26 Lake Superior Art Galleries
Lake Superior has the tendency to inspire many artists creativity. It can evoke a multitude of emotions, from calm and serene to tumultuous and powerful and everything in between. The art galleries found around Lake Superior can help you see the Circle Tour in a whole new way – through the eyes of an artist in a variety of mediums and genres. Add them all to your trip and see first hand why Lady Superior is the muse to so many.
Alberta House Arts Center
The Alberta House Arts Center Is located in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan. The house was originally opened as a railroad hotel in 1899. It is now home to a gallery, gift shop and arts center. It exhibits local artisans, the Olive Craig Gallery, offers classes, events, and work bees.
Lakenenland Sculpture Park
Lakenenland Sculpture Park is located 15 miles (24km) east of Marquette, Michigan. This is a unique and quirky outdoor sculpture gallery/museum that you can walk or even drive though. There are over 80 incredible sculptures constructed by artist Tom Lakenen, of recycled iron welded into massive works of art. This is a fun place to explore with a pond, covered shelter with a fireplace, and small play ground.
Wintergreen Hill Gallery & Gifts
Wintergreen Hill Gallery & Gifts is located in Marquette, Michigan. The gallery strives to create an immersive art experience for visitors who are looking to purchase pieces or those just looking for inspiration. The main gallery features an individual artist show while permanent collections include art offered from resident and renting artists. A high-quality print shop is available for artist prints of photos and 2D art.
Downtown Art Place
The Downtown Art Place is located in downtown Ironwood, Michigan. It is a community art center featuring a two level Gallery and gift shop. It is part of the beautifully historic Ironwood Theatre complex. A great place to observe the local art of the Upper Peninsula and even participate in an art class.
Students’ Art Gallery
The Students’ Art Gallery is located in Marquette, Michigan.. The gallery can be found in the Lydia M. Olson Library at Northern Michigan University. It is run by the students of the University and provides a professional space for them to display their artwork and build exhibition experience. While here also visit the De Vos Art Museum on campus.
De Vos Art Museum
The De Vos Art Museum is also located in Marquette, Michigan. The museum can be found at Northern Michigan University as part of the School of Art and Design. The museum presents approximately a dozen art exhibitions annually. The permanent collection features early and contemporary photography, prints, art, and design from local, American, Japanese and Native American artists.
The Gallery: Marquette Artist Collective
The Gallery: Marquette Artist Collective is located in Marquette, Michigan. The gallery space has rotating exhibits from local artists and a member gallery. The Marquette Artist Collective also have information gatherings, workshops, and social events.
Deo Gallery
The Deo Gallery is also located in Marquette, Michigan. The Deo features mainly local artists of high artistic merit in monthly rotating exhibits. The Peter White Public Library is also home to two other galleries in the building (Lower Level Reception and the Huron Mountain Club gallery) that host separately curated bi-monthly exhibits. Each exhibit is welcomed by a reception that usually hosts an artist talk, giving the public more opportunity to learn from and connect with featured artists.
Copper Country Community Arts Center
The Copper Country Community Arts Center is located in Hancock, Michigan. The Artists’ Market Gallery represents around 200 local and regional artists. The Kerredge Gallery features five Michigan Tech students photographic work. The gallery’s concept is that each artist choses a word to describe their work. There is also a youth gallery that feature work from children from local schools. The art center also features a classroom for workshops and lectures, a dark room and a Letterpress studio.
Finlandia University Gallery
The Finlandia University Gallery is located in Hancock, Michigan. It is found at the Finnish American Heritage Center on the campus of Finlandia University and is free and open to the public. The gallery features exhibitions of contemporary Finnish, Finnish-American and American artists. The gallery features nine exhibits that include a Contemporary Finnish American Artist Series and rotating exhibits every six weeks of national and international artists.
Vertin Gallery
The Vertin Gallery is located in Calumet, Michigan. The gallery is housed in the former Vertin’s Department store built in 1885 in the heart of Calumet, a National Historic Landmark District within the boundaries of the Keweenaw National Historic Park. The Vertin Gallery represents over 130 artists and a multitude of different mediums. Each month a new artist and their work is featured.
Gallery on 5th
The Gallery on 5th is located in historic downtown Calumet, Michigan on the Keweenaw Peninsula. The gallery features over 80 artists work in a variety of mediums from the Keweenaw, Michigan and the Great Lakes region.
Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center
The Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center is located in Ashland, Wisconsin. The Center combines elements of history, natural resources and visitor information under one roof. Stop to stretch your legs and get some local tourist information and stay and enjoy exhibits, murals, gift shop, stroll down the interpretive boardwalk trail and so much more! The exhibit hall consists of exhibitions showcasing everything from the Ice Age to the present. The second floor gallery houses art from numerous regional artists.
Art on the Planet
The Art on the Planet is located in Superior, Wisconsin. It is an art market and gallery that hosts the work of over 130 local artists. You can peruse through anything from paintings, photography, ceramics, jewelry, textiles, pyrography, and even upcycled, designed furnishings and artisan, hand crafted home goods. They say that Art on the Planet is a place “where FINE art meets FUN art” and with the range of creativity here it’s easy to see why.
Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery
The Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery is located in Grand Marais in Minnesota’s Cook County. It is housed inside a log building that was built to resemble the original Johnson’s Trading Post that was consumed by fire in 1926. The gallery features local, regional and national artists in revolving exhibits in a variety of mediums. There is a permanent collection of paintings by Anna C. Johnson from the early 19th century.
Sivertson Gallery
Sivertson Gallery is located in Grand Marias, Minnesota. The gallery exhibits art from over 60 regional, Canadian Inuit, Alaskan Native, Canadian First Nation and Native American artists. The focus of the work featured here primarily reflects Lake Superior, its surroundings, history and people. Sivertson Gallery is on the main street nestled into a beautiful harbor setting that embodies Grand Marais.
Joseph Nease Gallery
The Joseph Nease Gallery is located in historic downtown Duluth, Minnesota. The gallery features works from regional and national artists representing mid and advanced career artists and select up and comers. Visitors will be welcomed to a contemporary gallery in a stately and expansive 100+ building that includes exhibitions of painting, sculpture, installation and new media.
Tweed Museum of Art
The Tweed Museum of Art is on the University of Minnesota campus in Duluth. The museum of art has an elegantly displayed permanent collection of over 10,000 representing many cultures and periods of art history. Some of the artists you will encounter here are Thomas Benton, Anna Hyatt Huntington, Charles Biederman, Helen Turner, and Arnold Friberg just to name a few. Along with the massive permanent collection, there are student art displays that truly showcase their talent and perspective.
Prove Gallery
The Prove Gallery is located in downtown Duluth, Minnesota. It is a contemporary, edgy and experimental gallery. New gallery shows are presented every month, check their website calendar for current exhibits and featured artists, artist-led workshops, live performances and much more creativity.
Thunder Bay Art Gallery
Thunder Bay Art Gallery is located in Thunder Bay on the campus of Confederation College in Ontario’s Superior Country. The permanent collection includes more than 1600 works of art by contemporary Indigenous, local and Northwestern Ontario regional artists in a 4,000 square foot exhibition space. With such an extensive collection in a pleasingly appointed space, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery sees over 30,000 visitors annually. The gallery regularly hosts schools tours and artistic events.
Definitely Superior Art Gallery
The Definitely Superior Art Gallery is located in Thunder Bay in Ontario’s Superior Country. The gallery presents up to 45 exhibitions, events and activities both in and outside of the gallery. The Die Active Collective has more than 780 artists within it and together produce many creative projects such as exhibitions, events, festivals, art and murals around the city.
Ahnisnabae Art Gallery
The Ahnisnabae Art Gallery is located in Thunder Bay in Ontario’s Superior Country. The gallery features Indigenous artists in the region and all throughout Canada with a diverse array of styles represented. It is ran by Louise Thomas, wife of the renowned and influential First Nations artist Roy Thomas. He was famous for his colorful woodland aboriginal art that has a lasting influence on many artists to this day and the many that he mentored. With art and prints from him and many other famed and talented Aboriginal artists, this gallery is a must see while visiting northwestern Ontario.
The Creative Company
The Creative Company is located in Thunder Bay, Ontario. They design and produce at-home art kits for people of all ages to enjoy! Whether it’s for yourself or as a souvenir, you can take a little piece of Northwestern Ontario. Their diverse team of professional artists also have their own unique work that can be seen and purchased in a variety of mediums.
Edge ARTS Studio & Gallery
Edge ARTS Studio & Gallery is located in Nipigon in Ontario’s Superior Country. This gallery features works from local artists in a variety of mediums. From paintings, wood work, sculpture, textiles, and anything the creative mind can imagine. There are regularly hosted workshops, classes and events at the Studio & Gallery. Check their Facebook page to see what’s coming up. This is a welcoming space where community and creativity meet.
Pelletier’s Gas Bar & Native Art Gallery
Pelletier’s Gas Bar & Native Art Gallery is located in Lake Helen in Ontario’s Superior Country. The Lake Helen Reserve is located on Highway 11 and is approximately ¼ mile from the junction of Highway 11/17 just past the Nipigon River Bridge. The gas bar offers full service gas and diesel with a convenience store that has homemade baking, sandwiches, ice, propane, and snacks. The Native Art Gallery is showcased throughout the store for purchase including hanging wall art, leather work, moccasins, beaded items, souvenirs, clothing and so much more!
Art Gallery of Algoma
The Art Gallery of Algoma is located in Sault Ste Marie in Ontario’s Algoma Country. The gallery is situated in an expansive 10,000 sq. foot building on the shore of the St. Mary River. It has a permanent collection of over 5,000 local, national, and international art in a wide array of mediums. What ever styles your typically drawn to there is sure to be works here that you will appreciate and you’ll be introduced to new amazing favorites. On top of the permanent collection, there are approximately 24 exhibitions mounted every year. The Gallery also has a gift shop and café where you can support local artists and bring home a piece of art and enjoy a cup of coffee and discuss the current exhibits.
Take this ultimate “Art Walk” a little further and also check out the Group of Seven installations throughout the Ontario portion of the Lake Superior Circle Tour. To plan your very own trip around Lake Superior use our Online Lake Superior Circle Tour Map and Trip Planner!
