James Watrous Gallery

James Watrous Gallery Learn about, engage with, and enjoy contemporary art by Wisconsin artists at James Watrous Gallery.

Founded in 2004, the Watrous Gallery is a program of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters.

🎉Celebrate excellence in the visual arts!🎉Join us on May 31 at 1pm at the Museum of Wisconsin Art in West Bend to recogn...
05/21/2026

🎉Celebrate excellence in the visual arts!🎉

Join us on May 31 at 1pm at the Museum of Wisconsin Art in West Bend to recognize the winners of the 2026 Wisconsin Visual Art Achievement Awards (WVAAA).

The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters is a proud co-sponsor of these biennial awards, honoring visual artists, educators, writers, advocates, and others who have made a significant contribution to our state’s creative culture.

This year’s awardees are:

Legacy Awards
Bruce Crownover (b. 1961)
Independent artist

Betsy Ritz Friebart (1910-1963)
Independent artist

Emerging Artist Award
Chad Alexander Matha
Independent artist

Educator (University) Award
Leslie Fedorchuk
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design

Educators (K-12) Awards
Kelly Frederick Mizer
Wauwatosa East High School

Erin La Bonte
Kewaunee Middle and High Schools

Community Arts Advocate Award
Brandon Minga
House of RAD

Arts Writing Award
Rachel Hausmann Schall
Artdose

Exhibition Awards
A Creative Place: Art from Northeastern Wisconsin, 1940 to the Present (2025)
Curated by Annemarie Sawkins for the Trout Museum of Art, Appleton

Word Wall / Pared Palabras (2025)
Curated by Ck Ledesma Borrero with Xela Garcia and a team of seven co-curators for Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, Milwaukee

Nominations for the WVAA awards are solicited every two years through an open call.

Members of the 2026 selection committee included Jody Clowes, Pat Fredrick, Shannon Kupfer, Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead, Amy Moorefield, Rafael Salas, Christine Styles, Laurie Winters, and Della Wells.

05/16/2026

👋 Come celebrate the opening of Democratic Vistas & Gospel Love Heart with the artists!

‌ Sunday, May 17 from 3:00 – 5:00 pm

📍At the James Watrous Gallery, 3rd floor Overture Center

Ojibwe artist Tom Antell’s solo exhibition, Democratic Vistas, features colorful paintings full of symbolism meant to convey aspects of Native American history and culture—past and present. Antell’s visual storytelling delves into his family and personal experiences and contrasts playful imagery with dark humor. His characters are often shown in absurd circumstances highlighting legacies of colonization, land loss, and forced assimilation through Indian residential schools.

Romano Johnson’s solo exhibition, Gospel Love Heart, showcases exuberant paintings offering visitors, in the words of the artist, an opportunity to “recognize the love, peace, and power put on this Earth.” With their flat forms, vibrating patterns, and explosions of color, Romano Johnson’s large-scale works fill the room with energy and power. His paintings feature cultural figures, angels, racing cars, and spaceships, all brilliantly colored and spangled with glitter.

Supported in part by funds from Dane Arts with additional funds from Diane Ballweg and the Endres Mfg. Company Foundation

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05/13/2026

In April, I had the absolute pleasure of visiting Artworking in Madison, founded by Lance Owens, to get a tour of Romano Johnson’s studio space before the opening of his solo exhibition Gospel Love Heart at the Watrous Gallery.

Artworking is a nonprofit organization that supports artists and entrepreneurs with disabilities in meaningful careers.

Artist Mano Johnson has been involved with the organization for many years where he creates large scale colorful portraits adorned with sparkly glitter as you can see in this video!

Bonus: Artworking has a gift shop where artists sell their goods! Get over there and support this important resource for individuals with disabilities đŸ«¶

And come meet Mano and see his work at the Gallery during the artists’ reception Sunday, May 17, 3-5pm, I doubt you will be disappointed!

See you there đŸŒˆâ€ïž



05/08/2026

Here’s a sneak peek of what’s waiting for you


during Madison’s city wide Gallery Night organized by MMoCA đŸ«¶

Stop by the Watrous Gallery to see these gorgeous paintings and more, in Democratic Vistas by Tom Antell & Gospel Love Heart by Romano Johnson

Ojibwe artist Tom Antell’s exhibition, Democratic Vistas, features colorful paintings full of symbolism meant to convey aspects of Native American history and culture—past and present.

Romano Johnson’s exhibition, Gospel Love Heart, showcases exuberant paintings offering visitors, in the words of the artist, an opportunity to “recognize the love, peace, and power put on this Earth.”

On view through July 12, 2026
Artists’ Reception Sunday, May 17, 3-5pm

These exhibitions are supported by Dane Arts with additional funds from Diane Ballweg and the Endres Mfg. Company Foundation.

Watrous gallery is located on the 3rd floor of the Overture Center in downtown, Madison! While you’re here, check out the art in Overture Galleries

Images:
Tom Antell: Rue Britannica; Gold Farm; The Little House on the Prairie; Saint Kateri Tekawitha’s Faithful Companion Spots

Romano Johnson: The Young Teenage Obama; E.T.; Prince; Blue Earth Spirit Woman

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SO excited for this event! Reserve your seat now!
05/05/2026

SO excited for this event! Reserve your seat now!

Hey-hey art lovers! It’s that time of year!Friday, May 8 is Madison’s citywide spring Gallery Night and Watrous Gallery ...
05/05/2026

Hey-hey art lovers! It’s that time of year!

Friday, May 8 is Madison’s citywide spring Gallery Night and Watrous Gallery will be open with solo exhibitions by Romano Johnson & Tom Antell

Tell your friends, come say hi, see these colorful and poignant paintings in person, then join the after-party next door the organizer of this biannual citywide event

See you Friday!

Learn more about the exhibitions, visit our website!



05/01/2026

Mano's show at the James Watrous Gallery opens TODAY! WOW!

Artist Reception will be on Sunday, May 17th, from 3 pm to 5 pm.

The show runs through July 12th, so you have plenty of time to take in Mano's wonderfully large and luxurious canvases!

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201 State Street
Madison, WI
53703

Telephone

+16087336633

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