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French print of a woman holding a red umbrella in one hand, and bucket and the hand of a little girl in a yellow dress in the other.

Shelter and Style: Umbrellas in Art

The next time you open an umbrella—whether for rain or shine—let it serve as a reminder that the weather has bothered humankind for ages and that some of history’s greatest artistic masterpieces capture the umbrellas as a symbol of life’s simple luxuries.

GVSU Art Museum Collection

Published April 1, 2025 by Nicole Webb

Hyper realistic painted cityscape of Grand Rapids with the Blue Bridge.

Capturing the History of Grand Rapids: Cityscape Paintings

Today, artists strive to paint the world around them as they see it, including the urban areas of our very own Grand Rapids, Michigan.

GVSU Art Museum Collection Landscapes

Published April 1, 2025 by Nicole Webb

Top of painting has white background with a curved red brick wall. The bottom of the painting has a yellow background with a dark boat shape.

Holocaust Remembrance Day

The GVSU Art Museum Collection holds works by artists, both Jewish and non-Jewish, who share their experiences of living through or fleeing from the Nazi regime.

GVSU Art Museum Collection

Published January 1, 2025 by Nicole Webb

Color photograph of a pitcher getting ready to throw a ball on a green stripped baseball field.

Artist Profile: Walter Iooss

Walter Iooss Jr. is an American photographer best known for his award-winning images of some of the world's greatest athletes,

Contemporary Photography GVSU Art Museum Collection Photography

Published January 1, 2017 by Nicole Webb

Drawing of a man wearing a hat with his hands folded over his chest, standing in front of a shelf with an artist palette and bottles

Artist Profile: Henk Krijger

Henk Krijger lived through World War II in Amsterdam, experienced Nazi occupation, and participated in the Resistance. Much of his artwork depicts his experiences as his relationship to Christianity.

GVSU Art Museum Collection The Holocaust

Published January 1, 2017 by Nicole Webb

Black and white photograph of a concrete wall surrounded by vines and trees.

Artist Profile: Gloria Baker Feinstein

Since the young age of two years old, Portland, Oregon-based Jewish photographer Gloria Baker Feinstein had a camera in her hand. Her reflections, stories, and connections in her images ask viewers to find beauty in tragedy.

Contemporary Photography GVSU Art Museum Collection The Holocaust

Published January 1, 2017 by Nicole Webb

Monochrome painting of a portrait of a dog.

Artist Profile: Robert Russell

In 2022, Russell began to paint the porcelain figurines that were created during the Nazi regime. At first glance, the paintings may appear to be just portraits of deer, dogs, and rabbits, but his images reveal a horrific backstory.

GVSU Art Museum Collection Painting The Holocaust

Published January 1, 2017 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

Highly colorful photograph of the side of a building with rainbow colors being reflected.

Artist Profile: Robert Koropp

Through his photography, Robert Koropp combined his backgrounds in science and art in experimental ways.

Contemporary Photography GVSU Art Museum Collection Photography

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

Paper collage image of a black bird flying above an African village scene with a river, mountains and clouds.

Artist Profile: Nancy L. Clouse

Nancy L. Clouse is a local Michigan artist, teacher, and children’s book illustrator and author.

Collage GVSU Art Museum Collection Illustration

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

A woodblock print of people carrying items along a path. There is a mountain in the distance.

Artist Profile: Utagawa Hiroshige

Throughout his lifetime, Japanese ukiuo-e woodblock print artist Utagawa Hiroshige created many series of prints that showcase Japan's landscapes.

GVSU Art Museum Collection Printmaking

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

Male figure made of wood and bark playing a wind instrument.

Artist Profile: Tom Czarnopys

Working with a variety of mediums, artist Tom Czarnopys has used live models, sculptures, photographs, and scientific drawings to explore the relationship between humans and nature.

GVSU Art Museum Collection Sculpture

Published January 1, 2017 by Nicole Webb

Black and white print of a woman with her hands covering her head as she lays on a desk with various planes behind her.

Artist Profile: Enrique Chagoya

Enrique Chagoya is known for his humorous, but politically charged, images that tackle complex issues such as immigration, colonialism, and oppression.

GVSU Art Museum Collection LatinX Artists Printmaking

Published January 1, 2017 by Nicole Webb

Landscape scene in green and yellow. Large tree in foreground along path.

Artist Profile: Mariel Versluis

Mariel Versluis' childhood, which was spent on a farm, influences her work today, whether it be in her woodblock prints, drawings, or 3-dimensional sculptures. Her images includes themes found in the natural world.

GVSU Art Museum Collection Printmaking

Published January 1, 2017 by Nicole Webb

Painting of a blue woman, smoking, with a large swan hanging off her lap as she leans against a piano outside.

Artist Profile: Tim Fisher

GVSU Department of Visual & Media Arts Professor of Drawing and artist Tim Fisher is heavily influenced by his own European culture and the more traditional side of painting with images full of iconography, archetypes, and narratives.

GVSU Art Museum Collection Painting

Published January 1, 2017 by Nicole Webb

Color lithograph print with multiple people doing different things, mostly in shades of brown. On person in red appears to be dancing, another has yellow wings.

Artist Profile: Marc Chagall

Marc Chagall was a Jewish artist born in Russia who forged a unique career in many artist mediums. He became known for his unique style of dream-like imagery full of Jewish imagery and symbolism.

GVSU Art Museum Collection Printmaking The Holocaust

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

Page last modified June 29, 2026