Minnesota Plein Air Collective Exhibit
Minnesota Marine Art Museum
May 16 - September 13, 2026
MPAC proudly announces its fourth annual traveling exhibit of plein air paintings, featuring artwork from Minnesota's premier plein air events in Grand Marais, Red Wing, and Battle Lake.
Myths & Legends of Minnesota:
An Exhibition of the Minnesota Plein Air Collective
Presented by the Minnesota Marine Art Museum and Minnesota Plein Air Collective
Exhibition
May 16 - September 13, 2026
Minnesota Marine Art Museum
800 Riverview Drive, Winona, MN 55987
Theme
This exhibition seeks to celebrate Minnesota’s rich tapestry of folklore, cultural heritage, and oral tradition as expressed through the landscape, focusing on the lakes, rivers and other waterways of Minnesota. Artists are encouraged to interpret legends, tall tales, folklore, or personal narratives through visual art created in direct engagement with the natural environment and aquatic ecosystems of Minnesota.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR PARTICIPANTS
ARTWORK DELIVERY
May 2
Deadline to deliver paintings to MMAM. Volunteers will coordinate transportation with participating artists.
OPENING WEEKEND
View event-specific details on Upcoming Events page.
May 15
5pm: Casual group dinner at NOSH Scratch Kitchen (Text Kelly, OPM President, to join our group reservation: 218-461-0714)
May 16
10am-1pm: OPM spring Member Workshop with Nelia Harper French, open to the public, register here
1-2pm: Lunch (Bring your own)
5-6:30pm: New Look Social, opening reception for the exhibit
Note: Museum gallery admission is free for MPAC exhibiting artists. Non-exhibiting OPM members and other guests will need to pay museum admission to view the galleries and attend the opening reception.
May 17
9am-12pm: Paint-out in East Lake Park
AUGUST EVENTS
August 21-22
MMAM gouache workshop with Bob UptonPresented by the museum, click here for more information and registration through their website.
August 21-23
OPM paint-outs and activities at MMAM and around Winona (TBD)
CLOSING
September 13
Exhibit endsSeptember 27
Deadline to retrieve paintings from MMAM. Volunteers will coordinate transportation with participating artists.
Eligibility
The submission window for artists has ended. Join us at MMAM for a beautiful exhibit!
Open to paintings created in 2025, on location en plein air, in Minnesota, during one of the four approved events:
Winter Plein Air
Prairie Lakes Plein Air
Red Wing Arts Plein Air
Plein Air Grand MaraisAll media that align with plein air painting traditions (oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, etc.) are welcome.
Water-themed paintings are preferred, however ANY painting from eligible events is allowed.
There is no fee to participate
About the Presenting Organizations
Minnesota Marine Art Museum
The Minnesota Marine Art Museum (MMAM) is a nonprofit art museum that creates meaningful art experiences that explore our relationship with water. Located in Winona, Minnesota, the purpose-built museum is located on the banks of the Mississippi River and boasts six galleries, an educational and events space, and a destination retail shop on its seven acre riverside campus. It is through this surprising diversity that MMAM is not only describing what marine art is, but pushing the boundaries of what marine art can be.
Learn more about the Minnesota Marine Art Museum at www.mmam.org
Minnesota Plein Air Collective
The Minnesota Plein Air Collective (MPAC) is dedicated to helping all artists, from beginner to expert, capture the beauty and diversity of natural landscapes through painting outdoors. MPAC is a collaboration between the Art of the Lakes Association, Outdoor Painters of Minnesota, and Red Wing Arts, the nonprofit organizers of Minnesota’s three premier annual plein air painting competitions in Battle Lake (Otter Tail County), Grand Marais (Cook County), and Red Wing (Goodhue County). These groups join together in a different Minnesota venue each year to present an annual exhibition of paintings from plein air events, spreading awareness throughout the state and bringing the joy and beauty of landscape painting to wider audiences. We are honored to partner with the MMAM to share paintings from 2025.
Questions?
Contact:
Dave Casey
Director of Engagement, Minnesota Marine Art Museum
dcasey@mmam.orgAllison Eklund
Events Director, Outdoor Painters of Minnesota
allison@outdoorpaintersofminnesota.org