DeVos Art Museum - NMU Events and Announcements

DeVos Art Museum

Murmurations features paintings by Leslie Baum, created in the studio from work made as part of her Plein Air Project. The Project offers a fresh spin on plein air painting – the act of painting outdoors from the landscape. All the work on display stems from her ongoing practice of hosting plein air painting dates, in which she invites others to paint alongside her in the open air. In the spirit of this project, we invite you to invite a friend to join you for a self-directed outdoor painting experience. Gather in front of the museum on Thursday, September 25, at 2:00 p.m., and we will head to an outdoor painting spot.

The event is free and open to all. While the museum will have small clipboards and a few supplies available, you are encouraged to bring your supplies, a hard surface to work on, and a blanket or chair to sit on. We will start with an introduction, but instruction is not provided; this is simply an opportunity to paint outdoors with a partner and share that experience with many others doing the same. 

DeVos Art Museum

On Friday, September 12th, 2025, please join us for performances, activations, a discussion, and the reception. 

• 12 pm - 5 pm, in front of Art & Design building: misael soto 

• 6 pm: Panel discussion with Mark Jeffery and Kelly Kaczynski 

• 7 pm - 9 pm: Reception featuring performances by Heather Lyon and Kristin Mariani. 

The exhibition features thirty artists who participated in Nido (Italian for "nest"), an artist residency in Monte Castello di Vibio, a hill town in the Umbria region of Italy. The artworks feature a wide range of subjects and multitude of sensory approaches that distill, echo, reflect, and respond to a shared place-based experience. The artworks demonstrate how artist residencies serve as a site of research and play, connecting artists and ideas, fostering community, and laying the groundwork for new approaches to thinking and working, while rapidly transmitting culture.

Artists include Amber J. Anderson, Leslie Baum, Rachel Collier, Gianna Commito, Daisy Craddock, Bailey Fritz, Mary Griffin, Keeley Haftner, Kate Hampel, Mark Jeffery, Kelly Kaczynski, Arnold J. Kemp, Audrey Hynes Kilinski, Emily Lanctot, Amy Lang, Heather Lyon, Kristin Mariani, Jeffrey McMahon, Stephanie McMaho, Heather Mekkelson, Judd Morrissey, Jessica Mueller, Ruth L. Poor, Shawn Powell, Corrie Slawson, misael soto, Ann Stoddard, Simone Whiteley-Allen, Kevin Wixted, and Adrian Wong. 

DeVos Art Museum

Murmurations: August 25 - November 1

The art exhibition features thirty artists who participated in Nido (Italian for "nest"), an artist residency in Monte Castello di Vibio, a hill town in the Umbria region of Italy. The artworks feature a wide range of subjects and multitude of sensory approaches that distill, echo, reflect, and respond to a shared place-based experience. The artworks demonstrate how artist residencies serve as a site of research and play, connecting artists and ideas, fostering community, and laying the groundwork for new approaches to thinking and working, while rapidly transmitting culture.

Artists include Amber J. Anderson, Leslie Baum, Rachel Collier, Gianna Commito, Daisy Craddock, Bailey Fritz, Mary Griffin, Keeley Haftner, Kate Hampel, Mark Jeffery, Kelly Kaczynski, Arnold J. Kemp, Audrey Hynes Kilinski, Emily Lanctot, Amy Lang, Heather Lyon, Kristin Mariani, Jeffrey McMahon, Stephanie McMaho, Heather Mekkelson, Judd Morrissey, Jessica Mueller, Ruth L. Poor, Shawn Powell, Corrie Slawson, misael soto, Ann Stoddard, Simone Whiteley-Allen, Kevin Wixted, and Adrian Wong. 

DeVos Art Museum

North of the 45th: 18th Annual Upper Midwest Juried Exhibition 

June 20 - August 1, 2025

North of the 45th is an annual juried exhibition of artists living in the geographical area north of the 45th parallel in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. This line, known as the halfway point between the equator and the North Pole, is often associated with being “up north.” The exhibition highlights artists living in this upper Midwest region from rural and urban areas.

The 2025 exhibition is juried by Rebecca Heidenberg. Heidenberg is an curator, filmmaker, and co-founder of the Minneapolis gallery Dreamsong. Heidenberg earned a BA from the University of Pennsylvania in 2004 and an MA from The New School in 2016. In 2021, Heidenberg launched Twin Cities Art Week, an annual celebration of contemporary art in Minneapolis and St. Paul, featuring over twenty venues, from small artist-run spaces to leading galleries and major institutions. 

On Friday, July 25 at 6 pm, please join us for talks with the juror and the closing reception.

The exhibition and event are free and open to all.

DeVos Art Museum

June 20 - August 1, 2025

North of the 45th is an annual juried exhibition of artists living in the geographical area north of the 45th parallel in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. This line, known as the halfway point between the equator and the North Pole, is often associated with being “up north.” The exhibition highlights artists living in this upper Midwest region from rural and urban areas. 

The 2025 exhibition is juried by Rebecca Heidenberg. Heidenberg is an curator, filmmaker, and co-founder of the Minneapolis gallery Dreamsong. Heidenberg earned a BA from the University of Pennsylvania in 2004 and an MA from The New School in 2016. In 2021, Heidenberg launched Twin Cities Art Week, an annual celebration of contemporary art in Minneapolis and St. Paul, featuring over twenty venues, from small artist-run spaces to leading galleries and major institutions.

On Friday, July 25 at 6 pm, please join us for talks with the juror and the closing reception.

The exhibition and event are free and open to all.

DeVos Art Museum

Join us for the Annual Children's Exhibition Reception on May 22, from 5-7 pm.

Each year, the NMU DeVos Art Museum celebrates our area schools that support art programs for elementary students. This annual exhibition, featuring talented elementary students’ artwork in all media, is organized by hardworking art teachers from local schools.

The participating schools include: Aspen Ridge Elementary School, AuTrain-Onota Public School, Birchview Elementary School, Cherry Creek Elementary School, Father Marquette Catholic Academy, Gilbert Elementary School, Graveraet Elementary School, K.I. Sawyer Elementary School, Lakeview Elementary School, North Star Montessori Academy, Powell Township School, and Sandy Knoll Elementary. Featuring Special guest, Project Knot work

The exhibition and event are free and open to all.

DeVos Art Museum

May 5 – May 24, 2025
Join us for the reception on May 22, from 5-7 pm

Each year, the NMU DeVos Art Museum celebrates our area schools that support art programs for elementary students. This annual exhibition, featuring talented elementary students’ artwork in all media, is organized by hardworking art teachers from local schools.

The participating schools include: Aspen Ridge Elementary School, AuTrain-Onota Public School, Birchview Elementary School, Cherry Creek Elementary School, Father Marquette Catholic Academy, Gilbert Elementary School, Graveraet Elementary School, K.I. Sawyer Elementary School, Lakeview Elementary School, North Star Montessori Academy, Powell Township School, and Sandy Knoll Elementary. Featuring special guest, Project Knot Work

The exhibition and event are free and open to all.

DeVos Art Museum

Friday, May 2nd, 7-9 PM

8 PM Awards Announced: Best of Show, sponsored by the Friends of the DeVos Art Museum

Featuring the following artists: 

Computer Art: Ejay Crandell

Digital Cinema: Quinn Alles, Haley Holland, Ainsley Patterson

Graphic Design: Emma Iles, Ashley Loomis

Human-Centered Design: Cole Adameak, Kate Cudney

Illustration: Lindsay Bulmann, Ethan Clark, Val Luxi, Amber Heiser,

Emerson Jermstad, Anna Laakso, Amara Meyskens, Sable Wood

Metals: Ben Gitchell

Photography: Stephanie Cramer, Ashlyn Nichols

DeVos Art Museum

April 17th - May 2nd, 2024
Closing Reception: Friday, May 2nd, 7-9pm

Featuring the following artists:

Computer Art: Ejay Crandell

Digital Cinema: Quinn Alles, Haley Holland, Ainsley Patterson

Graphic Design: Emma Iles, Ashley Loomis

Human-Centered Design: Cole Adameak, Kate Cudney

Illustration: Lindsay Bulmann, Ethan Clark, Val Luxi, Amber Heiser,

Emerson Jermstad, Anna Laakso, Amara Meyskens, Sable Wood

Metals: Ben Gitchell

Photography: Stephanie Cramer, Ashlyn Nichols

DeVos Art Museum

Join us on January 17, 2025, from 6-8 pm – Join us for the opening reception with the faculty!

Exhibition through January 17, 2025 – March 29, 2025

The 2025 Faculty Biennial Exhibition highlights a diversity of creative achievements by participating faculty from across the School of Art and Design.

The show features the following artists Tom Adolphs, Daric Christian, Tim Cleary, Alex Fekete, Jessie Fleury, Brian Kakas, Emily Lanctot, Stephan Larson, Christine Lenzen, Michael Letts, Gabrielle McNally, Jane Milkie, Christopher Lander Moore, Jason Schneider, Tracy Wascom, and Dale Wedig.