Imagine painters situated along the Seine in Paris and transport them to the banks and bluffs of the beautiful Mississippi River in Red Wing, MN.

Red Wing Arts celebrates our 19th annual event in 2025, bringing artists to our community from around the region to paint “recognizable” Red Wing en Plein Air. Meaning approximately “open air” in French, Plein Air is a study of how light and shadow interact with things, creating a snapshot of one moment in time that can never be repeated.

Red Wing sits at the entrance to the Driftless Region. We are a stunning place with a charming downtown, dramatic bluffs, rolling hills, vistas and winding rivers that define our historic town. Our exhibit includes over 100 works that are judged and hung in our Depot Gallery.

We are pleased to announce that award-winning artists, Suzie Baker juried the submissions, and Nina Weiss will judge this year’s exhibit, awarding $5000 in cash prizes. Questions? email pleinair@redwingarts.org

Congratulations to the 2025 Plein Air Award Winners!
Awarded by judge, Nina Weiss

2025 Featured Class Artists

2025 Red Wing Arts Plein Air
Exhibit Paintings

Meet 2025 Judge, Nina Weiss

Nina Weiss is a nationally renowned artist who has been painting and drawing the landscape for over 40 years.  She holds a BFA from the Tyler School of Art and graduate study at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.  Further study includes pre-college instruction the Rhode Island School of Design, and the Art Students’ League of New York. 

Her work is held in private and corporate collections throughout the United States including United Airlines, Aetna Insurance, McDonalds, Eli Lilly, Avon, and United States Customs. 

Her paintings and drawings can be seen in two Hollywood films: John Hugh’s “Just Visiting” and Harold Ramis’s “Ice Harvest” and in the T.V. series “Chicago Fire”.  Solo shows include the Mary Bell Gallery, Great River Road Museum of contemporary Art, Union League Club and Union Street Gallery.  Television and radio appearances include WBBM News radio 780 “Made in Chicago”, HGTV’s Artist’s Loft Segment;  “Artist to Artist” with Enid Silverman, and “Inner Quest”; Infinity Foundation.  Videos include an instructional Landscape Drawing DVD for Prismacolor Colored Pencils; and two videos for Bluprint.com.  

She taught a combined thirty six years at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Columbia College Chicago. Nina currently teaches at the Evanston Art Center, the North Shore Art League, and the Chicago Botanic Gardens. Nina frequently teaches workshops throughout the Midwest and in her Evanston Art Endeavors Studio.  She travels with students every summer to teach her European Landscape Painting & Drawing Workshops. 

See Nina’s work at ninaweiss.com; classes and workshops can be found at Nina’s education website; artendeavors.org

2025 Red Wing Arts Plein Air Events

Experience the art as it happens - all are welcome to these events where artists capture Red Wing on canvas!

Between June 12-21, don’t miss the opportunity to experience the beauty of Red Wing through the eyes of some of the region's most talented artists! These events take art out of the gallery and onto the streets, parks, and riverbanks, providing a unique opportunity for passersby to admire the artists at work and watch them capture the beauty of Red Wing's scenery in real-time.

Thank you to our 2025 Plein Air Sponsors!