Our 2026 Geneseo Fine Art Exhibit is open through May 23 at our gallery and May 24 at The Cellar. We had 13 students and 26 adults enter with over 100 entries. Beautiful work by students and adult artists alike. Below are some of the award winners. Thank you for sharing your talents with us. Thanks to the Geneseo Foundation, our patrons and BLICK Art Materials for their support which helped make this event possible! Thanks also to The Cellar Restaurant for their hosting of the reception and for the wonderful meal later in the day!
Zoe Petersen of Atkinson was this year’s winner of the Best in Show award for her entry “Burning Horses.” Congratulations, Zoe!! Juror Robert Lipnick of the Quad Cities provided his critique (and support) at our reception at The Cellar Restaurant on May 3.
Jackson Parchert of Rockridge High School was the recipient of the Youth Excellence 1 award for his entry “Brain Fog.” We were fortunate to have students from Geneseo High School, Mercer County High School, Rockridge High School and home schooled students participate in this year’s exhibit. Shout out to the wonderful art teachers who help make this possible!!
Jamie Sullivan of Geneseo is pictured with her entry “Summer Harvest” which received an Honorable Mention award. This work is even more vibrant in person. Well done, Jamie!
Our regular hours are 10:30 to 3 on Thursdays through Saturdays, except for inclement weather or if no one is available to staff the gallery.
The 2026 Holocaust Memorial Visual Arts Exhibit’s first place winner A. J. Rocha is pictured with his mixed media entry “Why?” A. J. is a bright young man and a talented artist. It was a pleasure having him and his family visit our gallery. Keep up the great work, A. J.!
Ashton, the 2nd Place award winner is shown here in front of her digital art entry (with red ribbon) with Sharon Michaelsen and Allan Ross of the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities. Mr. Ross brought along a Violin of Hope and visitors were able to touch or play the instrument.
RutabagA was honored to be asked to paint butterfly wings for the Geneseo Public Library. Above are the painters of the wings, from left to right, Karen Stewart Casper, Sue Elliott, Bob Claerhout, Joyce Mattan and Sharon Michaelsen.
Sharon’s granddaughter has some of her yiayia’s artistic talent. Here she works in the gallery on a project.
Pictured are Sue Elliott and Joyce Mattan at ArtWalk 10. Fun day in Geneseo!
Below are some past fun photos from events. :-)
New member Jeanne O’Melia presented two Chinese Brush Painting classes in March. Above is Jeanne (in red hat! :-) ) with the class attendees and their work.
Members, clockwise from top left, Elaine Hofman, Mary Copersmet, Joyce Mattan, Sharon Michaelsen, Lexi Gordon and Les Hoste on a gallery studio day.
Karen Vroman photographing our cyanotype class projects for our FaceBook page. Class was great fun!
Sharon with a pastel of our mascot, Clancy. He has crossed the Rainbow Bridge but is not forgotten. <3
A fun group after exhibit hanging day. Sue, Kathy, Sharon, Lexi and Karen.
The Geneseo Kiwanis Club has provided us with a grant for 2026 which is greatly appreciated. Above Tony Stoeger and Sharon Michaelsen are pictured upon receipt of the grant. Thank you so much for the support!
This past Saturday found a couple of youth testing out the book bench we are completing for the Geneseo Public Library butterfly garden. The bench will be completed this month and upon installation at the library, even more youth and adults can enjoy this bench as well as the Geneseo Art League and Smith Studio benches. Fun project! But how did Michelangelo paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel? Painting the spine of the book from the floor was a different experience! Maybe pasta helped?
The Geneseo High School Awards Night was held on May 6. RutabagA provided scholarships to two recipients - the Decnie Jeschke Memorial Award (provided by Pauline Swanson and Jeremy Jeschke in honor of her granddaughter/his wife) was awarded to Hayley Henry and the RutabagA Art Scholarship was provided to Hannah Stone. Hayley and Hannah are pictured above with Sharon Michaelsen of RutabagA who presented the awards. Congratulations to you both! Best of luck in your studies/artistic endeavors!
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN THE FINE ARTS? Want to share your skills, learn more or help other artists promote their work? RutabagA formed in Geneseo in 2016. We are a non-profit entity that promotes the fine arts and is open to the general public, high school age and up, by means of exhibits hosted, participation in Geneseo Chamber of Commerce events, hosting an annual art exhibit and regular gallery activities. We would like new members to join us and welcome meeting you.
We are also a for-profit entity which sells work by artists who are juried in by the non-profit members. Artists have the opportunity to display their art, host and exhibit, offer classes and display their work at local businesses. Art sold in the gallery is charged a commission based on the artist’s level of participation. At this time we would like more members who can be active to spread the joy of creating art!
Here's a sampling of the community enrichments our members have been involved in over the years.
Sponsoring a regional judged art competition, the Maple City Fine Arts Exhibit, for 35 years and now starting our own, the Geneseo Fine Art Exhibit, begun in 2023.
Partnering with civic groups to provide low- and no-cost instruction for children.
Leading art projects for life enrichment at area senior care facilities.
Teaching art for local home-schooling families.
Teaching classical fine art techniques.
Bringing nationally-known instructors to teach in Geneseo.
Painting community murals.
Giving time to area causes, such as Dress For Success, Henry County Humane Society, Braveheart Childrens' Advocacy Center, the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, and others.
Below is a group photo of members from late 2021. It is a pleasure to work with these artists and call them friends. Salute!
Blick Art Materials can be found online at: https://www.dickblick.com.