2023 Best Sense of Red Wing winner “Recognizable Contours” by Cheryl LeClair-Sommer

Imagine painters situated along the Seine in Paris and transport them to the banks and bluffs of the beautiful Mississippi River in Red Wing, MN.

Red Wing Arts celebrates our 18th annual event in 2024, bringing artists to our community from around the region to paint “recognizable” Red Wing en Plein Air. Meaning approximately “open air” in French, Plein Air is a study of how light and shadow interact with things, creating a snapshot of one moment in time that can never be repeated. Red Wing sits at the entrance to the Driftless Region. We are a stunning place with a charming downtown, dramatic bluffs, rolling hills, vistas and winding rivers that define our historic town. Our exhibit includes over 100 works that are judged and hung in our Depot Gallery.

We are pleased to announce that Julie Davis will jury submissions this year and that internationally-awarded and renowned artist, Kelly Schamberger will judge this year’s exhibit, awarding $5,000 in cash prizes.

Questions? email pleinair@redwingarts.org.

Participate in 2024 Plein Air!

Register to participate as an Open Class Artist by June 10 - details below
The deadline to participate as a Featured Class Artist has passed, artists will be announced soon

Apply to Participate as Juried Featured Class Artist
The April 10 deadline to apply has passed; artists will be notified of their status by April 24, 2024. If invited as a Juried Featured Artist, you are welcome to participate in all artist events. Artists not juried in as a Featured Artist will be automatically eligible to participate as an Open Class artist, and welcome to participate in all artist events, with no additional participation fee.

Juried Featured Artists paint Red Wing between June 8-20, 2024 and must submit 3 paintings for the exhibit by 4 pm on June 20, 2024.

Submission tips

• Good photos of paintings – clear, in-focus images, eliminate frames and background

• Works that were completed entirely en plein air, no studio paintings

• Consistent media – submit paintings that are in media you will use during the competition

• Paintings that show versatility of subject matter

Participate as Open Class Artist
Artists participating as Open Class only, the participation fee is $30 – do not submit an Application Fee. Fees may be paid by phone, mail or online by June 10, 2024. Open Class Artists are invited to submit 1 painting for the exhibit by 4 pm on June 20, 2024. The winner of Open Class will be invited to participate as a Juried Featured Artist the following year.

Participate as a Youth Open Class Artist
Artists ages 14-22 are welcome to participate in our Youth Open Class category. The participation fee is $15. Fees may be paid by phone, mail or online by June 8, 2024. Youth Open Class Artists are invited to submit 1 painting for the exhibit by 4 pm on June 20, 2024. Youth artists will be invited to an orientation/information session before June 8, stay tuned for details.

Congratulations to the 2023 Award-Winning Artists!

2024 Artists will be announced in early May

Thank you to our 2023 Plein Air Sponsors!