A Timeless Tradition: Vesterheim Seeks Entries for Folk Art Exhibition

Local voices matter. Help us amplify them by contributing to your local newsroom. DECORAH —Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School, invites everyone to enter pieces in "Past/Present/Future of Folk Art," a special juried exhibition of contemporary folk art. This specially themed folk art show celebrates the past, the present, and the future of Norwegian folk art in the United States and abroad. Artists can honor folk art masters of the past, draw inspiration from contemporary culture bearers, explore what folk art might become in the future, or play with some combination of past, present and future, all in one piece. Artworks must have been completed between March 1, 2021, and April 30, 2025. Entry forms are available at vesterheim.org or by calling 563-382-9681. Forms, along with pictures of the piece and a $25 fee must be received before April 30, 2025. Artists will be notified by May 23, 2025, if their piece has been selected for the show, which will be on view from July 11, 2025, to January 11, 2026. Artworks must follow historical Norwegian folk art traditions in technique, materials, colors and style, or be contemporary departures from the historical with some elements that visually link the artwork to Norwegian folk art tradition. They must be created in mediums that celebrate traditional Norwegian folk art and highlight the artist's unique and personal technical skills and design decisions. Collaborative projects are also an option. Every other year, Vesterheim presents a juried show of submitted artwork based on a theme. This year's theme connects with the 200th anniversary of Norwegian emigration and how the history of Norwegian folk art has both followed traditions and adjusted techniques. Feed your curiosity! Subscribe to the free newsletter and indulge in all that's local. Your friends will be impressed.