Barbara McIlrath: LandSkyWater

Barbara McIlrath is a Minnesota artist who splits time between her home in St. Paul, MN and her farm and studio in Pepin, WI. Her frequent drives to and from her studio allow her to observe the seasonal changes of the land, sky, and water of the Driftless Region. McIlrath is particularly interested in the areas of the harbor town of Frontenac, MN and the Hicks Valley where her farm is located. On display are recent drawings and paintings from this region. Her paintings feature heavily textured impasto paint and cold wax created by a palette knife and she explains her ”work can range from recognizable images of sky, land and water to completely abstract compositions, discovered in the process of simplifying, improvising and questioning what I am seeing.” 

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.