Feature image: Jody Beighley, December Light, Colored Pencil, (Award Winner)
Submitted
Wausau, WI – The Center for the Visual Arts (CVA) is proud to announce the opening of its winter exhibition season, featuring a diverse collection of regional talent across four exhibits in all three professional gallery spaces. A cornerstone of this season is the 36th Annual Midwest Seasons exhibition, a staple of the Wausau arts calendar since 1990.
36th Annual Midwest Seasons Exhibition
Caroline S. Mark Gallery
January 7 – March 14, 2026
Midwest Seasons explores the deep-rooted identity of the region, from the sun reflecting off summer lakes to the crisp change of nature going dormant in autumn. This year, the exhibit features 33 selected artists who share personal moments and creative acts that highlight the seasons from their unique perspectives.
“Midwestern identity is deeply rooted in our seasons, how they shape our home, our activities, and the sense of community they foster,” says Curator of Art, Madison Hager
Featured Juror: The 2026 exhibition was juried by Duachaka (Dua) Her, a Wausau-based Hmong-American cartoonist and illustrator. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin- Stout, Her’s own work is heavily inspired by culture, identity, and everyday experiences.
“During the selection process for this exhibition, I was drawn to pieces that were visually engaging and captured the lives and stories of the Midwest seasons in new and profound ways. I selected works that evoked a mood, memory, or created a sense of wonder, and works that, with stories that allowed for interpretation.“
The 33 artists selected for this year’s showcase include: Christine Alfery, Jennifer Arnett Musson, Scott Bargender, Pat Baum Bishop, Jody Beighley, Beki Borman, Wendy Crone, Kevin Doberstein, Charlotte Easterling, Abigail Engstrand, Codey Gallas, Terri Goodness, Kaylind Hernandez, Kristine Hinrichs, Marlin Hostvet, David Kapszukiewicz, Jake Keeler, Yuliya Klochan, Jordan Kreuser, Pat Kroth, Susan Lansdown, Holly McArthur, Charlyn Milkowski, Janet Nelson, Tanya Otto, Mati Palm Leis, Marilyn Prescott, Peg Sandin, Erika Scheer, Rachel Schindler, Yulia Sholomova, Jillayne Waite, and Markus Whetzel.
Juror Duchaka Her selected 13 awards for the Midwest Season; Best of Show was awarded to Jillayne Waite of Arbor Vitae, WI, for their ceramic sculpture, Audrey’s Treeborhood.
In addition to a cash award, Waite was awarded a solo exhibit to open in January 2027. 12 artworks were selected for monthly awards and are featured in the Midwest Seasons Exhibit Calendar and Catalog.
The Taste of Winter by Yulia Sholomova (January), WATERSABBATH: Grind by Jake Keeler (February), Tapestries of Time and Transcendence by Christine Alfery (March), Entangled Kevin Doberstein (April), Garden Hues by Pat Kroth (May), Garden Square by Janet Nelson (June), Summer Storm on Lake Mendota by Holly McArthur (July), Queen Wanted by Charlyn Milkowski (August), LookUp by Marlin Hostvet (September), I Belong Among by Codey Gallas (October), Innocent Wrath by Kaylind Hernandez (November) December Light by Jody Beighley (December).
For more information, a digital catalog, and the full exhibit calendar, please visit www.cvawausau.org/mwscalendar.
Flight of Fancy – Craig Clifford
Vault Gallery
January 7 – March 14, 2026
Flight of Fancy is an exhibition featuring the ceramic work of artist Craig Clifford that is inspired by nature and the garden. Clifford’s pieces feature birds and butterflies immersed in bright colors and explosions of blooms and images. His colorful ‘fancy’ pieces bring together a collage of images and color that reference flight and summer gardens in the format of complex ceramic vessels.
Searching for the Sacred – Thomas Moberg
Vault Gallery
January 7 – March 14, 2026
Searching for the Sacred is an exhibition of plein air landscape paintings by artist Thomas Moberg, which explore how beauty manifests in the daily lives of people in the American Midwest. This work is informed by Thomas’s upbringing in Central Wisconsin, which instilled in him an affinity for rural landscapes, a sense of environmental consciousness, and a perspective that centers on the experience of the working class.
WVAA Member + Memorial Show
Loft Gallery
January 7 – February 14, 2026
The Wisconsin Valley Artist Association was formed in 1951 with the purpose of promoting the arts by bringing lectures, exhibits, and workshops to the area. WVAA raises funds to further Art Education through scholarships and grants to area schools, organizations, and for individuals to attend art workshops. The WVAA is a non-profit organization open to all interested professional and non-professional artists, craftsmen, students, and patrons of the arts, as well as art enthusiasts.
This year, WVAA celebrates 75 years as an organization and 49 years of the Member Memorial Show.
Contact
Mara Mullen
mmullen@cvawausau.org
715-842-4545
Hours of Operation
Wednesday: 10:00am-4:00 pm
Thursday: 10:00am-7:00 pm
Friday: 10:00am-4:00 pm
Saturday: 12:00-4:00 pm
Address
Center for the Visual Arts, 427 N. 4th St., Wausau, WI 54403