Written by: Lisa Roy, on site photos by Josh Blanc
The Fine Arts Exhibit at the Minnesota State Fair continues to grow in popularity, and this year was no exception. A record-setting 3,185 entries were submitted across eight categories, with just 343 artists selected to be part of the show. Among them are 37 artists with ties to the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District, including twelve award winners.
Class 1: Painting/Mixed Media
With 1,070 entries and 113 accepted, Painting/Mixed Media was one of the fair’s most competitive categories. Congratulations to:
Kristi Abbott (MN State Fair Foundation Friends of the Fair Award & MN State Fair Foundation First Glance Award), Brooke Bartholomew (3rd Place), Anna Chambers Goldberg, Francene Christianson (Honorable Mention), Marc Clements, Sandra Felemovicius (Artistry Theatre and Visual Arts Award), Paul Fosaaen, Karin Jacobs, Sanjukta Mitra, Mat Ollig (4th Place & Minnesota Figure Study Collaborative Award), Dyan Padgett, Alison Price, Lynne Sarnoff-Christensen (Minnesota Artists Association Award), Michael Schmidt, and Dominique Winders (C. Crist Delmonico Memorial Award).
Marc Clements
Class 2: Sculpture
Of 185 entries, 21 were accepted. District artists include Barbara Bridges, James Church (Simon & Kain Family Award), Kordula Coleman, Dean Lucker, and Layl McDill.
Layl McDill
Class 3: Watercolor/Gouache/Casein/Tempera
Of 197 entries, 23 were accepted, including Michael Gaughan.
Class 4: Drawings/Pastel
Of 205 entries, 23 were accepted, including Cory Favre, Kevin Kramp (Patty Carmody Smith Award of Excellence), Joyce Lyon, and Kimberly Wetzel.
Kimberly Wetzel
Class 5: Printmaking
Of 78 entries, 12 were accepted, including Faye Passow, who received 1st Place.
Faye Passow
Class 6: Ceramics/Glass
Of 154 entries, just eight were accepted. Congratulations to Katayoun Amjadi (1st Place), Susan Feigenbaum (Honorable Mention), Kathy Mommsen (Judge), and Claudia Poser.
Katayoun Amjadi
Class 7: Textiles/Fiber
Of 154 entries, 18 were accepted, including Kristina Fjellman (Honorable Mention & Allen and Carrie Clark Award for Excellence in Content and Form) and Laura Wennstrom.
Class 8: Photography
Photography was the largest category, with 1,142 entries and 115 accepted. Artists selected with ties to the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District include Katie Muggli, Steve Ozone, and Donna Webb.
The State Fair experience extends beyond the Fine Arts Exhibit. Studio Here artists with ties to the District will be featured on upcoming dates, including Sushila Anderson on August 31, Layl McDill on September 2, and Betsy Hsiao on September 3. They will spend 12 hours working and demonstrating their practice in the Fine Arts Building.
Congratulations to all the artists in this incredible show! To view all of the artwork in this year’s Fine Arts Exhibit, check out the 2026 Fine Arts Catalog.
And for the hundreds of talented artists who didn’t make the cut this year, there are still opportunities to see their work. Douglas Flanders & Associates in Minneapolis is hosting its third annual “Minnesota State Fair Reject Show” from August 29 through October 10. In St. Paul, The Burl Community Art Gallery is hosting its sixth annual “Rejected” show now through September 26. Both exhibitions will feature several artists with ties to the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District.
Congratulations to everyone who submitted, exhibited, judged, and supported the arts at this year’s State Fair! Apologies to anyone local who may have been left out of the list. Please contact us if we missed your name.
Article by Lisa Roy, on site photos by Josh Blanc