30 State Fair crop artworks make their way to Mia
Minneapolis—Which line is longer at the Minnesota State Fair—the one for Pronto Pups or the one for the crop art building? Either way, there’s no denying Minnesotans love their crop art. This fall, the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) will give some of the Minnesota State Fair’s most creative crop artists an encore, bringing prize-winning and standout works from the 2026 crop art competition to the museum for “Cream of the Crop: The Second Harvest,” on view September 19 through November 29, 2026, in Mia’s Community Commons.
The exhibition will feature 30 works, selected from hundreds at the State Fair, by Mia’s curatorial team and museum director Katie Luber. These works showcase the remarkable skill, patience, humor, and ingenuity behind one of Minnesota’s most beloved artistic traditions.
Think intricate portraits made from seeds. Landscapes built from grains. Unexpected masterpieces assembled from humble agricultural materials. Crop art transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, and at Mia, these works get a second chance to shine beyond the fairgrounds.
The exhibition will showcase highlights from the Minnesota State Fair’s crop art competition, including:
- Five winners of Mia’s crop art awards
- Four artworks featuring the best interpretations of a “Hidden Gem at Mia,” interpreting a lesser-known piece from the museum’s collection
- The winners are La Petite Bergère—At Night by Diane Klein, Tiger Cat by Kaela Reinardy, Rainy Evening on Hennepin Avenue—Crop Art Edition by Megan Bell, and St. Paul, 2026 by Stephanie Schempp.
- One overall “Mia Favorite” original creation showing exemplary creativity, craftsmanship, and artistry
- The winner of this category is Twin Cities 2026 (Guernica 1937) by Jennifer B Nelson.
- Four artworks featuring the best interpretations of a “Hidden Gem at Mia,” interpreting a lesser-known piece from the museum’s collection
- 25 additional honorable mentions
Crop art is a meticulous craft using seeds, grains, and other plant materials to create detailed images, designs, and stories. The tradition has long been a beloved feature of the Minnesota State Fair, where artists demonstrate just how much artistic potential can be packed into a handful of humble agricultural materials.
When the fairgrounds have emptied and you find yourself hankering for one more helping of crop art, Mia has you covered. “Cream of the Crop: The Second Harvest” runs from September 19 through November 29, 2026.
A reception will be held on Thursday, September 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Mia’s Community Commons.
For more information on the reception, exhibition, and other upcoming events and exhibitions, visit www.artsmia.org.
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About the Minneapolis Institute of Art
Home to more than 100,000 works of art representing 5,000 years of world history, the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) inspires wonder, spurs creativity, and nourishes the imagination. With extraordinary exhibitions and one of the finest art collections in the country—from all corners of the globe, from ancient to contemporary—Mia links the past to the present, enables global conversations, and offers an exceptional setting for inspiration. Learn more about Mia in our latest Impact Report.
General admission to Mia is always free, but some special exhibitions charge a nominal fee.
For more information, call 1-612-870-3000 or visit artsmia.org. Everyone is welcome. Always.