In Downtown Sturgeon Bay with the Opening of Miller Art Museum’s 52nd Annual Salon of High School Art Sat., April 4
Sturgeon Bay, Wis. (March 20, 2026) –The Miller Art Museum in downtown Sturgeon Bay is excited to announce the opening of its 52nd Annual Salon of Door County High School Art, a vibrant showcase of creative expression from Door County’s talented young artists. This favorite annual exhibition opens to the public on Saturday, April 4, 2026, with a celebratory reception honoring the young artists on Monday, April 6, from 7:00 – 8:30 PM at the museum, located inside the Door County Library in Sturgeon Bay.
The annual exhibition, the Miller Art Museum’s longest-running exhibit, will feature more than 100 works by young artists from schools across the Door Peninsula, including Gibraltar, Sevastopol, Southern Door, Sturgeon Bay, and Washington Island High Schools. Working with their art teachers, the students demonstrate creativity, enthusiasm, and technical ability across diverse media, ranging from painting to sculpture, drawing, and photography.
“The High School Salon is one of our most anticipated and attended exhibitions every year,” said Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead, Miller Art Museum Executive Director. “Providing students with the unique opportunity to display their work in a professional museum setting is an experience that can be both transformative and confidence-building. Through this opportunity, together with the Peninsula’s talented art educators, we’re fostering that confidence, self-expression, and the realization that art is a powerful means of communication and a viable career path.”
The April 6 reception will provide an opportunity for student artists, their families, educators, and the public to come together in celebration of this special exhibition. Light refreshments will be served, and attendees will have the chance to engage with the young artists. The event is open to all—students, families, guests, and the general public. Awards will be presented at 7:30 pm; Certificates of Participation will be presented to all participants by their respective art teachers, which will be followed with the presentation of Awards of Excellence and Honorable Mention by the Miller Art Museum. Additionally, $100 cash awards will be presented to each high school art department. One student from Sevastopol High School will be awarded the Mr. Rericha Legacy Award, also a $100 cash prize. Jim Rericha was a longtime beloved art teacher and theater director at Sevastopol High School who had a significant impact on the lives of those he taught and mentored; he passed away in September 2022 and an anonymous financial gift made the establishment of the award possible.
“We hope the community will join us to celebrate and elevate the voices of Door County’s young emerging artists at our upcoming reception.” Gigstead continued. “Providing opportunities to young people was near and dear to Gerhard Miller’s heart, and it’s heartwarming we can continue to honor his legacy through this exhibit, especially in this momentous year for the museum.”
The 52nd Annual Salon of Door County High School Art will remain on view through Saturday, May 23, 2026. Admission to both the reception and exhibition is free and open to the public.
Participating artists in this year’s salon include, from Washington Island High School: Kinsey DeJardin, George Findlay, Madison Heid, Corbin Kellerman, Cydney Kickbush, Jaida Mann, Teagan McGrane, Thomas Pratt, Julia Pratt, Magnus Purinton, and Rita Valentincic; from Sturgeon Bay High School: Ryan Felhofer, Iliana Bealin, Zoey Bosman, Sophia Carmody, Lucy Corea Caballero, Rosie DeFere, Kendal Estrada, Kaylus Ferrer, Lily Fiserova, Yarrow Goettelman, Leah Hansen, Rose Haucke, Regan Kasten, Jade McAfee, Alex Mellen, Evan Newman, Shayla Opitz, Rowan Ploor, Claire Quaderer, Raven Rathmann, Saia Stahl, Olivia Tanzi, and Alissa Wilke; from Sevastopol High School: (student list not available at time of print); from Gibraltar High School: Lyric Backmann-Einhorn, Elizabeth Bautista, Sophia Blagoeva, Abigail DeMeuse, Rocket Donohue, Rachel Flores, Megan Gallant, Lillian Gorham, Piper Grady, Fernando Juaregui, Bairen Lhost, Richard Marvin, Brody Nimmer, Robert Opper, Naomi Ouradnik, Olivia Pelkey, Jacksun Penchoff, Halyn Rasmusson, Collin Rice, Brady Schmidt, Molly Virlee, and Lida Wittenmyer; from Southern Door High School: Charlotte Bloniarz, Elloise Bloniarz, Kyleigh Claflin, Samuel Gebhardt, Violet Jackson, Cedric Lattion, Angelina LeCloux Herrera, Everling Marin Salgado, Anna Massart, Lania Milewicz, Paige Penovich, Kennedy Pierre, Marisa Pitzen, Audrie Schley, Lydia Sternard, Lauren Uecker, and Abby Verhagen.
The museum is located within the Door County Library at 107 S. 4th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay. Hours are Monday 10 am – 7 pm and Tuesday through Saturday 10 am – 5 pm. Closed Sunday. Admission is free; an elevator is available to access galleries on the Ruth Morton Miller Mezzanine. For more information about the exhibits or the museum, call (920) 746-0707 or visit www.millerartmuseum.org. Find the museum on Instagram at @MillerArtMuseum or Facebook at Miller Art Museum.
ABOUT THE MILLER ART MUSEUM
Nestled in the heart of downtown Sturgeon Bay, the Miller Art Museum stands as a beacon of cultural enrichment and artistic exploration. Established in 1975, this dynamic institution has been a pillar of the Door County community, fostering creativity and appreciation for the visual arts. With a diverse collection of more than 1,500 works spanning historical to contemporary along with regularly changing exhibitions, visitors are treated to a compelling and diverse array of art. From powerful exhibitions highlighting regional and national talent to thought-provoking exhibits that explore the depths, joys, and complexities of our world, the museum offers something for art enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds. Beyond its exhibits, the Museum presents an array of educational programs, tours, performances, and events, engaging visitors in experiences that deepen their understanding and appreciation for art. With a commitment to excellence and accessibility, the Miller Art Museum continues to foster connections between artists and community through the creation of opportunities to explore, appreciate, and advance the visual arts. Visitors are invited to visit the Museum Store to browse a diverse selection of books, artisan crafts, paper goods, and unique gifts.
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