Artist Statement

I paint places I love. I’m drawn to dramatic vistas, bold shapes and meditative scenes of nature’s everyday rhythm. The act of creating a piece is a dialogue between materials and my memories of places, where each layer adds depth and history. While my initial inspiration is the landscape and the stunning color palettes it provides, as I work, these influences recede, giving way to a personal exploration of form and texture. I invite viewers to delve beneath the surface and to explore, with me, the power of place.

Artist Bio

Holly McArthur is an award-winning contemporary mixed media artist whose work explores the natural world. She begins each piece by layering paint, handmade papers, and mark-making tools, allowing unexpected imagery to emerge organically. Through a give and take process with the materials, she reveals textured, layered impressions of nature, inviting viewers to explore themes of place and belonging.

Holly shows her art locally in group exhibitions and has been juried into exhibits in Northern California and the Midwest. She maintains an active studio practice in her home and is a member of the Wisconsin Visual Artists Association.

Person holding a piece of artwork with paint and mixed media on a worktable surrounded by paint tubes and art supplies.

Events & Recognitions

CURRENT + UPCOMING:

  • My paintings “Enjoying the View” and “Sunrise Over the Yahara” were selected for the Storytelling Exhibition at the Overt Space Gallery, Stoughton, WI, March 25 – May 10 2026

  • My painting “Spring Emerges” was selected for the 38th Annual Juried Culture + Agriculture Exhibition at Gallery Q, Stevens Point, WI, March 7th – April 28th, 2026

RECENTS:

  • My paintings “Retreating Storm” and “Green Beneath” were on display as part of the Wisconsin Visual Artists South Central Chapter Member Exhibition at the Kasieta Center, Verona, WI, January 8th – March 30, 2026

  • My paintings “Fall Horizon” and “Summer Storm on Lake Mendota” were selected for the 36th Annual Juried Midwest Seasons Exhibition at the Center for the Visual Arts in Wausau, WI, and “Summer Storm on Lake Mendota” received a juror’s award. January 7 – March 14, 2026

  • My painting “Green Beneath” was selected for the Art By The Foot Juried Exhibit at the Center for the Visual Arts, Wausau, WI, Oct 15-Dec 15, 2025

Unique Mixed Media Art