The exhibit featured several dozens submissions from high school students in New Ulm, Sleepy Eye and Nicollet.

Grand Board Member Nicole LaGrow said the Youth Art Showcase was her favorite of the year.

“It is a chance to showcase all the youth artists in the community,” she said. “It also brings all of the schools together in one place.”

The exhibit include prizes for first-, second- and third place art submissions. The top prize winners were announced during the open house.

Evelyn Nosbush (right) and Greta Berger (left) view the art on display at The Grand’s Youth Art Show.

Third place went to Natalie Matzke for her acrylic on wood painting “Calm Cardinal.”

Matzke said she was inspired to paint the piece from her love of birds, but also from her grandmother, who specifically suggested a cardinal.

Matzke said she began the piece by sketching a cardinal on a woodcut and then adding the paint after.

Second place went to Raegan Tiegs for her abstract landscape oil painting “Textured Memory.”

Tiegs said the piece was a departure for her. She typically paints realistic imagery, but she was commissioned to create the piece. It took her about two weeks to complete.

Sylvia Bentler (left) and Amber Bentler (right) view The Grand’s Youth Art Exhibit in the 4 Pillar’s Gallery during Friday’s open house.

First place went to Emily Brown for “Exploration of Clay Bodies,” which featured multiple ceramic bowls made from clay sourced in the region. In addition to created the ceramic bowls, Brown created a booklet that documented how the materials were sourced and made into the bowls on the display. The booklet could be viewed next to the ceramic bowls.

Brown said she loved mixing different material to create clay material and it was fun finding locally sourced materials.

“It took a lot of time to make the clay usable,” she said. The material started off as rough, making it difficult to mold into the proper shape. The edge of the bowl could not be as thin as she wanted, but she was able to demonstrate it was possible to make all locally sourced pottery.

The exhibit grand opening was attended by MVL art teacher Mike Wiechmann.

“It is really fun to see all these artists coming together,” he said. “It is great to see young regional artists exploring their voices.”

A mixed media sculpture by Minnesota Valley Lutheran (MVL) senior Issac Dittmer on display at The Grand’s Youth Art Schowcase

Wiechmann said one of the things that stood out to him the most about this exhibit was how the student chose to title their work.

“The titling is fascinating and how the students dreamed of it,” he said. “They could have gone with obvious name, but they take it another direction, showing a different way of interpreting the piece.”

Overall, he praised the students for showing a high level of skill and a dedication to realism.

The Youth Art Showcase will be on display at the Grand through Friday, March 20. Visitors are allowed to vote for a People’s Choice Award. The winner will be announced at the close of the exhibit.

The Grand’s Youth Art Show featured a variety of art styles from high school students in the New Ulm area.

The grand opening of Youth Art Show was held Friday, Feb. 20 at The Grand. The Exhibit will remain open through March 20. Visitors are encouraged to vote for their favorite piece. The winner of the People’s Choice Award will be announced at the end of the show.

The first place winner of The Grand’s 2026 High School Youth Art Exhibit was “Exploration of Clay Bodies” by 12th Grade MVL student Emily Brown. Brown’s piece included multiple ceramic bowls made from clay she sourced from the region. Brown created a booklet detailing the process of collecting the clay materials and creating the pieces.

“Textured Memory” by MVL 11th Grader Reagan Tiegs received 2nd place in The Grand’s Youth Art Exhibit.

“Calm Cardinal” received third place in he Grand’s Youth Art Exhibit. The piece created using acrylic paint on wood by 11th Grade MVL student Natalie Matzke.