The Trout Museum of Art opened its glossy new doors with a bang last October. One of the first exhibitions in its new 30,000-square-foot space in Appleton was a solo showcase of new works from internationally known Milwaukee artist Michelle Grabner, elevating everyday materials in glossy porcelain and bronze.
“That put the Trout Museum on the map as a new contemporary art museum,” says John Riepenhoff, who runs Milwaukee’s Green Gallery, serves as executive director for Sculpture Milwaukee and works as an arts advocate. “I was impressed to see that it was in the Fox Cities, an area of the state that doesn’t usually see strong institutional support for contemporary artists.”
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A monetary and collection donation from Monroe and Sandra Trout in 2010 brought a name change to the former Appleton Art Center and opened doors for growth for the 65-year-old institution. The next step-up came with last year’s new building, jointly occupied by Lawrence University with a modular design allowing artwork to be hung across nearly every surface.
After seeing Grabner’s “Home Rules,” Riepenhoff got involved with the Trout Museum, joining its board and even curating an exhibition: “Out of Sight, Out of Reach,” featuring international artists pushing their limits. Another Milwaukee-based artist, Shane Walsh, curated a painting-focused exhibition called “Lightning Lights Our Way.” Both shows close Aug. 2.
The involvement of these Milwaukee artists is part of an intentional effort by executive director Christina Turner to engage the city’s art community and make the Trout Museum an artistic hub for the whole state. Working directly with artists is one piece of the plan; another is making the museum accessible with free entry through 2026.
“I love working with living artists who are making work right now,” Turner says. That tendency is clear with “Tag,” a new exhibition of street artists around the country, including Milwaukee Institute for Art and Design graduate Josephine Rice. From Aug. 10-28, museum visitors can watch the artists paint murals live and treat the gallery space like a city street. Once completed, the works will stay up through Jan. 10.
“Coming up here, checking out what we do and making a day of it is a really fun thing to do,” Turner says. “I hope people from Milwaukee will consider it.”
