The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) is breaking new ground with its inaugural crop art exhibition, "Cream of the Crop," opening September 6. The museum will display ten outstanding crop art pieces that were originally showcased at the Minnesota State Fair, marking the first time this uniquely Minnesotan art form has been featured in a major art institution.
Museum director Katie Luber, along with associate curators Galina Olmsted (European art) and Leslie Ureña (global and contemporary art), carefully selected works in two distinct categories: best interpretation of an artwork at Mia, and best interpretation of a Minnesota landmark, story, or figure. The winning pieces and eight honorable mentions will be displayed in the museum's rotunda through September 28.
"Crop art engages with this really rich tradition of mosaic and beadwork and embroidery that exists in all cultures in perpetuity," explained Olmsted. "It derives from this really rich artistic tradition, but then it's this hyperlocal Minnesota form." This fascinating intersection between global artistic traditions and local Minnesota culture captivated the curatorial team.
The father-daughter duo Amy and Steve Saupe claimed the top prize for best interpretation of an artwork at Mia with their piece "The Treachery of a Pronto Pup." The team, who has been creating seed art since 2017, impressed judges with their clever art historical reference. "I loved it because it's an art history in-joke – you have to know the Magritte painting to get it – and then it's also this specifically Minnesota State Fair in-joke," Olmsted noted. "And I liked the intersection of those two things, and I thought it was also beautifully done from a handcraft point of view."
Olmsted praised the composition's straightforward approach while highlighting the artists' meticulous attention to detail. "The way the artist built up the background, you can tell was this real attention to detail and to craftsmanship and artistry," she observed. The Minnesota Star Tribune also recognized this exceptional work.
In the Minnesota-themed category, Jeanne Morales of Longfellow won with "My Chagall Dream," which features the flying woman motif characteristic of Marc Chagall's paintings, soaring over Minneapolis landmarks. "It's my love letter to the Twin Cities," Morales explained. "All the places I chose are places of community gathering points." Chagall is her favorite artist, whom she first discovered in Paris, appreciating his whimsical style and floating figures that hover above their towns.
The curators were impressed by Morales' creative approach. "We just thought that was a really creative take and required a deep dive into art history but was also really carefully and beautifully done and impressive," Olmsted said.
Several works received honorable mentions in the artwork interpretation category, including "Vincent Van Grow Olive Trees" by Jill Osiecki of Eagan, "All the Eternal Love I Have for the Crop Art" by Jill Moe (referencing Yayoi Kusama), "Under the Wave off Kanagawa" by Amanda Cashman of Roseville (also recognized by the Star Tribune), and "Crop Art study of Alice Neel's Christy White, 1958" by Ursula Murray Husted.
Osiecki expressed her excitement about the recognition: "Reimagining van Gogh's Olive Trees through the textures and natural colors of seeds has been such a joy, and to see that creation displayed in one of the nation's finest museums is truly a dream come true."
In the Minnesota-themed category, honorable mentions went to "Goat" by Annmarie Geniusz, "Broken Pinky, Unbroken Justice" by Juventino Meza, "Star Gazing" by Nancy Rzeszutek, and "Old Dutch and Top the Tater" by Kaela Reinardy.
Meza's piece holds particular significance as it honors former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page. As a recipient of a Page Education Foundation Scholarship during his time as an undocumented high school student, Meza used crop art to pay tribute to the justice who helped fund his college education. Meza, who previously curated the exhibition "Seeds of Justice" in April, reflected on the honor: "It feels incredible to be recognized with this honorable mention. Crop art has become a way for me to tell stories that connect my personal journey with broader struggles for justice."
The curators noted that while these honorable mention works were outstanding interpretations of fine artworks in seed art, they didn't include the additional creative twist that distinguished the winning entries. This inaugural exhibition represents a significant moment for crop art, elevating a beloved State Fair tradition to the prestigious halls of one of America's premier art museums.
