Famed Door County artists Karsten and Ellen Topelmann, Ingwersen featured in new exhibit

STURGEON BAY - Three of Door County's most renowned artists are featured in two exhibitions opening Nov. 5 at the Miller Art Museum.

The Miller's first-floor main galleries will show "Hanseatic: The Life and Work of Karsten and Ellen Topelmann," while "New Acquisitions from James J. Ingwersen" will be on display on the museum's Ruth Morton Miller Mezzanine.

The Topelmann exhibition features 34 works of the late artists that collectively depict the story of their beloved village of Ephraim and of family. The Ingwersen exhibition offers a collection of 12 paintings by the internationally renowned, Sister Bay-based portrait artist that are new acquisitions to the Miller's permanent collection, along with two bronze sculptures and other existing Ingwersen works in the collection.

Karsten (1929-2021) and Ellen Sprogø Topelmann (1926-2016) came to the U.S. from Germany, Karsten from Munich and Ellen from Hamburg, to seek new lives in the aftermath of World War II while trying to establish themselves as artists, Ellen painting in acrylics and Karsten in oils and watercolors.

They met in this country and married in 1959. In 1971 they bought what was a rooming house and resort in the heart of Ephraim that they transformed into their Hanseatic Gallery, where they pursued their careers as professional artists for the rest of their lives. The gallery was named in reference to Ellen’s city of birth, which was one of the major ports of the medieval merchant’s guild, the Hanseatic League. The gallery would be draped in red-and-white striped awnings as in the Hanseatic flag.

The Topelmanns also painted scenes and people from their travels to the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany and the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. In fact, in an unlikely "brush with greatness," a painting by Karsten of a winter scene in Rothenburg ob der Tauber was chosen for the cover art of "Winter Carols," a 2006 album of Christmas music by Blackmore's Night, a Renaissance-folk music group led by hard rock guitar god and Deep Purple co-founder Ritchie Blackmore.

But they likely were best known for their depictions of their village of Ephraim and the warmth and optimism one feels from viewing their works.

“My mother painted from her heart,” Lars Topelmann, Karsten's and Ellen's son, wrote in an email to the Advocate after his mother died. “Her background was as a fashion artist and as a commercial illustrator. Both my mother and father encouraged each other as artists and learned from each other. My father was a technically trained painter whose perspectives reflect reality and my mother created her own charming and uninhibited style and vision. … Their contrasting painting styles complimented each other and contributed to the success of their gallery and enjoyment in life.”

The Ingwersen show on the mezzanine will feature a collection of significant works the artist gifted to the museum in 2022 from his personal collection. Each of the paintings is a portrait of a family member or friends from the Door County community, including celebrated artist Charles L. "Chick" Peterson. Also featured are portraits of distinguished acquaintances from the period when Ingwersen maintained a studio at the historic Tree Studio Building and Annexes in Chicago.

Ingwersen established himself as one of the nation's premier portrait artists over more than 60 years of work, depicting people from all walks of life. Among his more noteworthy works, he was selected to paint the official portrait of U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, which was unveiled in 2011. His work previously was featured at the Miller in the retrospective exhibition "Captured Moments: Select Portraits by James J. Ingwersen" in 2018.

The museum will hold several special events during the first week of the exhibitions. Curator Helen del Guidice guides an exhibition preview from 4 to 5 p.m. Nov. 4 for museum members and volunteers.

del Guidice also leads a conversation with Lars and Lisa Topelmann (the Topelmanns' daughter) to discuss the life and work of their parents from 2 to 3 p.m. Nov. 5, followed by the opening reception from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The Nov. 5 discussion and reception are free and open to the public.

Then, Cody Schreck and Kathleen Harris of the Ephraim Historical Foundation will discuss the regional impact of Karsten and Ellen Topelmann, including historical artifacts, in "The Topelmann Legacy" from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 10.

The Topelmann and Ingwersen exhibitions run from Nov. 5 to Dec. 30 at the Miller Art Museum, inside the Door County Library, 107 S. Fourth Ave., Sturgeon Bay; the library and museum will be closed for maintenance Nov. 7 and 8. Regular hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Admission is free and the museum is fully accessible, with an elevator to the second floor gallery. For more information, call 920-746-0707 or visit millerartmuseum.org.

Contact Christopher Clough at 920-741-7952, 920-562-8900 or cclough@doorcountyadvocate.com.

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This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Famed Door County artists featured in new Miller Art Museum exhibit