Artistically speaking, fall is the season of cultural history.
With indigenous portraits and beadwork, explorations of Somali dance, and underground Soviet and Eastern art, the Twin Cities gallery has used art as an entryway into discussions about community and identity. And through paintings, photography, glass, and even religious icons and book covers, the style is as diverse as the subject matter.
Here are some of the gallery shows and exhibitions coming to the Twin Cities for the rest of this month and into November.
October
October 22nd “In Our Hands: Native Photography, 1890 to the Present.” — Minneapolis Institute of Art: More than 150 photos of Indigenous communities across North America by generations of Indigenous photographers. Tickets required: General admission $20. It’s free for youth and members at the “contributor” level and above. 2400 3rd Ave. S., Minneapolis.
Do it by October 22nd. Leningrad basement: unofficial artists of the Soviet era — Minneapolis Russian Museum: Despite strict censorship during the Soviet era, Leningrad still had an underground art scene. Although nonconformist artists and dissidents were shunned and punished, they continued to create the work shown in this exhibition at TMORA. Museum admission is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, $5 for students, and free for children and members. 5500 Stevens Ave., Minneapolis.
November
November 3rd “We’re still here.” — Friedli Gallery: The third annual Indigenous Arts Showcase moves to Friedli this year. Artists can apply to appear on the show until September 15th. The exhibition will be judged by a group of local Indigenous community leaders and elders. 943 7th St. W., St. Paul.
November 4th “Hazel Belbo: For Love” — Minnesota Museum of Art, St. Paul: After years of window displays, the gallery show is finally returning to the downtown museum! First up is Belbo’s retrospective of his paintings and drawings spanning 70 years. Free; 350 N. Robert St., St. Paul.
November 9th “Deceiving the Eye: Vasarely and Kuhn’s Optics” — Cafe Jean Art Trust, Show Review: The third exhibition at the new Schorreview Museum juxtaposes two artists skilled in perceptual tricks: the pioneering “op art” painter Victor Vasarely and the contemporary glass artist John Kuhn. Admission is free, but a timed ticket is required. And if the highlight shows, hand-picked by museum experts, are any indication, they’ll sell out quickly. 4600 Churchill St., Show Review.
Nov. 11 “Multiple Realities: Experimental Art in Eastern Bloc Countries, 1960s-1980s” — Walker Art Center, Minneapolis: Works by approximately 100 artists from East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Yugoslavia, including under-represented women and LGBTQ+ artists, explore creative challenges to authoritarian power and ideology. A similar reaction is shown. Museum tickets include: General admission is $18. $16 for seniors. Students are $12. Free for children, youth and Walker members. 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis.
Nov. 11 Once Upon a Mansion: ASI’s 73rd Holiday Experience — American-Swedish Institute, Minneapolis: The American-Swedish Association’s annual Holiday Celebration and Market features an installation by Tia Kebounfen, an immersive Finnish fairy tale room by Anita Jayne, and a collection from the Westerheim Norwegian American Museum in Decorah, Iowa. There are also many works of art on display, including items from. Admission to the American Swedish Institute is $13 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $6 for youth. Free for members and the general public after 3pm on Thursdays. 2600 Park Avenue, Minneapolis.
Do it by November 26th. “Symbols of Late Empire: Stories and Art” — Russian Museum: Religious symbols were present throughout the Russian Empire and are still central to Eastern Christianity and Orthodoxy. The exhibition, which brings together collections from the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library in Collegeville, Minnesota, is particularly interesting because 19th-century icons are particularly understudied, according to the Russian Museum.
all seasons
“Among Friends: The Generosity of Judy and Ken Deighton” — Walker: Longtime Walker trustee Judy Dayton and her husband, former department store CEO Ken Dayton, had amassed a vast personal art collection, which they donated to Walker after Judy passed away in 2021. It was done. This exhibition includes Alexander Calder, Agnes Martin and Andy Warhol. Included in museum ticket price.
