04/21/2026
Thursday, April 23, 2026, from 5:00 - 7:30pm
JOIN US for the OPENING RECEPTION of "Farewell Tour: Sculptural Work by Erica Spitzer Rasmussen,” a major retrospective of noted international artist and educator.
Exhibition runs April 25 – June 25, 2026
ARTIST’S TALK: May 23, 2026 at 1:00pm
Saint Paul, Minnesota—Metro State University and the Gordon Parks Gallery are proud to present a major retrospective exhibition of the sculptural work of acclaimed artist Erica Spitzer Rasmussen, honoring nearly three decades of rigorous studio practice, transformative teaching, and visionary institutional leadership.
A noted artist with local, national, and international recognition, Rasmussen is celebrated for work that seamlessly merges the exquisitely handmade with contemporary conceptual approaches. This exhibition offers a comprehensive view of her sculptural practice, foregrounding the material intelligence, technical mastery, and poetic sensibility that have defined her career.
The exhibition features Rasmussen’s signature paper sculptures, including her striking shoe forms and boldly constructed neckwear, alongside garment-based works such as capes, jackets, and bustiers that evoke the body while functioning as autonomous sculptural objects. Also included are her handmade books—intimate works that function as a homage to family, memory, and the rituals of care. In a significant new development within her practice, the exhibition premieres collaborative video projects that demonstrate how her books are dimensional, kinetic objects.
This retrospective also celebrates Rasmussen’s 29-year tenure at Metro State University, where she has shaped generations of artists and provided essential leadership as Director of the Gordon Parks Gallery, advancing its mission as a vital site for contemporary art, critical dialogue, and community engagement.
In conjunction with the exhibition, Metro State University has launched the Erica Spitzer Rasmussen Endowed Scholarship for Studio Arts, with a goal of raising $25,000 to support future students. This endowment honors Rasmussen’s enduring commitment to access, mentorship, and artistic excellence.
To contribute to the scholarship, please give online at: www.metrostate.edu/give
Select “Erica Spitzer Rasmussen Scholarship for Studio Arts” in the gift designation drop-down menu.
This exhibition stands as both a scholarly and celebratory moment—recognizing Rasmussen’s profound impact as an artist, educator, and cultural leader, and affirming the lasting influence of her work within the Twin Cities arts community and beyond.
Artist Bio:
Erica Spitzer Rasmussen is an artist who creates handmade paper garments and small editions of hand-bound books. She received her BFA and MFA from the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis), including coursework in Mexico and Greece. Her current work explores family stories and issues of identity. Rasmussen is a recipient of the 2018 Minnesota Book Artist Award and various grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board (2018, 2015,1999). Other professional highlights include an artist residency in Salzburg, Austria (2025), bookbinding residencies in Venice, Italy (2024, 2022, 2018, 2016), a solo exhibition in Mexico City, Mexico (2012), and a residency in Vienna, Austria (2010). Her work has been featured in such magazines as FiberArts, Surface Design Journal, American Craft and Hand Papermaking. Her artwork is exhibited internationally, and it resides in such collections as the National Museum of Women in the Arts (Washington, DC), Harvard Libraries (Boston, MA), the Library of Congress (Washington, DC), Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (Washington State), the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Minneapolis, MN), the Minnesota History Center (St. Paul, MN), Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Museum (Hollywood, CA), Stanford University Libraries (Stanford, CA), and the Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense (Milan, Italy). https://ericaspitzerrasmussen.com
The exhibit opens with a reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 23. The show will continue through June 25. Gallery hours are 1 to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday and Saturday 11am – 5pm. The gallery is located on the first floor of Metro State’s Library and Learning Center, 645 East Seventh Street, at the University’s Saint Paul Campus.
