Local Art Adventures!
Northern Wisconsin is bursting with creativity, and we love celebrating the people and places that make our region so inspiring. Whether you’re looking for a gallery to explore, a hands-on workshop, or a creative small business to support, this guide highlights some of our favorite local art gems. Pack your curiosity and hit the road—your next art adventure is just around the corner!
01
🖼️Galleries & Art Spaces
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Shell Lake Arts Center (Shell Lake)
Offers youth and adult workshops, art exhibits, and seasonal performances.
shelllakeartscenter.org -
Park Street Gallery (Chetek)
A small-town gallery space hosting rotating local artist exhibitions and artisan gifts. -
Rice Lake Public Library – Art Exhibits (Rice Lake)
Monthly rotating art displays from regional artists in a quiet and accessible setting. Great exposure for new and emerging creatives.
ricelakelibrary.org -
Gallery 214 at UW–Barron County (Rice Lake)
This campus gallery hosts seasonal exhibitions and juried shows featuring students, faculty, and local artists. -
Shell Lake Arts Center – Art Gallery (Shell Lake – Barron County border)
A vibrant gallery showcasing student and guest artist work from summer art camps and workshops. -
Amery Area Arts Alliance & Gallery (Amery – Polk County) ArtZ
A charming gallery in downtown Amery featuring paintings, pottery, jewelry, and fiber art by area creatives.
ameryarts.org -
Unity High School Art Gallery (Balsam Lake – Polk County)
Publicly viewable student exhibits and community art showcases during school year events and special programs.
02
🎭 Studios & Makerspaces
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Northwind Book & Fiber (Spooner)
Not just books and yarn—this spot offers art supplies, fiber arts classes, and gallery shows.
northwindbook.com -
Blue Hills Art & Design (Rice Lake)
A creative design studio with seasonal art classes, paint nights, and handmade goods. -
The Center for the Visual Arts (Wausau)
A larger regional hub for exhibits, studio art classes, and artist residencies.
cvawausau.org
03
🎉 Art Fairs & Events
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Art on the Lake (Rice Lake – Summer)
Annual outdoor art fair featuring regional artists, food trucks, and live music. -
Barron County Fair Art Show (Rice Lake – July)
Open class art entries from local creators; part of the county fair celebration. -
Hayward Fall Festival (Hayward – September)
A fun-filled weekend with craft vendors, artists, and downtown entertainment.
04
🧑🎨 Artist Co-ops & Collectives
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ARTicipation Studio & Gallery (Sturgeon Bay)
A welcoming artist co-op featuring works from over 30 regional artists, plus classes and open studio time.
articipationdoorcounty.com -
The ARTgarage (Green Bay)
A nonprofit community space supporting local artists through exhibitions, classes, and shared studio opportunities.
theartgarage.org -
Riverwood Art & Frame / 210 Gallery (Eau Claire)
Home to a working frame shop and gallery space showcasing area artists and collaborative exhibitions. -
Northwind Studio Artists (Barron)
A shared space for local artists working in various media, often open during special events and art walks. -
Luck Area Arts Collective (Luck – Polk County)
A grassroots creative group hosting occasional pop-ups, exhibits, and collaborations with local businesses.
05
👩👧👦 Kid-Friendly Art Stops
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Children’s Museum of Eau Claire – Art Lab (Eau Claire)
Interactive exhibits and an art-focused lab where kids can get hands-on with creative materials. -
WOW Children's Museum – ArtZone (Hudson, WI satellite events)
Offers traveling art education experiences and pop-up creative play for families. -
LK Art Bucket (Rice Lake)
Yep, that’s us! With our weekly $5 Painting Thursdays, open studio hours, and kids’ art camps, we’re proud to be a welcoming place for budding artists of all ages.
lkartbucket.com -
Barron Public Library – Creative Corner (Barron)
Regularly hosts kids’ craft activities, DIY kits, and story-based art sessions. -
Amery Public Library – Youth Makerspace (Amery)
Includes an open creative space with art supplies and rotating craft projects for kids and teens.
amerylibrary.org
06
🎨 Workshops & Retreats
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Circle of Life Studio Retreats (Hayward)
Peaceful lakeside setting with seasonal creative retreats focused on painting, journaling, and nature-inspired art. -
Blue Canvas Art Studio (Menomonie)
Hosts one-day and weekend workshops in watercolor, mixed media, and intuitive painting. -
The Clearing Folk School (Ellison Bay)
A legendary Door County destination for immersive week-long retreats in visual arts, writing, and crafts.
theclearing.org -
Shell Lake Arts Center – Adult Workshops (Shell Lake)
Summer weekend intensives in watercolor, acrylics, sculpture, and digital media for adults and older teens. -
Moonlight Stitchery & Maker Space (Cumberland – Barron County)
Offers workshops in sewing, fiber art, and mixed media in a cozy retail-meets-creative space. -
Polk County Environmental Services – Nature & Art Days
Occasionally offers art-meets-nature workshops at parks and outdoor education centers—watch for events in summer and fall.
07
🖌️ Murals & Public Art Installations
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Take an art walk! These public art pieces and murals add color, story, and pride to local streetscapes.
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Turtle Lake Mural Series (Turtle Lake)
Colorful outdoor murals painted by local artists celebrating community history, Indigenous roots, and nature. -
Barron County Government Center Art Wall (Barron)
Rotating indoor mural-style displays and framed exhibits featuring student and community art. -
St. Croix Falls Downtown Art Installations
Seasonal public sculpture displays and temporary exhibits installed along the riverfront and throughout downtown.
08
🛍️ Handmade & Artisan Markets
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Celebrate the makers! These seasonal and monthly markets showcase artists, crafters, and small-batch creators from around the region.
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Rice Lake Main Street Market (Downtown Rice Lake)
Monthly street market with artisan booths, handmade goods, live music, and food vendors—perfect for discovering new local art and crafts. -
St. Croix Falls Makers Market (Polk County)
A curated market featuring local makers of pottery, fiber arts, jewelry, and woodworking, often held alongside music or wine tastings.
Artists Welcome
We love celebrating the creative energy of our region, and we’re always looking to add more artists, organizations, and businesses to our Local Art Adventures list!
If you’re part of a local art group, run a creative business, host workshops, or manage an art space in Northern Wisconsin, we’d be thrilled to feature you. You can reach out anytime to be included, and we also welcome the chance to spotlight your work in a special weekly or monthly feature.
Whether you’d like us to share your story, promote an event, or highlight what makes your space unique, we’re here to help connect our community through art. Just send us a message—we’d love to hear from you! Give Jennifer a call 715-541-2384 or email lkartbucket@gmail.com