2025 EXHIBITION SCHEDULE
Giving Good: The Art of Illustration by Aaron Boyd
January 25 - March 29, 2025 | On view in the first-floor main galleries
Step into a vibrant world of storytelling and imagination with Giving Good: The Art of Illustration by Aaron Boyd! This captivating exhibition invites children and families to explore the creative journey of Wisconsin children’s book illustrator and author Aaron Boyd. Through vivid colors, dynamic characters, and thoughtful narratives, Boyd’s work reflects his commitment to celebrating diversity. As a Wisconsin-born artist from a multicultural background, he strives to ensure that children and communities can see themselves represented in the stories he brings to life. Visitors will gain insight into Boyd’s artistic evolution, from early sketches to completed works, offering an in-depth look at the process of illustrating that resonates across generations.
Malin Ekman in the Permanent Collection
January 25 - March 29, 2025 | On view on the Ruth Morton Miller Mezzanine
This exhibition celebrates the legacy of artist and illustrator Malin “Tudy” Ekman (American, 1931–2023) and features 22 enchanting works from the museum's permanent collection. Known for her paintings that draw inspiration from her Scandinavian heritage and the natural beauty of the Peninsula, Ekman’s breathtaking work reveals her penchant for the exquisite and keen attention to detail. Selections include works depicting fisherman laboring their hauls on Lake Michigan and her original 1988 illustrations for Lewis Carroll’s Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, which offers audiences the opportunity to experience her imaginative interpretation of a literary classic.
51st Annual Salon of Door County High School Art
April 5 - May 17, 2025 | On view in the first-floor main galleries and Ruth Morton Miller Mezzanine
A longstanding tradition and highlight of Miller Art Museum’s annual exhibition calendar, the 51st Annual Salon of Door County High School Art celebrates the artistic achievements of hundreds of high school students ages 15-18 years old from across Door County, giving voice and visibility to their creativity! Students from each of the five high schools on the Door Peninsula—Gibraltar, Sevastopol, Southern Door, Sturgeon Bay, and Washington Island—are featured in the exhibition.
Women and Water
May 24 - July 26, 2025 | On view in the first-floor main galleries
Women and Water is a traveling exhibition by textile artist Mary Burns that honors and celebrates women worldwide who work with, protect, and advocate for water. The exhibit features 29 handwoven jacquard portraits of diverse women, including scientists, water-walkers, teachers, farmers, activists, and healers, each holding a deep connection to water that aims to deepen our connection with water and inspire actions to protect the vital resource.
Magnus Opus: Masters of the Figure from the Permanent Collection
May 24 - September 20, 2025 | On view in the first-floor main galleries
In honor of the Miller Art Museum's 50th anniversary, Magnus Opus presents a special exhibition featuring 25 masterpieces from the museum’s permanent collection, on view through September 20, 2025. This milestone year celebrates the acquisition of Charles L. Peterson’s iconic painting Sabbath at Sea, which will be displayed alongside works by celebrated artists James J. Ingwersen, Lester Bentley, William Mueller, Shirley Darch, Robert Heuel II, Emmett Johns, Willard Kolstad, and Robert Leibod.
Sequestered Shadows
August 2 - September 20, 2025 | On view in the first-floor main galleries
The Miller Art Museum presents Milwaukee-based artist Kimberly Burnett’s debut solo exhibition, Sequestered Shadows, a poignant collection of 35 figurative paintings inspired by her childhood experiences. These deeply personal works delve into themes of isolation and the dynamic relationship between self-identity and domestic spaces. Rendered in a hyper-chromatic palette and illuminated by soft, indirect light, Burnett's evocative figures navigate a complex world shaped by duty, resilience, and self-preservation.
50th Juried Annual
September 27 - November 8, 2025 | On view in the first-floor main galleries and Ruth Morton Miller Mezzanine
A pillar of the Miller Art Museum’s annual exhibition schedule, the 50th Juried Annual surveys the talent and achievement of visual artists from across the state, featuring contemporary work by Wisconsin visual artists. The exhibit prospectus, detailing submission guidelines and exhibition timeline, will be available starting in early June 2025; artists may submit work between June 9 and August 15, 2025.
Mise-en-Scène | Staging Illusions by Patrick Farrell
November 15 - December 30, 2025 | On view in the first-floor main galleries
Developed in collaboration with Christopher Baugniet of the David Ray Gallery (Algoma, WI), Mise-en-Scène celebrates the enigmatic, self-taught artist Patrick Farrell (American, 1941–2016). Featuring 12 works from the museum’s permanent collection and 24 pieces from Baugniet’s collection, the exhibit highlights Farrell’s mastery of illusionist painting. Known for his exquisite still life and trompe l’œil in a high-realist style, Farrell’s work captivates with its intricate details and technical brilliance. The highlight of the exhibition will be a series of theatrical and suspenseful figurative works inspired by Farrell’s love of the silver screen.