30 State Fair Crop Artworks Will Make Their Way to Mia in September
Thursday, August 27, 2026 at 12:27PM
“Cream of the Crop: The Second Harvest” runs September 19 thru November 29
A reception will be held Thursday, September 24, 6-8pm, in Mia’s Community Commons
Minnesotans love their crop art. Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) will give some of the Minnesota State Fair’s most creative crop artists an encore, bringing prize-winning and standout works from the 2026 crop art competition to the museum for Cream of the Crop: The Second Harvest. It will be on view September 19 through November 29 in Mia’s Community Commons.
Mia’s curatorial team and museum director Katie Luber were tasked with selecting 30 works from hundreds at the State Fair. These works showcase the skill, patience, humor, and ingenuity behind one of Minnesota’s most beloved artistic traditions.
Think intricate portraits made from seeds. Landscapes built from grains. Unexpected masterpieces assembled from humble agricultural materials. Crop art transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, and at Mia, these works get a second chance to shine beyond the Fairgrounds.
The exhibition will showcase highlights from the Minnesota State Fair’s crop art competition, including:
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Five winners of Mia’s crop art awards:
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Four artworks featuring the best interpretations of a Hidden Gem at Mia, interpreting a lesser-known piece from the museum’s collection.
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The winners are La Petite Bergère – At Night by Diane Klein, Tiger Cat by Kaela Reinardy, Rainy Evening on Hennepin Avenue - Crop Art Edition by Megan Bell, and St. Paul, 2026 by Stephanie Schempp.
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One overall Mia Favorite original creation showing exemplary creativity, craftsmanship, and artistry:
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The winner of this category is Twin Cities 2026 (Guernica 1937) by Jennifer B Nelson.
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25 additional honorable mentions will also be selected.
Crop art is a meticulous craft using seeds, grains, and other plant materials to create detailed images, designs, and stories. The tradition has long been a beloved feature of the Minnesota State Fair, where artists demonstrate just how much artistic potential can be packed into a handful of humble agricultural materials.
