Art Exhibit: “Days to Remember,” featuring artists Kurt Schulzetenberg and Nelia Harper French

The Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery is honored to present "Days to Remember," a new exhibition featuring the work of Minnesota-based artists Kurt Schulzetenberg and Nelia Harper French. The exhibit opens on Friday, October 10 and will be on display through Sunday, November 2.

"Days to Remember" pairs two distinct yet complementary approaches to representational painting. Kurt Schulzetenberg, a St. Paul-based artist who studied with Frank Mason at The Art Students' League of New York, brings a personal, impressionistic style to his landscapes and interior scenes. Having returned to his art after a hiatus to raise his family, Schulzetenberg now paints almost exclusively en plein-air (French for “painting outdoors"), with a particular affection for the natural beauty of Minnesota's North Shore. His work captures the fleeting moments of light and atmosphere, inviting viewers into intimate, quiet worlds.

Nelia Harper French, a representational artist from Grand Rapids, MN, works in a variety of media, including oil, egg tempera, and pastel. She received a Bachelor of Arts from St. Catherine University, after which she had a professional career before turning her focus to art. After years of landscape and studio painting, she refined her skills in the classical atelier method at the Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art under the instruction of master artist, Jeffrey T. Larson.  Her pieces focus on capturing the "essence of time, place, and space,” and include both naturalistic landscapes and compelling life-sized portraits, sharing her deep love for the outdoors. 

Together, the pieces in the JHP gallery exhibit "Days to Remember" aim to create a journey through time and memory, reflecting on moments both grand and small. The exhibit highlights the shared goal of both artists to connect with and express the beauty of the world around them, each in their unique way.

Nelia Harper French is a fiscal year 2025 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Event Details: “Days to Remember” Exhibit, featuring artists Kurt Schulzetenberg and Nelia Harper French 

Opening reception: Friday, October 10, 2025, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Art exhibit: Saturday, October 11, 2025-Sunday, November 2, 2025

For the most up-to-date gallery hours, visit: cookcountyhistory.org/johnson-heritage-post-art-gallery