“Apprehension Café” by Masako Onodera

A UW-Stout professor and student are two of the artists whose works have been chosen for the Wisconsin Artists Biennial exhibit. The exhibit, which opened Feb. 6, runs through Sunday, March 27, at the Museum of Wisconsin Art in West Bend, outside Milwaukee.

A total of 650 state artists submitted work, but only 52 were selected. Masako Onodera, an assistant professor in art metals, will exhibit a piece called “Apprehension Café.” Claire Kayser, of La Crosse, a senior, will exhibit “My Fur Spoon.”

“It is a great pleasure to show my work alongside so many talented Wisconsin artists at the Museum of Wisconsin Art and to be so supported by our community,” Onodera said. “The participation in this exhibit of one of our dedicated students in art metals makes the experience even more special for me. I can’t wait to meet other Wisconsin art enthusiasts through this opportunity.”

Onodera has a master of fine arts in metals from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She has exhibited her artwork and has been published nationally and internationally. Learn more at masakoonodera.com.

Kayser is majoring in studio art with concentrations in art metals and in contemporary sculptural practices. She described “My Fur Spoon” as a “hand-fabricated vessel with a forged spoon; the piece is also wearable and functions as a brooch.” She used brass, copper, and rabbit fur to create it.

“Being accepted into the Wisconsin Artists Biennial Exhibit is a great opportunity for me to show my work in a new and professional setting,” Kayser said. “As a young, emerging artist I feel honored to be able to show my work with talented Wisconsin artists.”

The exhibit is organized by the Wisconsin Visual Artists, the state’s oldest artist organization. Prizes will be awarded based on judging by Peter Olson, Northern Illinois University; Tammie Rubin, St. Edward’s University, Austin, Texas; and Graeme Reid, Museum of Wisconsin Art.

For more information about the exhibit, go to wisconsinart.org