Winter Gallery Hours:
Tuesday – Saturday: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Sunday – Noon to 4:00 pm
Closed Mondays, Holidays and for Occasional Events
Admission to our Galleries is always free!
ON EXHIBIT NOW at OLIVER ART CENTER:
“IMAGE MAKERS” opens February 20th in our Fisher Room Gallery
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Pen and ink, watercolor, pencil, gouache – whatever the media, the Illustrator is an artist with a story to tell. What is the difference between a painting and an illustration? In this exhibition, we will explore the work of several artist-illustrators and learn more about the processes, differences, and similarities between “art” and “illustration”. This exhibit will be featured in our Fisher Room Gallery from February 21st through March 27th.
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UPCOMING EXHIBITS at OLIVER ART CENTER:
“CONSTRUCTED” opens March 14th in our Beck and Borwell Galleries
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“Construction” involves building, assembling, shaping, and arranging. A “construct” is an idea formed by bringing together various conceptual elements and creating something altogether new. Both definitions are fitting for CONSTRUCTED – an exhibit celebrating furniture, paper, and fiber.
Featured artists include Nel Vickers, David Abeel, Elizabeth Rodgers, Donna Mundschau, Krista Reuter, Sally Manke, Charlie Wyckoff, Dick Davis, Stephen Niezgoda, Austin Garno, Michelle Zorich & Katherine Martin, Denise Samuels, and Come explore this constructed world with us at our opening reception March 14th from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. Artists’ Talk will be held April 18th at 2:00 pm |
“BLOOM!” opens April 3rd in our Fisher Room Gallery
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There’s nothing more exciting than the first bloom of spring – especially here in northwest Michigan! This open call exhibit will feature work from a range of local and regional artists in a variety of media – all in celebration of spring! Take in the beauty of Bloom! beginning April 4th in our
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LOCAL COLOR A to Z opens April 25th in the Beck and Borwell Galleries
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“Local Color A to Z” is a group show featuring the artists of the Lakeshore Artist Alliance. This exhibit will highlight a range of work in oil, acrylic, watercolor, and mixed media by this talented local group! Featuring work by Greta Bolger, Carol Codden, Kathy Codere, Char Ester, Lauren Everett Finn, Nancy Gatesy, Susana Green, Barbara Greenwood, Judy Kelly, Jessica Koven, Judy Macey, Harriett Mittelberger, Liz Negrau, Caroline Nielsen, Mary Kay Niemiec, and Pamela Spicer. Join us for an opening reception April 25th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. |
BEYOND THE PRINT opens May 16th in our Fisher Room Gallery
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“Beyond the Print” features original works by regional artists who push the boundaries of printmaking. Don’t miss this unique look at printmaking through the eyes of our featured artists: John Hubbard, Jim Shrier, and Jennifer Kritcher. |
2026 SUMMER MEMBER EXHIBIT opens June 6th in our Beck and Borwell Galleries
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Our 2026 Summer Member Exhibit is the kickoff to our peak summer season at OAC! Featuring a wide variety of media and styles from our talented member artists, this fan-favorite show has something for everyone to enjoy. Don’t forget: OAC members receive a 10% discount in the gallery during our opening reception of this exhibit! Join us for an opening reception June 6th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Refreshments will be served, all are welcome. This exhibit is made possible through the generous support of Suzy Voltz, Real Estate One Beulah. |
JUBILEE! opens June 27th in our Fisher Room Gallery
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“Jubilee!” is an ode to the cherry in all its glory. In northwest Michigan, we celebrate cherries – both tart and sweet – as a major crop, a summer delight, and a shared heritage. This exhibit is an homage to all things cherry, with an open call for art in all media. |
LOCAL CRITTERS: Works by Patrick Clagett opens July 11th in our North Hall
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“Local Critters” features the creative and whimsical work of OAC Member Artist Patrick Clagett. This series focuses on animals we may encounter in the region, along with a few slightly more domesticated furry friends. Of his work, Clagett says “I strive to capture animals’ majestic bearing and natural beauty. I also try to give each creature presence, ‘personality”, and, in some cases, a little humor.” Clagett works in layered oil and cold wax, often with local sand or other textural materials added to the top layers. The result is a unique, dimensional, and endearing portrayal of some of our favorite “critters”! |
NANCY FOSTER: A RETROSPECTIVE opens July 18th in our Beck and Borwell Galleries
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Oliver Art Center is pleased to present a retrospective exhibition of the work of Nancy I. Foster. This exhibit will feature works old and new, some never before exhibited. Join us as we travel across America through Foster’s eyes: taking in humble midwestern landscapes, romantic landscapes of the Great Lakes, the edges and shadows of urban Chicago, and the majesty of nature from Michigan to the west coast. A longtime OAC Member Artist, her work has made an impact everywhere she has resided. Foster says, “My migrations across this huge land have sparked an abiding interest in formations of the land—observing the effects of wind, waters, rivers, the thrusting of tectonic plates, the nature of geological time, questions of scale, and, finally, man’s hand in changing and marking the land.”
Join us for an opening reception July 18th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Refreshments will be served, all are welcome. |
FIELD OF VISION opens August 29th in our Beck and Borwell Galleries
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Explore the unique voices of artists Mark Mehaffey, Sandra Ackerman, Logan Hudson, and Les Scruggs in Field of Vision, which opens August 29th. Each artist brings their own style and thoughtful creativity to the depiction and interpretation of the environments humans interact with. From forest-lined back roads to dramatic cloudscapes to humble vistas, these works bring the striking beauty of our everyday landscapes into sharp focus.
Join us for an opening reception August 29th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Refreshments will be served, all are welcome. An Artists’ Talk will be held October 2nd at 2:00 pm. |
2026 ALL MEDIA JURIED EXHIBIT opens October 10th in our Beck and Borwell Galleries
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Our annual Juried Exhibition features the best work of regional artists in all media. This show is independently juried and includes cash awards in several categories. Don’t miss this outstanding exhibition!
Join us for an opening reception October 10th from 5:0 to 7:00 pm. Refreshments will be served, all are welcome.
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2026 WINTER MEMBER EXHIBITION opens November 21st in our Beck and Borwell Galleries
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The OAC annual Winter Member Exhibition is a fan favorite, and the perfect chance to shop for something truly one-of-a-kind during the holiday shopping season! Works in all media will be presented by our talented member artists. Don’t forget: OAC members receive a 10% discount in the gallery during our opening reception of this exhibit!
Join us for an opening reception November 21st from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Refreshments will be served, all are welcome. *OAC will be closed for the holidays December 25th through January 1st, and will reopen January 2nd. |
Stay tuned…more great exhibits to come in 2026!