll be buying Amalia’s Mesoamerican Table: Ancient Culinary Traditions with Gourment Infusions. The book features traditional dishes from Guatemala and Central America, which I find fascinating and a great way to experience different cultures.” —Avi Mylrea, Major and Planned Gifts Officer

Langhetta Rocking Ride

“As a mom of two young children, I’m always on the lookout for cool and tasteful toys. I’ve got my eye on the Langhetta Rocking Ride and the Mushie Stacking Rings for my son. My daughter loves to draw, paint, and sculpt, so I’m putting together an art cart for her. These Chunkies Paint Sticks are a MUST, and any fun, air-drying clay is a big hit. Since parents deserve fun things, too, I’ve got my eye on this simple gold bangle to stack with other jewelry and this flask for my husband, for cooler nights around the firepit.” —Trina Reski, Senior Advancement Officer, Head of Major and Planned Gifts

Art is the Highest Form of Hope & Other Quotes by Artists

“A book like Art Is the Highest Form of Hope & Other Quotes by Artists, created and edited by the editors at Phaidon, feels like the perfect gift for someone who loves a cheeky turn of phrase, an amusing anecdote, or the Agony Aunt section of the newspaper. It may also delight someone who adores art and artists and perhaps works in the arts. I happen to be all three, and I think this book will end up in the hands of many of my creative friends, and probably my own (even if I’m the one doing the wrapping).” —Taylor Bye, Design and Editorial Project Coordinator

Flip clock by Cloudnola

“Amy Thielen, the James Beard Award-winning writer and chef who lives in northern Minnesota with her sculptor husband, Aaron Spangler, came out with the perfect book this year for post-pandemic party people. Company: The Radically Casual Art of Cooking for Others features 125 recipes, plus tips on party planning—enough to freshen your repertoire or inspire the suddenly social. I also love the flip clock by Cloudnola, which presents the time on cards as a kind of narrative: “It’s eleven twenty one.” You actually have to read the time, which makes it seem more like a literary choice than a chronological fact.” —Tim Gihring, Brand Narrator and Editor

In Our Hands: Native Photography, 1890 to Now

“As a co-curator of Mia’s exhibition ‘In Our Hands: Native Photography, 1890 to Now,’ I’m obviously biased, but the catalogue for the show would make a very special gift to anyone who loves Native art and photography. Featuring essays by a number of prominent artists in the show, alongside gorgeous full-color illustrations, this not-so-little volume pulls together generations of knowledge in a visually compelling and narratively accessible way.” —Casey Riley, Curator of Photography and New Media, Chair of Global Contemporary Art

Happy shopping! And when you’re done, wrap it all up with colorful paper available in the store from the local Nayana Design Studio or the Native-owned NTVS.