Category: Exhibitions

Two Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibits Open this Week

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Meandering Stream, copyright Cynthia Boudreau. This work wil be displayed at the Downers Grove Public Library throughout January.

Sure, the cold is crisp and the snow can be stunning, but one thing mostly missing in nature during Chicagoland’s winter months is color! Happily, the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum will be supplying lots of color from all four seasons in two special exhibits opening this week.

Nearly 75 works of nature art in a wide variety of media and styles, by approximately 50 talented members of the Guild, will be on display at the Downers Grove Public Library and the Wheaton Public Library throughout January, for all to enjoy.

Both of these vibrant libraries have a strong commitment to the visual arts and lovely dedicated gallery spaces in which Guild members can proudly share their work with the public.

Exhibits are open during regular library hours (click on highlighted links above for hours and directions.) A free open reception will be held at the Downers Grove Library on January 18 from 2 to 4 pm. Everyone is invited to stop by to support the artists and enjoy the exhibit!

A Look Back at 2025 with the Nature Artists’ Guild

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Winter Woods Edge, copyright Ann Lamoureux. Click on image for a look back at 2025 with the Nature Artists’ Guild.

2025 was a year of gatherings filled with laughter, learning, and sharing for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum.

The Guild’s artists enjoyed presentations (online and in person) by talented and renowned artists, attended paint-outs and field trips (accompanied by delicious treats) at stunning gardens and museums, and shared their artwork through exhibits at The Morton Arboretum (with record attendance!) and other locations. Weekly gatherings to sketch and chat, a fun fundraising workshop, and a holiday party also provided members with plenty of opportunities to meet, learn from, and enjoy the company of fellow artists.

Sample of images from 2025 –

  • Audubon exhibit at Field Museum
  • Field Museum paint-out
  • January Downers Grove Library exhibit
  • February paint-out at Orchids by Hausermann, copyright Kathi Kuchler
  • Paint-in at Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum
  • Rhonda Nass online presentation
  • Yum, A 5-lobed Chocolate Vine, copyright Rhonda Nass
  • Late winter, early spring preview
  • Joel Sheesley presentation at The Morton Arboretum
  • Kline Creek Sunrise Moonset, copyright Joel Sheesley
  • Spring 2025 Exhibit poster
  • Natures Bounty, copyright Deb Giampoli
  • Creek, copyright Patricia Joyce
  • Blackburnian Warbler, copyright Vicki Liszewski
  • Sweet Treat, copyright Vicki Liszewski
  • Peonies, watercolor, copyright Vicki Liszewski
  • Pretty in pink, copyright Lisa Kanellos
  • Resting Deer, copyright Jill Adzia
  • Paphiopedium Matchmaker Orchid, copyright Celia Rodee
  • Summer Shadows, copyright Maryann Wattelle
  • Spring exhibit demonstration
  • Spring exhibit demonstration
  • Spring exhibit demonstration
  • Spring exhibit demonstration
  • Spring exhibit demonstration
  • Spring exhibit demonstration
  • Daffodil Glade paint-out, Daffodils, copyright Alice Wych
  • Quarterly covers and pages
  • Lilacia Park paint-out
  • Driehaus museum, Rory McEwan exhibit
  • Copyright Rory McEwen
  • Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art field trip
  • At UIMA exhibit, Powdered ruffle lichen, copyright Sandra Wilcoxon
  • June paint-out
  • Summer exhibit at Hidden Oaks Nature Center
  • Summer Shades, copyright Patty Koenigsaecker
  • Pileated Woodpecker and Pokeweed, copyright Louise Daley
  • White Petunia II, copyright Marge Hall
  • Adriatic, copyright Cynthia Boudreau
  • Lamoureux garden paint-out, Woods Garden and Peter’s Pond, copyright Ann Lamoureux
  • Quarterly covers and pages
  • Ball Horticultural paint-out
  • Ball Horticultural paint-out
  • Sarah Johnson program at Thornhill
  • Artists’ Garden encore paint-out
  • Grand Garden at The Morton Arboretum paint-out
  • Autumn workshop
  • Cantigny Gardens paint-out
  • Autumn preview
  • Phil Schorn program
  • Luminous Succelent, copyright Phil Schorn
  • Autumn 2025 Exhibit poster
  • Autumn exhibit reception, Home, copyright Amy Malysa.
  • Looking Out, copyright Kathy Steere
  • Tigger Melon (Cucumis Melo), copyright Kumie Kim
  • Night Flyer, copyright Jeffrey Zawada
  • Skåne, copyright Carrie Carlson
  • The Scent of Spring, copyright Shuli Wang
  • First Snowfall, copyright Joanne May
  • Say Cheese, copyright Dan Danielson
  • Micromovement of Wings, Mandala I, copyright Cynthia Heinz
  • Autumn 2025 demonstration
  • Autumn 2025 demonstration
  • Autumn 2025 demonstration
  • Autumn 2025 demonstration
  • Autumn 2025 demonstration
  • Autumn 2025 demonstration
  • Flora 2025 special exhibit
  • A Riot of Bee Balm and Rudbeckia, copyright Maggie Capettini
  • Hydrangea Blossom, copyright Margie Navolio
  • Holiday party, Suzanne Wegener artwork
  • 2025 holiday cards preview
  • 2025 Holiday Card, copyright Nicolette Metz
  • 2025 Holiday Card, copyright Sandra Zeboski
  • 2025 Holiday Card, copyright Vicki Liszewski

The Nature Artists’ Guild is looking forward to welcoming back all our current members in 2026 and, hopefully, some new ones as well (an evolving schedule of events will be coming soon)! More about renewals and memberships is available here.

A New Opportunity to Share and Delight

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Piping Plovers, watercolor, copyright Vicki Liszewski will be one of more than twenty works exhibited this winter at the Wheaton Public Library by members of the Nature Artists’ Guild. (Read about Chicago’s beloved piping plovers here.)

A few spots are still available to members of the Nature Artists’ Guild for the January 2026 Wheaton Public Library exhibit, and registration closes this Friday, December 12.

The Guild’s popular annual exhibit at the Downers Grove Public Library is at capacity, and registration is now closed, but members still have the opportunity to share their art this winter by registering for the Wheaton Public Library exhibit. This exciting new opportunity fills the need for additional space for Guild members to delight even more of Chicago’s suburbs with their nature art!

The Wheaton Public Library has a long and fascinating history, and its current 124,000 square foot facility includes a lovely dedicated space (in a quiet corner near the main entrance) for art exhibits and special presentations, the Arts & Culture Center.

Any Nature Artists’ Guild member can register one piece in this exhibit, which must be dropped off during regular library hours between December 29 and January 2. A prospectus with all the details was emailed to members on November 15.

This Week for the Nature Artists’ Guild

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Artwork from 2024 Holiday Card, copyright Suzanne Wegener

Members of the Nature Artists’ Guild are invited to spend a fun and festive evening with their fellow artists at this year’s holiday celebration, “Jingle & Mingle,” on Thursday, December 4, 2025, from 6 to 8:30.

The Morton Arboretum will provide the beautiful setting, both indoors and out, with a crackling fire in the Founders Room (the historic former library of the Morton family) to greet guests after their short walk through a snowy wonderland (somehow even more stunning after dark) to the Thornhill Education Center.

Fellow members of the Nature Artists Guild will provide the warmth of friendship. After enjoying appetizers and punch in the Founders Room, Guild members will gather in the adjacent Arbor Room for desserts, a raffle of art and nature-related items, and a few fun surprises.

No ticket or RSVP is required, and Guild members can check their emailed invitations for details. This event is reserved for members of the Nature Artists’ Guild and their guests.

Also this week –

December 3, 2025, is the final day for Guild members to register for January’s special exhibit at the Downers Grove Public Library.

December 5, 2025, is the final day for Guild members to register for the annual Holiday Card Exchange.

January Nature Art Exhibits to Celebrate All Seasons

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Where the Forest Opens, oil, copyright Shannon Yeh, will be one of the many works included in the Guild’s exhibit at the Downers Grove Library in January 2026.

The Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum will begin the new year with exhibits at both the Downers Grove Public Library and the Wheaton Public Library throughout January, embracing the beauty of winter, and eagerly anticipating the coming of spring, summer, and fall!

Guild members are encouraged to participate in either or both exhibits, and prospectuses for both were emailed to all members on November 15. Registration ends (mailed or online) on December 3 for the Downers Grove exhibit and December 12 for the Wheaton exhibit. (Specific drop-off and pick-up instructions and dates are listed on the prospectuses.)

Artwork must have either been included in a previous Guild exhibit or be approved for exhibit by emailing a photo of the artwork (including any matting or framing) to Suzanne Wegener. Exhibitors must also have joined or renewed their Nature Artists’ Guild membership for 2026 before the applicable drop-off date.

Samples of artwork, details about a reception at the Downers Grove Library in January, and more about the exhibits coming soon!

Online registration for the 2026 Downers Grove Public Library Exhibit

Online registration for the 2026 Wheaton Library Exhibit

Congratulations to the Nature Artists’ Guild for a Wonderful 2025 Autumn Exhibit

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Awake in Light, copyright Shuli Wang. Please click on image to view a sample of the 2025 Autumn Exhibit artwork.

The Nature Artists’ Guild would like to congratulate and thank all those involved in the success of the 2025 Autumn Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum!

Visitors to The Morton Arboretum were able to enjoy more than 200 lovely works of art created by 70 members of the Nature Artists’ Guild last weekend, thanks to Exhibit Co-Chairs Alice Wych and Lisa Kanellos, Featured Artist Kathy Steere, and all the artists, volunteers, demonstrators, and Arboretum staff who put their time, effort, and talents into making the 2025 Autumn Art Exhibit, and the accompanying special display, Flora 2025, so successful.

Forest Floor, copyright Cynthia Boudreau. Please click on image to view a sample of the Flora 2025 artwork.

(Exhibit artists who haven’t already done so are encouraged to send up to two images of their exhibited work to Denise Fisk this week to have them added to the online display.)

An Invitation to the Nature Artists’ Guild Exhibit Reception this Friday at The Morton Arboretum

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Home, copyright Amy Malysa. Click on the above image for a sample of exhibit artwork images.

The Nature Artists’ Guild would like to extend an invitation to all for an exhibit reception at The Morton Arboretum this Friday, November 7, 2025.

The reception will be open to the public, free of charge, from 4:30 until 7 in the Administration Building of The Morton Arboretum. (Admission to the Arboretum will also be free for the reception.) No registration or ticket is required, and gate attendants will direct visitors to the building and nearby parking.

Visitors will have the opportunity to view more than 200 works of art, including many by Featured Artist Kathy Steere. More than 70 members of the Nature Artists’ Guild will be exhibiting their latest works, in a wide variety of media, in both the 2025 Autumn Art Exhibit and the accompanying special display honoring the Arboretum, Flora.

Complimentary light refreshments and a cash bar for wine, beer, and soft drinks will be available at the reception, and watercolor artist Dan Danielson will be demonstrating in the adjacent Sterling Morton Library.

The exhibit opens on Friday at 10 am and will continue throughout the weekend, with artist demonstrations throughout. Handmade ornaments by Guild artists, blank greeting cards featuring images of members’ artwork, and raffle tickets for themed gift baskets will be available to purchase.

While exhibit attendance is free, regular gate fees for Arboretum admission will apply (except for the Friday evening reception).

“Flora” on Display November 7 through 9, 2025 at The Morton Arboretum

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Last Dance, copyright Karen A Johnson. Click here for a sample of “Flora” artwork.

The Nature Artists’ Guild’s special exhibit of small works, “Flora,” will be on display alongside and throughout the Guild’s 2025 Autumn Art Exhibit at The Morton Arboretum from November 7 to 9.

The 2025 Autumn Art Exhibit and Flora will include nearly 250 pieces by more than 70 members of the Nature Artists’ Guild. Flora will feature a display of 8-inch square works inspired by and honoring The Morton Arboretum. The exhibits will take place in the Cudahy Room and lobby, adjacent to the Sterling Morton Library, of the Arboretum’s Administration Building, and are open to all Arboretum visitors at no extra charge.

Also coming soon –

  • The final day for Guild members to submit artwork, articles, or news to Jane Kellenberger for possible inclusion in the winter issue of the members-only publication, the Quarterly, will be November 1.
  • Artwork drop-off for the 2025 Autumn Art Exhibit and Flora will take place on Wednesday, November 5, from 6 to 7:30 pm at the Administration Building of The Morton Arboretum. All pieces must be pre-registered and follow the Guild’s guidelines for subject matter and presentation included in the prospectuses.
  • Blank cards and envelopes will be available at the exhibit drop-off on November 5 for members who wish to use them for the Nature Artists’ Guild’s annual holiday card exchange. Details and a link to register online will be emailed to members soon. (Blank cards will also be available at the holiday party.)
  • This year’s holiday gathering for Guild members, “Jingle & Mingle,” will, according to coordinators, include a “refresh” and a few fun surprises! Invitations and details will be emailed to members soon for this December 4th event.
  • Prospectuses and links for online registration will be emailed to Guild members for two special exhibits being held in January 2026. Artwork drop-offs for these exhibits at the Downers Grove Public Library and the Wheaton Public Library will take place in December 2025.
  • Casual and fun gatherings, Coffee and Art, continue to take place each Wednesday morning at the Visitor Center of The Morton Arboretum. Members and guests are invited to stop by between about 9:15 and 11:30 to sketch and chat with fellow artists.