Geo Rutherford: Spooky Waters of the World, Great Lakes and Beyond

Geo Rutherford (American b. 1989), SS Kamloops (2024), Gouache on watercolor paper. Courtesy of the artist.

Opens August 1, 2026

Geo Rutherford is a Sauk City, Wisconsin based artist, author, educator and a social media sensation with a keen interest in science, natural history, and telling stories about water. On display are original illustrations from her New York Times best selling book Spooky Lakes (2024) and from her forthcoming book Spooky Rivers (2026). Her illustrations explore fascinating, quirky, and sometimes eerie stories about the Great Lakes and other fascinating bodies of water around the world. Her prints and stories are both educational and entertaining, and have earned her more than 2 million followers on Tik Tok and Instagram. Also featured are mixed media works that explore environmental issues and threats facing the delicate ecosystems of the Great Lakes. These include prints, collages, sculptures, and collections of natural and manufactured found items collected while combing the shores of Lake Michigan.

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Support Comes From

MMAM acknowledges sustaining support from generous contributions from foundations, corporations, individuals, members and volunteers, including ongoing support from our Board of Directors, the Elizabeth Callender King Foundation, and the Morgan Family Foundation.

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.