64th Annual Juried Exhibit
On Exhibit: May 22nd – July 5th, 2026
Opening Reception: May 22nd, 5:30 - 7:00pm
Juror Talk with Rebecca Carlton: June 12th, 2:00 - 3:00pm
The Hardy’s annual Juried Exhibit stands as one of the earliest and most significant public showcases of visual art in Door County. Today, it remains among the peninsula’s most anticipated and widely attended exhibitions. As the cornerstone of the Hardy’s 64-year history, the Juried Exhibit is also its most recognized achievement. In 2026, the Hardy took an important step forward by transitioning to a professional online submission platform, streamlining the application process for artists and expanding accessibility to a broader, more diverse pool of applicants while better limiting participation to Wisconsin artists. This shift reflects the organization’s ongoing commitment to improving the artist experience while maintaining the integrity and prestige of the exhibition.
From its earliest days, the Hardy Gallery has served as an incubator for artistic development, providing a platform for artists—many without gallery representation—to share their work with the public. Over time, the exhibition has introduced audiences to numerous influential Door County artists, including Gerhard C.F. Miller, Charles L. Peterson, James Ingwersen, Brigitte Kozma, Jack Anderson, Abe Cohn, John Dietrich, Tom Seagard, Phil Austin, and Austin Fraser. In doing so, the Hardy has consistently fulfilled one of its primary missions: to support and elevate the visual arts across the Door County Peninsula.
Since its modest beginnings in the 1960s, the Hardy has grown into a vital cultural institution, with exhibitions at the warehouse serving as the foundation of its programming for more than six decades. Today, the organization remains committed to introducing new voices in visual art while fostering the continued growth and vibrancy of the Door County arts community.
Award Winners
1st Place Award (Francis Hardy Legacy Award): William Dais, "The Plan," Oil on panel and varnish.
2nd Place Award: Linda Sheard, "Lake Michigan Blue Vase," High fire stoneware clay.
3rd Place Award: Hermke Timm, "Whitefish Bay Creek," Egg tempura.
Honorable Mentions:
Alison A Gates, "Flight of North American Songbirds," Mixed media textiles: vintage cotton quilt squares, embellished.
Abby Thiede, "Liminal Spaces," Charcoal and graphite on paper.
Stephen Wolter, "Snowy Dream," Photography.
Julia Van Roo Bresnahan Artistic Achievement Award: Patt Huss, "Obscured Self," Oil and cold wax.
Sandy Zapffe Creative Whimsy Award: Virginia Janssen, "Mirror for Monday Morning," Ceramic sculpture with mirror mosaic, grout and vintage hand mirror.
People's Choice Award: Marissa Renée, "Beside Still Waters," Oil paint.