Minnesota Plein Air Collective Exhibit
2026 | Minnesota Marine Art Museum
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.
May 16 - September 13, 2026
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, Winona, MN
A public reception, paint-outs, and artist programming will be scheduled to accompany the exhibition.
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.
Eligibility
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.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR PARTICIPANTS
May 2 - Deadline to deliver paintings to MMAM. Volunteers will coordinate transportation by participating artists.
May 16 - Exhibit opens. Weekend activities include OPM’s Member Workshop with Nelia Harper French on Saturday morning at MMAM followed by afternoon paint-out.
August 20-21 - MMAM workshop with Bob Upton
August 21-23 - OPM paint-outs and activities at MMAM and around Winona
September 13 - Exhibit ends
September 27 - Deadline to retrieve paintings from MMAM. Volunteers will coordinate transportation by participating artists.
The submission window has ended.
Join us at MMAM for a beautiful exhibit!
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