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Colorful painting of a forest scene with abstract trees and plants.

Finding Inspiration from Nature: GVSU's Ravines

Many artists in the GVSU Art Museum collection have captured Michigan landscapes over the years, some have even found inspiration here at GVSU.

GVSU Art Museum Collection Landscapes Michigan Artists

Published March 1, 2025 by Nicole Webb

Image of Indigenous women in red dresses being pulled upwards to the sky.

Native American Heritage Month

Native American Heritage Month has roots back to New York, at the turn of the twentieth century. Today, Native American Heritage Month continues to call attention to the cultures, traditions, and achievements of indigenous peoples and of descendants.

GVSU Art Museum Collection Michigan Artists

Published November 1, 2024 by Nicole Webb

Colorful portrait of a woman wearing a pink shirt against a bright green background. She wears a Lucha Libre Mexican wrestling mask that is red and white.

Michigan Artists Representing Mexico

Today, roughly 6% of people in Michigan identify as Hispanic or Latinx. The GVSU Art Museum Collection includes several artists who have lived and worked in Michigan but still uniquely represent aspects of Mexican culture and tradition.

GVSU Art Museum Collection LatinX Artists Michigan Artists

Published September 3, 2024 by Nicole Webb

Black and white photograph of snowy trees.

An Artist's Winter Wonderland

While it sometimes can be difficult to appreciate a snowy landscape this time of year, deep into a Michigan winter, many artists have found a special way to transform the grey winter light into a winter wonderland.

GVSU Art Museum Collection Landscapes Michigan Artists

Published January 1, 2024 by Nicole Webb

Painting of a stream with green grass, trees and bushes on either side.

En Plein Air: Painting in the Open Air

En plein air or plein air painting, is the act of painting outdoors. Artists paint directly with their subject, the landscape around them.

GVSU Art Museum Collection Landscapes Michigan Artists

Published September 1, 2023 by Nicole Webb

Still life painting including a human skull, snake skin, a butterfly and a conch shell.

The Art Within a Still Life Painting

For some, it may seem like a boring genre of painting; yet, if you dig into the details of a still life painting, there is much more there than just a pile of unrelated objects.

GVSU Art Museum Collection Michigan Artists

Published April 1, 2023 by Nicole Webb

Woven textile with a house shape with lungs.

The Craft of Textile Art

From the clothes we wear to the decorative rugs on our floors, we interact with textiles every day. By definition, textile art is the process of creating something using fibers from plants, insects, animals or other synthetic materials.

GVSU Art Museum Collection Michigan Artists Textile

Published June 1, 2022 by Nicole Webb

Painting of a courtyard scene in Russia with people walking around and buildings all around.

Artist Profile: Jon McDonald

While best known for his painted landscapes and cityscapes, artist Jon McDonald also works in portraiture, using the style to dive into themes of racism, Black history, Native American history, and the environment.

GVSU Art Museum Collection Landscapes Michigan Artists Painting

Published January 1, 2017 by Nicole Webb

Landscape with one prominent tree, green grass, blue sky, and smoke stacks with smoke.

Artist Profile: Ivan Fortushniak

Ivan Fortushniak's paintings call into question how humans can be better caretakers of the environment through beautiful landscapes scarred with images of decay, including airplanes, factories, and power plants.

GVSU Art Museum Collection Landscapes Michigan Artists Painting

Published January 1, 2017 by Nicole Webb

Painting of a shipyard. Ship next to pier along left side of image, boats and birds in the background to the right.

Artist Profile: Foster Jewell

Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Foster Jewell's landscapes include bodies of water and nautical imagery, prominently from the Great Lakes.

GVSU Art Museum Collection Landscapes Michigan Artists Painting

Published January 1, 2017 by Nicole Webb

Two ceramic figurines, one looks like a nude man with a factory for a head. He carries a briefcase. The other looks female and with a house for a head.

Artist Profile: Mary Ellen McNaughton

Local Grand Rapids artist Mary Ellen McNaughton’s interest in spirituality and nature shines through in her artworks.

GVSU Art Museum Collection Michigan Artists Sculpture

Published January 1, 2017 by Nicole Webb

Scene includes a stove along the right side. Near center is a table of three men, all wearing hats. Bright windows look out into the street in the background.

Artist Profile: Stewart Ashlee

Throughout his childhood, Stewart Ashlee read adventure stories. These stories and the vibrant illustrations fostered his equally vivid imagination, something he embraced in his artwork throughout his career.

GVSU Art Museum Collection Michigan Artists Photography

Published January 1, 2017 by Nicole Webb

Image of a man showing a child how to use a pottery wheel.

Artist Profile: Lori McElrath-Eslick

Local Michigan artist Lori McElrath-Eslick is an illustrator of children's books, magazines, and greeting cards.

GVSU Art Museum Collection Illustration Michigan Artists Painting

Published January 1, 2017 by Nicole Webb

Colrful abstract print of a parts of a face all jumbled together. There are multiple noses, eyes and mouths.

Artist Profile: Sheefy McFly

Sheefy McFly, is a visual artist, muralist, rapper, and DJ, whose artwork and music can be experienced throughout Detroit. He has quickly become known as a contemporary artist with graffiti-based and counter-culture roots.

GVSU Art Museum Collection Michigan Artists Painting Printmaking

Published January 1, 2017 by Nicole Webb

Abstract digital print of many different colors of square and rectangular shapes stacked on top of each other.

Artist Profile: Javier Torres

Grand Rapids-based Javier Torres is a Puerto Rican American artist who lives with muscular dystrophy. Through digital programs, art and poetry become Torres’ voice and a way to communicate

Digital Art GVSU Art Museum Collection LatinX Artists Michigan Artists

Published January 1, 2017 by Nicole Webb

Watercolor of a cityscape

Artist Profile: Reynold Weidenaar

During his career, Reynold Weidenaar became nationally recognized for his technical abilities as both a draftsman and a printmaker, especially his mezzotint prints.

GVSU Art Museum Collection Michigan Artists Painting Printmaking

Published January 1, 2017 by Nicole Webb

A digital painting that features parts of the body in purple, blue, orange, red, and green. The right side of the image has many elements that appear to be dripping down it.

Artist Profile: Jasmine Bruce

Through her illustrations and murals, Grand Rapids, Michigan-based artist Jasmine Bruce strives to tell the untold stories of those around her, sending a message of connectivity, harmony, and peace.

GVSU Art Museum Collection Michigan Artists Painting

Published January 1, 2017 by Nicole Webb

Colorful print of a house sitting on top of a section of mangrove tree roots that stick out of the water.

Artist Profile: Alynn Guerra

Alynn Guerra is a local Grand Rapids, Michigan artist who utilizes the medium of printmaking to inspire conversation and build community.

LatinX Artists Michigan Artists Printmaking

Published January 1, 2017 by Nicole Webb

Man in a gray zoot suit wearing a hat with hands in his pockets. He is standing with one foot in front of the other.

Artist Profile: Hubert Massey

Painting themes of community, culture, and education, artist Hubert Massey's public artworks can be seen in many different Michigan communities.

GVSU Art Museum Collection Michigan Artists Painting

Published January 1, 2017 by Nicole Webb

Black and white detailed photograph of a large, gnarly tree on the beach.

Artist Profile: W. Howard Bond

A former student of Ansel Adams, Ann Arbor, Michigan-based photographer W. Howard Bond has been regarded as a master of large-frame film photography.

Contemporary Photography GVSU Art Museum Collection Michigan Artists Photography

Published January 1, 2017 by Nicole Webb

Page last modified September 9, 2026