Warrington Colescott
Washington Video Down in the Think Tank, 1982
Watercolor and ink on paper
29 1/2 x 21 3/4 inches
Racine Art Museum, the Karen Johnson Boyd Collection
Photography: Jarvis Lawson

Wisconsin Artists: 1960–90

September 20, 2023 – February 3, 2024
at Racine Art Museum

This exhibition surveys art in Wisconsin from 1960 to 1990. Not only was this an exceptionally fertile time in the history of a state with a (surprising to some) rich and layered history of creative production, it is also the period that Don Reitz—an artist with a concurrent exhibition at RAM—taught in the ceramics department at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

The work on display was specifically created during this period while the artists lived in Wisconsin. Identifying similarities among artists in a region can be daunting since there can be multiple points of comparison and contrast—as is the case with any group of people. The goals of this exhibition are not to define the work relative to the region, but to showcase it both as a way to contextualize Reitz’s work and celebrate those involved in building the legacy of art in this state, especially in the years leading up to the establishment of RAM and its 2003 opening.

All work—including works on paper, baskets, furniture, jewelry, painting, and ceramics—is drawn from RAM’s collection and reflects the range of ideas, media, and processes at play in the state and memorialized within the museum’s holdings.

More About the Exhibition

Exhibition Notes (PDF)

Press Room

Artists in the Exhibition

Sandra Byers, Gibson Byrd, Warrington Colescott, John Colt, Christopher Davis-Benavides, Lisa Englander, Jim Escalante, Susan Evans, Verne Funk, Martha Glowacki, Audrey Handler, Walter Hamady, Annette Hirsh, Kent Ipsen, Randy Johnston, Ken Loeber, Tom Loeser, Dona Look, Eleanor Moty, Frances Myers, Mary Tingley, Tom Uttech, Lee Weiss, and John Wilde.

Wisconsin Artists: 1960-90

September 20, 2023 – February 3, 2024
at Racine Art Museum
Warrington Colescott
Washington Video Down in the Think Tank, 1982
Watercolor and ink on paper
29 1/2 x 21 3/4 inches
Racine Art Museum, the Karen Johnson Boyd Collection
Photography: Jarvis Lawson

This exhibition surveys art in Wisconsin from 1960 to 1990. Not only was this an exceptionally fertile time in the history of a state with a (surprising to some) rich and layered history of creative production, it is also the period that Don Reitz—an artist with a concurrent exhibition at RAM—taught in the ceramics department at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

The work on display was specifically created during this period while the artists lived in Wisconsin. Identifying similarities among artists in a region can be daunting since there can be multiple points of comparison and contrast—as is the case with any group of people. The goals of this exhibition are not to define the work relative to the region, but to showcase it both as a way to contextualize Reitz’s work and celebrate those involved in building the legacy of art in this state, especially in the years leading up to the establishment of RAM and its 2003 opening.

All work—including works on paper, baskets, furniture, jewelry, painting, and ceramics—is drawn from RAM’s collection and reflects the range of ideas, media, and processes at play in the state and memorialized within the museum’s holdings.

More About the Exhibition

Exhibition Notes (PDF)

Press Room

Artists in the Exhibition

Sandra Byers, Gibson Byrd, Warrington Colescott, John Colt, Christopher Davis-Benavides, Lisa Englander, Jim Escalante, Susan Evans, Verne Funk, Martha Glowacki, Audrey Handler, Walter Hamady, Annette Hirsh, Kent Ipsen, Randy Johnston, Ken Loeber, Tom Loeser, Dona Look, Eleanor Moty, Frances Myers, Mary Tingley, Tom Uttech, Lee Weiss, and John Wilde.

Exhibitions at RAM are made possible by:

Platinum Sponsors

The Estate of Karen Johnson Boyd
David Charak
Judith and David Flegel Fund
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Ron and Judith Isaacs
Nicholas and Nancy Kurten
Rcf Logo 2021
Windgate Foundation

Diamond Sponsors

City of Racine’s Grow Racine Grant
Osborne and Scekic Family Foundation
Ruffo Family Foundation
Ruth Arts Foundation

Gold Sponsors

Anonymous
Tom and Irene Creecy
Richard and Patricia Ehlert
Herzfeld Foundation
Reliance Controls
Ruth Foundation for the Arts
Trio Foundation of St. Louis
W.T. Walker Group, Inc.
Wisconsin Arts Board

Silver Sponsors

Anonymous
Art Bridges
Baird
A.C. Buhler Family
Lucy G. Feller
Ben and Dawn Flegel
Jim Harris
Sharon and Tom Harty
Lise Iwon
J. Jeffers & Co.
Johnson Financial Group
Dorothy MacVicar
Jan Serr and John Shannon

Bronze Sponsors

Ellen and Joseph Albrecht
Andis Foundation
Susan Boland
Virginia Buhler
Butcher & Barrel/Amos Los Tacos
Educators Credit Union
Express Employment Professionals
Tony and Andrea Hauser
Bill and Debbie Keland
Susan Manalli
Jean and Alex Mandli, Jr.
The Prairie School
Cathy Stanghellin
Georgiana Treivush
Twin Disc, Inc.

Love Art?  You’ll Love RAM!

The mission of the Racine Art Museum is to exhibit, collect, preserve, and educate in the contemporary visual arts. Stay up-to-date about special events as well as support the mission of the largest contemporary craft collection in America: