Discover the Renaissance's Surreal Side at Mia's New Exhibition

The Weirdening of the Renaissance / June 14–November 30

This summer, the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) invites visitors to explore the strange, the surreal, and the sublime in a new exhibition, The Weirdening of the Renaissance, on view June 14 through November 30, 2025, in Gallery 344. Admission is free.

During the early Renaissance, artists drew inspiration from ancient Rome, producing works characterized by order, balance, and rationality. But as the movement evolved, so did the art - and not always in expected ways. Catalyzed by the dramatic 1506 discovery of the Laocoön sculpture in Rome, artists began pushing past the confines of symmetry and realism, unleashing a wave of experimental energy that embraced the bizarre.

Per Tom Rassieur, John E. Andrus III Curator of Prints and Drawings at Mia, “This exhibition takes us to the wonderfully weird world of artists freed from narrow ideas of Renaissance propriety. It’s a reminder that the Renaissance wasn’t just a rebirth of old ideas—it was also a hotbed of innovation, imagination, and strangeness.”

Through rarely seen Italian and Northern engravings, woodcuts, and etchings from Mia’s collection, The Weirdening of the Renaissance explores how artists manipulated perspective, distorted figures, and turned away from purely representational imagery. What began as a return to classical ideals evolved into a fascinating, otherworldly visual language that continues to captivate viewers today.

Free Art Exhibit at Mill City Museum Showcases Cities Across Minnesota

“Minnesota Cityscapes” by Mike Melman will be on display through May 11

A special art exhibit at Mill City Museum invites visitors to appreciate the beauty and significance of Minnesota’s overlooked places like train yards, factories, and shipyards.

Featuring 20 paintings by the late painter, photographer, and architect Mike Melman, Minnesota Cityscapes includes scenes of Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth/Superior, Little Falls, Albert Lea, Brainerd, and more. The exhibit’s artwork depicts urban centers and small towns in the quiet hours of dawn or evening.

Melman’s artwork began as black and white photography, inspired by the fascination he developed with the Minneapolis milling district upon his arrival to Minnesota in 1972. Later in his life, Melman revisited these old negatives, using them as the basis for the acrylic paintings featured in the exhibit. The paintings are on loan to the Minnesota Historical Society from his widow, Lotte Melman.

Located in the Mill Commons area of the Mill City Museum, Minnesota Cityscapes will be free and open to the public during regular museum hours through May 11, 2025. More information about the exhibit can be found here.