Reveals Family Secrets Through Video and Sculpture
March 12, 2026
Minneapolis—The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) presents “Nik Nerburn: The Milkman,” a multimedia exhibition by Minnesota-based artist and filmmaker Nik Nerburn, on view March 21 through June 21, 2026, in Mia’s U.S. Bank Gallery. This free exhibition is part of the Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program (MAEP).
The exhibition brings together moving image, sculptural installation, and sound to explore hidden histories and complicated family dynamics. At the center of the exhibition is “The Milkman,” a multichannel film installation composed of projected vignettes and immersive soundscapes. Drawing from personal narratives and regional lore, the work explores the private corners of a secretive and troubled family.
Through stop-motion animation techniques and the aesthetic of French noir films, Nerburn’s film plays on the thin line between the humor of camp and the drama of horror. Alongside the film presentation is a sculptural maquette of the dollhouse featured in the work, creating an immersive environment that bridges narrative and material form.
“This exhibition brings Nerburn’s storytelling strengths to the forefront. He seamlessly brings together contrasting ideas into seamless vignettes, creating an experience that is as nuanced as it is visually compelling,” said Nicole Soukup, MAEP supervisor. “The resulting story is deeply personal, yet somehow universal—after all, don’t all families, all relationships, hold secrets?”
Nerburn’s cross-disciplinary practice spans photography, film, installation, and sculpture. His work frequently centers on overlooked communities and landscapes—people and places he describes as “off the map.” In “The Milkman,” these interests converge in a cinematic installation that examines the universality of family secrets while grounding its story in the cultural landscape of northern Minnesota.
The exhibition’s aesthetic embraces a deliberately handmade sensibility, creating an atmosphere marked by dark humor and unease—an oversized, slightly surreal environment where the familiar becomes strange.
Nerburn received the MAEP award for Summer 2026. He’s a 2024–2025 Minneapolis College of Art and Design–Jerome Foundation Fellow and the recipient of a 2018 Jerome Foundation Film and Video Production Grant. His work has been supported by the Minnesota State Arts Board, the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, ArtPlace America, and Springboard for the Arts.
He holds an MFA from the University of Minnesota and a BA from The Evergreen State College. In addition to his studio practice, Nerburn teaches art at Breck High School.
Exhibition Details
- Exhibition Title: “Nik Nerburn: The Milkman”
- Dates: March 21–June 21, 2026
- Location: U.S. Bank Gallery
- Cost: Free
For more information on this and other upcoming exhibitions, visit www.artsmia.org.
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About the Artist
Nik Nerburn’s cross-disciplinary projects reflect his passion for people’s histories and places that are “off the map.” He’s a 2024–2025 Minneapolis College of Art and Design–Jerome Foundation Fellow and has received support from the Minnesota State Arts Board, ArtPlace America, and Springboard for the Arts.
About the Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program (MAEP)
The Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program (MAEP) is an artist-led program at Mia. Founded in 1975 as a yearlong partnership between the museum and regional artists, it has become a unique, ongoing relationship lasting more than 50 years. Today, the MAEP presents exhibitions in the 2,500-square-foot U.S. Bank Gallery. Support for MAEP is provided by RBC Wealth Management.
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 www.artsmia.org. Everyone is welcome. Always.