Tamsie Ringler’s MAEP exhibition explores the duality of the still life, the venerable art genre that celebrates pleasure even as it warns about the brevity of life. In traditional still-life paintings, human-made or natural objects are placed in a composed space, preserving them for time immemorial. Ringler’s compositions place familiar objects (a car, a canoe, a buffet) alongside natural forms rematerialized, like the Mississippi watershed cast in iron, to form a sculptural still life in the gallery. Placed within the context of the museum, Ringler’s exhibition speaks to the human need to preserve objects, protect moments of fragility, and illustrate our deepest potential for compassion.

Ringler’s artistic practice focuses on landscape sculpture and public art installations that engage environmental awareness. She studied at the University of Wisconsin and received her MFA from the University of Texas, Austin. She teaches at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities and serves on the board of directors of Franconia Sculpture Park. Recent exhibitions include Bascom Art Center, Highlands, North Carolina; Pedvale Open-Air Art Museum, Latvia; and the Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis. Ringler is a recipient of the 2017 McKnight Fellowship.

This exhibition is part of the Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program, now located in U.S. Bank Gallery.

Generous support for MAEP provided by:

Additional support provided by RBC Wealth Management and anonymous donors.

The artist received additional funding for this project from the Dean’s Freshman Research and Creative Scholars Program, University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts, a University of Minnesota Imagine Fund Annual Faculty Award and Belwin Conservancy.

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Related Events

MAEP Opening: Tamsie Ringler
Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 6:00pm

MAEP Artist Talk: Tamsie Ringler
Thursday January 17, 2019 at 7:00pm