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Our opening receptions are a highlight, offering a chance to meet the artists, explore new exhibitions, and celebrate the arts with music, fellowship, and refreshments. These events are free to attend (unless otherwise noted) and provide the perfect opportunity to connect with Northwoods arts enthusiasts. We invite you to visit our beautiful campus, stroll through the exhibits, and experience the creativity and inspiration on display.

Witness the creativity of 17�Թ�’s talented students through a curated collection of their works. Many students create art in our labs while fulfilling humanities and elective requirements. From sketches to paintings, sculpture, ceramics, and more, these pieces showcase artistic growth and vision. Our faculty carefully select and display these remarkable creations, highlighting the diversity and skill of our student artists. The opening reception is a must-attend event—a chance to support and celebrate artists within our collegecommunity. We are proud to empower students recognized for artistic excellence as they continue to evolve and thrive in higher education.

Our opening receptions are a highlight, offering a chance to meet the artists, explore new exhibitions, and celebrate the arts with music, fellowship, and refreshments. These events are free to attend (unless otherwise noted) and provide the perfect opportunity to connect with Northwoods arts enthusiasts. We invite you to visit our beautiful campus, stroll through the exhibits, and experience the creativity and inspiration on display.

The Wisconsin Regional Art Program (WRAP) encourages nonprofessional, student, and emerging artists to create and exhibit their work across Wisconsin. It is for people who have a serious interest in art, and create art for the love of art. WRAP originated as an outreach program of UW-Madison but is now administered by the Association of Wisconsin Artists. Each WRAP site has a judge who selects works eligible for the state competition. The judge also provides invaluable encouragement and feedback to the exhibiting artists.

Anyone 18 years or older is invited to submit art for the Wisconsin Regional Art Program (WRAP) exhibit, which includes a day-long artist workshop with a lecture or demonstration and educational critique. Meritorious work selected by judges from the numerous regional exhibits around the state will be displayed at the Annual State Art Exhibit in Madison.

2026 Judge and Workshop Instructor: Tanner MacArthur

Painter and mixed-media artist Tanner MacArthur explores urban disorder, collage, and abstraction in his work. Based in Brooklyn and Milwaukee, he holds a BA from Lawrence University and an MFA from UW–Milwaukee. His art has appeared in leading Midwest galleries, including the Trout Museum of Art, Portrait Society Gallery, Real Tinsel, and Var Gallery, with solo shows at Mudd Gallery and No Instructions Gallery. Most recently, Tanner was 17�Թ�’s MFA exhibiting artist last fall and created this winter’s solstice sculpture in the 17�Թ� Garden.

WRAP exhibits began in 1940 as an outreach program of UW-Madison to encourage the creative growth of Wisconsin non-professional artists from rural areas. Now administered by the Association of Wisconsin Artists, WRAP exhibits/ workshops are held throughout the year in over 25 locations around the state. 17�Թ� is proud to be one of those locations and carry on the tradition.

Join the opening reception to view this exhibit, connect with others, and enjoy light food and drink.

Artworks that either employ the tools of the industry, or are a thematic expression will be on display in the latest of a sequence dubbed, “The Art of” series. They feature artworks from student, local, and regional artists in celebration of one of the programs offered at 17�Թ�. As a medium, metalworking is challenging and requires many hours of training and practice. Such training is offered by 17�Թ�’s welding program, featuring state-of-the-art facilities and expert instruction.

Artworks that either employ the tools of the industry, or are a thematic expression will be on display in the latest of a sequence dubbed, “The Art of” series. They feature artworks from student, local, and regional artists in celebration of one of the programs offered at 17�Թ�. As a medium, metalworking is challenging and requires many hours of training and practice. Such training is offered by 17�Թ�’s welding program, featuring state-of-the-art facilities and expert instruction.

Join the opening reception to view this exhibit, connect with others, and enjoy light food and drink.

Each fall, our gallery spotlights emerging Midwest talent connecting young artists with students as well as the broader Northwoods 17�Թ�. Highlighting current and recent MFA students (Masters of Fine Arts) offers a glimpse into contemporary art and the concepts artists are exploring. This fall Tanner MacArthur will be featured. Tanner is a painter and mixed-media artist exploring connections between urban disorder, collage, and traditional modes of abstraction. Tanner, who currently lives and works between Brooklyn, NY and Milwaukee, WI, received his BA from Lawrence University and MFA from University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. He has exhibited at key galleries and museums in the Midwest, such as the Trout Museum of Art, Portrait Society Gallery, Real Tinsel, and Var Gallery. Solo exhibitions include Interbeing at Mudd Gallery in Appleton, WI, and this August at No Instructions Gallery in Milwaukee.

Each fall, our gallery spotlights emerging Midwest talent connecting young artists with students as well as the broader Northwoods 17�Թ�. Highlighting current and recent MFA students (Masters of Fine Arts) offers a glimpse into contemporary art and the concepts artists are exploring. This fall Tanner MacArthur will be featured. Tanner is a painter and mixed-media artist exploring connections between urban disorder, collage, and traditional modes of abstraction. Tanner, who currently lives and works between Brooklyn, NY and Milwaukee, WI, received his BA from Lawrence University and MFA from University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. He has exhibited at key galleries and museums in the Midwest, such as the Trout Museum of Art, Portrait Society Gallery, Real Tinsel, and Var Gallery. Solo exhibitions include Interbeing at Mudd Gallery in Appleton, WI, and this August at No Instructions Gallery in Milwaukee.

The gallery is open Monday - Thursday (6 am - 6 pm), Fridays (6 am - 5 pm), and Saturdays (8 am - 2 pm).

A showcase of sensational artwork will be displayed by an eclectic mix of artists. Each artist featured is a professional educator, providing high quality art instruction throughout the 17�Թ� district. These passionate and dedicated individuals have studied at various universities and honed their skill over years of practice. They actively employ their talents to achieve their artistic goals and work tirelessly to enrich our community. Experience the artworks crafted in an array of mediums, themes, subjects, and individual expression. Attend the opening to personally meet, interact, and demonstrate gratitude to these impressive and creative individuals. 

The gallery is open Monday - Thursday (6 am - 6 pm), Fridays (6 am - 5 pm), and Saturdays (8 am - 2 pm).

Purchase tickets starting May 1 at nicoletce.tix.com

The opening reception, with many of the artists in attendance, is one of the highlights of the year. The attendees not only get a first peek at the exhibit and witness the awards, but also enjoy an evening of dining, music, and refreshments. The main event is the judge’s talk, which always leaves the audience enlightened and inspired.

Northern Arts Council and 17�Թ� proudly present the Northern National Art Competition for the 38th year in a row. The exhibit contains roughly 100 artworks that have been selected from numerous entries across the nation by a visiting arts professional. Out of those that make it to our gallery, a handful are awarded cash prizes including three $1000 awards of excellence. The quality and caliber of the artwork makes it one of the premiere annual exhibits in Northern Wisconsin.

Each year brings a different judge and their unique lens which makes every Northern National special. This year we welcome Jaleesa Johnston. She is an interdisciplinary artist, educator and curator, currently living and working in the Pacific Northwest. She holds a BA from Vassar College, an MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute and an MA from the University of Bergen in Norway. Her interdisciplinary art practice explores the ruptured space between the subjectivity and objectivity of the Black female body. She has been the recipient of the AICAD Post-Graduate Teaching Fellowship, Centrum’s Emerging Artist Residency, Open Signal’s New Media Fellowship, Performance Works NW Alembic Artist Residency, and an Artist Trust Fellowship Award.

Jaleesa also works as Curatorial Coordinator in the Curatorial Department at the Portland Art Museum, where she initiated and curates an ongoing exhibition series titled, “Conductions: Black Imaginings.” The opening reception, with many of the artists in attendance, is one of the highlights of the year. The attendees not only get a first peek at the exhibit and witness the awards, but also enjoy an evening of dining, music, and refreshments. The main event is the judge’s talk, which always leaves the audience enlightened and inspired.