Miller Art Museum Collections

Gerhard CF Miller

A dedicated gallery on the Ruth Morton Miller Mezzanine showcases the extraordinary works of Gerhard CF Miller, celebrated for his distinctive style of imaginary realism. Born in 1903 in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, Miller overcame polio in childhood and turned his hours of convalescence into a lifelong creative pursuit. He mastered drawing, watercolor, and egg tempera, and focused almost exclusively on watercolor and egg tempera after 1938—a shift influenced by his mentor, celebrated American watercolorist Roy Mason (American, 1886–1972). Miller’s work reflects the region he loved: the light and atmosphere of the Door Peninsula, the quiet architecture, and the sweep of its landscapes; his paintings capture not just what we see, but how we might feel the world’s stillness and movement. Miller exhibited widely during his lifetime, earned membership in the American Watercolor Society, and supported his own travel and growth as an artist through the sale of his work. Gerhard passed away in August 2003 at the age of 100—his longevity and productivity leaving a profound legacy. His passing deepened our commitment to preserving his artistic vision and ensuring that his legacy and the museum he gifted to the community remains ever vital.

Explore the Legacy

The Permanent Collection

The Miller Art Museum’s permanent collection offers a compelling exploration of the visual arts of Wisconsin and the greater Midwest, spanning the early 20th century to contemporary practice. With over 1,500 works by more than 300 regional artists, the collection largely spans painting, drawing, printmaking, and photography, and reflects the region’s unique light, geography, and cultural heritage, while resonating far beyond its borders.

At the heart of the collection lies the extraordinary work of museum founder Gerhard CF Miller, whose distinctive approach, which the artist himself coined imaginary realism, has become emblematic of the institution. Miller drew inspiration from the coastal air and changing light of the Door Peninsula, and through a singular blend of meticulous technique and imaginative vision, he transformed landscapes into moments that feel at once completely real and enchantingly imagined. His artwork does more than depict—they distill. They invite the viewer into familiar terrain and then prompt a deeper awareness of design, gesture, and hidden nuance. In his watercolor and egg tempera paintings, poles disappear into snowdrifts, fences bend to the wind’s logic, and ghost shapes shimmer in the margins—these subtle shifts are core to his visual signature. Miller’s life and legacy forms the foundation of the Miller Art Museum, and his creative vision continues to frame the work of the museum today.

Beyond Miller, the collection is amplified by the voices of other regionally celebrated American artists, each offering a distinct vantage on the region’s creative conscience. Collectively, the work speaks to the fluid boundary between place and perception, tradition and innovation. Visitors will discover in the collection not only striking images but also rich visual narratives of environment, community, and place. We invite you to engage with the collection not as a static archive, but as a living resource—rotated in exhibitions, enlivened through programs and educational outreach, and made available for private viewings. Whether you contemplate a painting in a quiet space within our galleries or attend a gallery talk that places a work in conversation with contemporary practice, our collection asks you to see—and then to look again. Please contact our curator at for more information about the collection or to schedule a private viewing.

Gerhard CF Miller

Explore the Legacy

The Permanent Collection

Artists