Midwest Museum of American Art Opens Juried Exhibition

The 48th Juried Regional exhibition showcases diverse works from artists across 24 Midwestern counties.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Fine Art

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of a sculpture and abstract painting in a quiet museum gallery space.
The Midwest Museum of American Art in Elkhart launched its 48th Juried Regional exhibition, highlighting diverse works from across 24 regional counties. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Midwest Museum of American Art in Elkhart launched its 48th Juried Regional exhibition on October 10, 2026. The display spans two levels of the building and features a variety of artistic mediums, including painting, sculpture, and photography.

Why it matters

The annual exhibition serves as a significant platform for regional artists to gain exposure and compete for merit and purchase awards. By facilitating these acquisitions, the museum actively contributes to the preservation and support of contemporary Midwestern art.

The 48th edition of this juried exhibition features prize values at $900, $700, and $500 for selected works. The exhibition includes entries from 24 counties across the Midwest and remains open for public viewing daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The players

Midwest Museum of American Art

This Elkhart institution specializes in the collection and exhibition of 19th and 20th-century American art.

Tony Bianco

He is an artist who received the Best of Show honor for his work titled Washington and Wells-Chicago.

Mark Vander Vinne

He is an artist whose painting titled This Feels Right won the Best Painting award.

Kay Westhues

She is an artist recognized with the top photography award for her piece titled Mathews IN.

Bill Kremer

He is an artist who earned the Best Sculpture award for his work titled Sculptural Vessel #1.

The details

Artists Tim Parsley and Katharine Ransbottom served as jurors to evaluate submissions across multiple categories, such as ceramics, printmaking, and mixed media. Tony Bianco was awarded Best of Show, while winners were also named for Best Painting and Best Sculpture.

Timeline

  1. The exhibition opened on October 10, 2026.

  2. The exhibition concludes on December 30, 2026.

Industry Dynamics

The 48th Juried Regional exhibition marks a continuation of the museum's long-standing tradition of supporting regional talent through annual competitive juried processes. This recurring event highlights the evolving landscape of Midwestern artistic output by prioritizing local and regional participation over national trends.

Non-resident adult tickets are available for $15, while Elkhart County residents can enter for $10 and children for $8. The exhibition is open for viewing daily until December 30, 2026, allowing visitors consistent access to the two-level display.

The takeaway

Visitors are encouraged to explore the multi-level gallery to experience the variety of mediums ranging from ceramics to digital photography. These exhibitions provide a valuable opportunity to view professional-grade work produced by artists living and working within the immediate region.

Further reading

For more information on regional art programs, visit the Fine Art section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by InkFreeNews.

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