Feature image: Courtesy of the Center for the Visual Arts.
Submitted
Wausau, WI – To launch the spring exhibition season, the Center for the Visual Arts (CVA) hosts a diverse collection of exhibits throughout its three-gallery suite.
Same As If Ever Was – Jessika Edgar
Vault Gallery / Through May 23, 2026
The Center for Visual Arts presents Same As It Ever Was, a solo exhibition of abstract ceramic sculptures and installations by Detroit-based artist Jessika Edgar. The exhibition explores the complex construction of individual identity through the lens of popular culture, media imagery, and societal value systems. Edgar’s sculptures disrupt the traditional ceramic canon by blending rigorous sculptural abstraction with materials often dismissed as low-brow or decorative.
“Jessika’s work completely breaks the mold of what’s possible in contemporary ceramics,” says CVA Curator of Art, Madison Hager. “People typically associate ceramics with traditional vessels, but Jessika combines craft materials with installation to challenge those expectations.
Jessika Edgar is an Associate Professor and Area Coordinator of Ceramics at Wayne State University. She holds an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art and has exhibited her work globally, from the Gyeonggi Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art in South Korea to the Jawahar Kala Kendra in India. Edgar has been awarded prestigious residencies at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Guldagergaard International Ceramic Research Center and the Vermont Studio Center, among others.
WVA North Chapter Exhibit
CSM Gallery / Through May 23, 2026
Wausau’s Center for Visual Arts to Host Wisconsin Visual Artists North Chapter Member Exhibition: The exhibition highlights 59 selected works that represent the high caliber of contemporary art currently being produced in the region. Theresa Abel curated the final selection from a competitive pool of member submissions. Award winners will be officially announced during the opening reception, celebrating the technical skill and creative vision of artists from across Northern Wisconsin.
A Legacy of Professional Excellence:
Founded in 1900, the Wisconsin Visual Artists is the state’s oldest professional association for artists. Now celebrating 125 years, the organization continues to serve as a vital educational and connective force. This collaboration with the CVA reinforces a shared mission to provide regional artists with professional platforms and resources. “We were honored to collaborate with the Wisconsin Visual Artists, bringing high-quality contemporary art to our community,” says Curator of Art, Madison Hager. “Partnerships like this one connect our regional artists to new opportunities and bring fresh, contemporary perspectives to Wausau.”
Featured Artists
The exhibition includes works by: Willow Bayer, Maureen Blaney Flietner, Diane Canfield Bywaters, Mari Anna Chism, CathyJean Clark, Debra Davis-Crabbe, Phyllis Deicher-Ladwig, Tom Friese, Adam Fulwiler, David Graham, Colleen Gunderson, Jane Hostetler, Mike Jagielo, Samuel Karow, Elizabeth Kazda, Justin Key, Dale Knaak, Mark Kolinski, Daniel Kramer, Sarah Kreuter, Collette LaRue, Ellen Levenhagen, Caroline Meehean, Jan Mirenda Smith, Lee Mothes, George Ouimette, Judy Parins, Erin Porrey, Marilyn Prescott, Denise Presnell, Michelle Richeson, Ellen Rosewall, Shea Schachameyer, Roberta Scherrer, Mary Ellen Sisulak, Christine Style, Deborah Wage, Terri Warpinkski, Joan White, Dean Wydeven, Stephen Wysocki, and Barbara Zipperer.
Website: https://wisconsinvisualartists.org/join/membership/north-wisconsin/
Wausau School District Art Show
Loft Gallery / Through April 25, 2026
Celebrating the work of the K-12 students of the Wausau School District. Each art teacher in the district has selected several students from their respective schools to be recognized in this year’s annual exhibition.
Contact
Mara Mullen, mmullen@cvawausau.org, 715-842-4545