Honoring artistic excellence and community connection through dual exhibitions
January 17, 2025—The Miller Art Museum is excited to announce its first exhibition of the organization’s 50th anniversary year, Giving Good: The Art of Illustration by Aaron Boyd, opening on Saturday, January 25, 2025. Featured alongside Giving Good on the Ruth Morton Miller Mezzanine will be Malin Ekman in the Permanent Collection, an installation featuring work by Malin Ekman, a female Door County artist celebrated for her evocative illustrations in pencil and watercolor. The exhibits open to the public at 10 am on Saturday, January 25, 2025, and will be on view through March 29, 2025. A free artist reception with author/illustrator Aaron Boyd will be held on Fri., February 28, 2025.
Giving Good, an exhibition celebrating the beauty of human connection and cultural diversity, features Wisconsin artist Aaron Boyd’s vibrant and evocative mixed-media illustrations––a fusion of mixed media techniques, blending of watercolor, collaged paper, textiles, oil pastels, and found objects. Visitors will discover the artist’s lifelong passion for storytelling and his commitment to representing the diverse experiences of the world around him.
The exhibition was inspired by Boyd’s book of the same title. It is a heartfelt story about the love that a father shares with his son and how that love is magnified by one small, kind act between them: On a cold, snowy school night, the boy and his father venture out to spend the evening together. While things “haven’t been the same since daddy moved out,” the boy learns that the most precious thing they have is the time and memories they share and that a father’s love doesn’t change in difficult times. While the two indulge in the fun of making model planes together, the boy realizes he is “just a kid” and “doesn’t have the words in his library” to describe how things are different, but the gift of a warm hat shows him that he is loved and cared for.
“As a Wisconsin-born artist coming from a diverse background, I have always sought to capture and celebrate diversity in my art, wanting children and communities to see themselves reflected in my work,” writes Boyd.
At the age of six, Aaron Boyd knew he wanted to illustrate children’s books. After creating illustrations for dozens of books, he now tells the whole story as both author and illustrator for the first time in Giving Good.
Boyd typically uses watercolor, and his work often involves a vibrant fusion of bold colors paired with highly detailed features. Over time, as his work evolved, he began to explore the use of contrast through textures, introducing collaged paper, textiles, oil pastels, and found objects to the finished pieces. He illuminates his characters with highly rendered features against flat-form backdrops, drawing in the viewer with surprising adornments like buttons.
32 original works will be featured in the museum’s main galleries created for Giving Good, and 14 additional works that reach into the artist’s 31-year career as a professional illustrator with a curated collection of works from other celebrated books.
“At five I wanted to be an artist. At six I wanted to make children's books with my art. Now I want to tell the whole story. I am happy to share my first written and illustrated story, Giving Good. A deeply personal but universal story of love,” Boyd continued.
In celebration of the Miller Art Museum’s 50th anniversary in 2025 and its focus historically on presenting engaging children’s exhibitions with a literary focus over the course of its 50-year history, Giving Good will feature an interactive installation that will allow visitors of all ages to experience the illustrators’ drafting table. Here, visitors will be able to indulge their creativity.
“We wanted to engage Aaron and invite him to step into his shoes as both a storyteller and artist giving him the creative freedom to design an interactive installation for museum visitors,” says Helen del Guidice, curator.
Aaron Boyd, based in Milwaukee, WI, earned his BFA in Illustration from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD) and is an award-winning illustrator recognized by the Illinois Library Association. He has received the Children’s Africana Book Award and has been reviewed by the renowned Kirkus Reviews. In 2011 his pop-up book, Storybook Year, won the Clio Top 4 award and was inducted into the Smithsonian Rare Books Collection. Throughout his career, he has contributed to numerous children’s books, magazines, and educational materials, earning accolades such as the Golden Kite Award and the American Library Association’s Notable Book distinction. In total, Boyd has illustrated over 40 books, working with several publishers such as Lee and Low, Little Brown, Houghton Mifflin, and Scholastic. His work often explores themes of cultural diversity, imagination, and storytelling, resonating with audiences of all ages. In addition to his artistic achievements, Boyd is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of artists through workshops and community engagement, fostering creativity and a love for the arts. While he is proud of awards won over the years, Boyd feels the greatest reward is getting to keep inspiring children through his art.
Malin Ekman in the Permanent Collection is the first in a series of permanent collection-focused exhibitions scheduled for the museum’s momentous anniversary year. Forthcoming exhibitions will celebrate the incredible artists, stories, and masterpieces held by the Miller Art Museum, which now comprises over 1,500 works by 318 artists.
“This milestone year is an opportunity to reflect on the stories and creative voices that have shaped our artistic culture in Door County and to share them with the community and visitors in a way that inspires connection, appreciation, and pride,” says Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead, executive director. “It is an incredibly exciting time for our organization as we plan for the museum’s next chapter in a new facility in downtown Sturgeon Bay that will allow expanded space for our gem of a collection to be truly seen.”
Malin "Tudy" Ekman Nicolazzo (1931-2023) was a celebrated Door County artist renowned for her evocative illustrations, dynamic depictions of people and animals, and deep connection to her Scandinavian heritage. Raised in Baileys Harbor, her passion for art blossomed early, nurtured through training at The Clearing under Jens Jensen and mentorship from Gerhard CF Miller. A graduate of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, she worked as an art director and freelance illustrator for major publications, blending technical mastery with creativity. Her work often drew inspiration from the natural beauty of Door County, with watercolors and pencil sketches as her signature mediums. Tudy created a captivating series of original illustrations for Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland that reside in the museum’s collection and underscores Ekman’s ability to reimagine timeless literature through her distinctive creative lens. Her beloved "Tumten" series, featuring whimsical Scandinavian characters, captured the imaginations of many, while her contributions to local galleries and institutions––the Miller Art Museum included––enriched the community. Throughout her life, she remained dedicated to her craft, education, and the preservation of Door County's artistic spirit.
On view will be 22 works that demonstrate Ekman’s penchant for the exquisite in her breathtaking paintings and illustrations. This includes works depicting fishermen laboring their hauls on Lake Michigan and revisits her original Alice in Wonderland illustrations, last featured in Beyond Words in 2017. Several botanical works will illuminate the artist’s love of nature alongside sketchbooks and other ephemera.
“We are excited to celebrate the collection by looking back at the last 50 years by exhibiting some of the museum’s best and most surprising works,” del Guidice continued.
The exhibitions are presented with support from Barb and Mike Madden, the MMG Foundation, the Ellsworth and Carla Peterson Charitable Foundation, and the Townsend Foundation with additional grant and in-kind support from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The museum is located within the Door County Library at 107 S. 4th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay. Hours are Monday 10 am - 7 pm and Tuesday through Saturday 10 am – 5 pm. Closed Sunday. Admission is free; an elevator is available to access galleries on the Ruth Morton Miller Mezzanine. For more information about the exhibits or the museum, call (920) 746-0707 or visit www.millerartmuseum.org. Find the museum on Instagram at @MillerArtMuseum or Facebook at Miller Art Museum.
Exhibition-related Programming:
Artist Opening Reception Friday, February 28 | 5:30 - 7 pm Miller Art Museum | 107d S. 4th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay Join us for a special evening celebrating Giving Good with Milwaukee-based artist/author/illustrator Aaron Boyd. Whether you're a book lover, an art appreciator, or simply looking for a cultural experience, this evening promises to inspire and delight! The reception is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served and music will be provided by Craig Schultz.
Art/Speaks Friday, March 14 | 11am Miller Art Museum | 107 S. 4th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay Write On, Door County, in partnership with the Miller Art Museum, invites you to Art/Speaks, a free writing lab designed to inspire writers through exhibited artwork. Guided by poets Carrie and Peter Sherrill, this 60-90 minute session welcomes writers of all levels and genres, from beginners to advanced. Participation is free, and no advance registration is needed.