30 Years, 30 Artists: A Special Art-A-Whirl Celebration

The beloved art festival celebrates three decades with 30 standout artists across diverse disciplines

May 12, 2025

Photos courtesy of Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA)

Art lovers in Minneapolis, rejoice!—Art-A-Whirl returns to Northeast Minneapolis May 16-18. Since its founding it 1995, the spring studio tour has grown into the largest event of its kind in the country, featuring more than 1,400 artists across 100 locations and drawing over 120,000 visitors each year. But this year marks a particularly special milestone: the 30th anniversary celebration, which spotlights 30 featured artists representing the very best of the Art-A-Whirl community.

“Every artist has a story, an inspiration, [and] a viewpoint to share,” says Anna Becker, executive director of the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA). “It is our hope that by shining a spotlight on just 30 of our many talented artists, we will give people a new or renewed interest in the arts and everything artists bring to our community.”

The featured artists work in a wide range of media, from painting and jewelry-making to clay, glass, sculpture, and beyond. Among them is Julie Burkhart-Haid, who has spent 45 years creating fine custom jewelry and modern micro mosaics. She says, “Art is a universal language that transcends barriers and allows us to connect with one another on a deeper level.”

To commemorate the occasion, two custom sculptures will also be unveiled. “Mississippi Tempest,” created by featured artists Kelly and Michael Helsinger—she, a 2D artist focused on abstract expressionism, and he, a woodworker—is a mixed-media piece made from ebonized red oak, acrylic, shellac, wax, and lighting. The intention of the sculpture was to “harmoniously combine our skill sets while executing our conceptual interpretation of the iconic Art-A-Whirl logo,” they explain. The sculpture will be on display at The Holland Arts East Gallery.

The second sculpture, “Northeast Gale,” is crafted from maple, dye, urethane, wax, and lighting for a sculptural statement that doubles as a light fixture. The piece will be showcased in Quincy Hall at the NEMAA booth.

See here for a full list of featured artists and where you can find them during this year’s tour:

2010 Artblok