Split Rock Lighthouse State Park in Lake County, Minnesota, located on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Photo by Rod M. 

The Great Lakes region has a distinct historical and cultural identity within North America. As the name aptly states, the region centers around the continent’s Great Lakes and the U.S. states that surround them, including Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, as well as the Canadian province of Ontario. The five Great Lakes—Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie and Ontario—cover a massive 94,600 square-miles all together, connected by many smaller lakes and rivers. An astounding accolade, the Great Lakes make up the largest freshwater system in the entire world, containing 21 percent of our planet’s surface freshwater by volume. And because the Great Lakes exhibit sea-like characteristics like strong currents, rolling waves, distant horizons and seemingly bottomless depths, they’re also known as the “inland seas.”

The sun casts a gentle glow on the waters of Lake Erie in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo by DJ Johnson.

From major art destinations in metropolises like Chicago, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Milwaukee and Minneapolis, to hidden gems like Door County, Wisconsin, and Traverse City, Michigan, the Great Lakes region is a truly robust and compelling part of the country. Bodies of water—whether it be a tiny, trickling stream or a lake so gargantuan it feels like the ocean—have provided joy, peace, excitement and inspiration to humans for centuries, and that sentiment certainly extends to artists. And the megalopolis that is the Great Lakes region is projected to have a population of more than 65 million people by 2025—that’s a lot of opportunities to continue to build an even more robust art scene. 

City-goers walk along the waters of Lake Michigan in Chicago, Illinois. Photo by Bo Zhang.

Throughout the pages of this special art destination guide, take a deep dive into some of the region’s most vibrant, creative artists and galleries across destinations like Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio and more.

Barbara Schilling, Wind Surfing 2, oil on linen, 24 x 14"

“I like to work bold, loose and painterly with thick textures and vibrant color harmonies,” says artist Barbara Schilling. “Sometimes it leans more impressionistic and sometimes more abstract, but my goal is always to create energy and movement in my work. I am constantly trying new techniques or processes. I want my work to touch people on an emotional level.”

Barbara Schilling, Wind Surfing 1, oil on linen, 24 x 24"

Schilling left her 35-year career as a restoration artist and conservator and now dedicates her time to her art. She is a signature member of Oil Painters of America and the American Impressionist Society. Recently she became a Master Mentor with @Mastrius.com.

Barbara Schilling, Wild Phlox at Rogue River, oil on panel, 18 x 24"

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The beautiful Edgewood Orchard Galleries grounds in Fish Creek, Wisconsin.

Edgewood Orchard Galleries is one of the Midwest’s most respected art galleries, known since 1969 for its exhibitions exploring ideas in a wide range of media. Paintings, sculpture, glass, clay, wood and jewelry are all represented. Open daily from May through November, the gallery presents monthly changing feature shows, along with its general exhibits of work by over 150 artists. Although many of these artists are of national reputation, the atmosphere is welcoming and creative, with a genuine love of art and people felt throughout.

Edgewood Orchard Galleries, Slow and Steady, mixed media sculpture, 10 x 12 x 4", by Valerie Dunning Edwards.

The setting is as exceptional as the artwork shown. Housed in a stone fruit barn built in 1918 and located on an 80-acre orchard, the gallery has been lovingly restored and enhanced by owner and architect Minnow Emerson. It includes a bricked courtyard with bistro tables and chairs, a glassed portico, a sculpture garden, fine leaded-glass windows and the beauty of nature outside every window. In addition, the partnership with Dale Rogers, a distinguished metal sculptor from Massachusetts, brings a fresh infusion of abstract geometric designs to Edgewood Orchard Galleries.

Edgewood Orchard Galleries, Easy Breezy Beautiful, oil, 37 x 47", by Marc Anderson.

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J Petter Galleries, Clear Sultry Morning, acrylic on canvas, 44½ x 40½", by Rein Vanderhill. 

“If you should come to Michigan, please visit our lake and allow some time to stand along the shore," shares J Petter Galleries in Douglas, Michigan. "You will have an uninterrupted view of the horizon. As you watch, a cold wind may whip in from the west with nothing much to break it. The sun may set, or the sand may shimmer with the afternoon heat. One thing is for certain, the lake will [beckon you to stay for a while]. At the gallery, we are inspired by the non-stop panorama in which we live. Because our lake is so immense, and because the scenes are ever-changing, we offer different versions as seen through the eyes of multiple artists,” the gallery continues. “Each of the painters that the gallery represents brings their own moment in place and time to the canvas.”

J Petter Galleries, Lake Michigan Prairie, oil on canvas, 59 x 47", by Nina Weiss.

Artwork in the gallery ranges from sculpture and handcrafted jewelry to original paintings in multiple genres. With 2,000 pieces on display in 24 rooms, the gallery encourages visitors to take their time. “We invite you to linger and immerse yourself fully as each space and vignette has its own voice. We hope that one of the pieces speaks to you personally, and if it does our gallery experts will be here to guide and assist you along the way.”

A view of the gallery interior featuring artwork by Rein Vanderhill, Julie Quinn, Daniela Kouzov and Bill Barrett. Photo credit: Kim Zahnow.

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Artist Janet Grissom in her studio.

Janet Grissom views the universe through her paintings. Her life’s desire is to see the unseen in nature so she can share the findings with paint in hand. Secrets understood through study and time create movement on canvas from one season to another. The opportunity to share these unnoticed nuances brings a cyclical joy to the artist.

Janet Grissom, Peace, oil on canvas, 36 x 48"

She moves over and around the trees, along the river, meandering through a patch of weeds. Her attention to the modulation of color tones, diverse textures and sensitivity of movement speaks to the power of nature’s growth. She cares to understand how each little bit of wind changes the whole composition of the view. Capturing these encounters using powerful, thick strokes of color drives Grissom forward with passion. The lush, crisp, morning pleasures, the colorful afternoon warmth dotted with wilted tiredness and even the somber stormy darkness drives her to mix the tantalizing colors that she later applies with force. She is constantly seeking that new image that talks to her and subsequently also cries out to the viewers of her work. She desires to grasp the intangible that encourages her collectors to reach for her message. The viewer can share Grissom’s validation of the planet’s profound power and fascinating detail. Grissom lives to be a storyteller of nature and time.

Janet Grissom, Warmth, oil on canvas, 48 x 48"

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A view of the Saugatuck area. Photo by Julien Capmeil.

Discover the Art Coast of Michigan! Nestled along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan amidst a backdrop of stunning natural beauty, Saugatuck/Douglas has long inspired artists of all mediums and captivated visiting art lovers. This enchanting area became an artist’s destination in 1905, when art students from the Art Institute of Chicago rebelled against the traditional practice of in-studio painting.

The interior of Water Street Gallery. Photo by Julien Capmeil. 

Interested in the plein air movement, these artists were drawn to the scenic Kalamazoo River where they began teaching summer painting classes. By 1914, their enthusiasm for outdoor painting had caught on across the region, necessitating their classes move to what eventually became known as the Ox-Bow School of Art and Artists’ Residency. Now, Saugatuck/Douglas is home to numerous galleries, studios, exhibitions and public art installations, earning its distinction as the Art Coast of Michigan.

Sculptures and paintings on display at Button Gallery. Photo by Craig Watson.

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