Minnesota State Fair 2022 commemorative artwork unveiled
A Minneapolis artist’s depiction of the diversity and dynamism that animate the Great Minnesota Get-Together’s summer nights has been selected as the 2022 State Fair’s Official Commemorative Art.
Leslie Barlow’s 3-foot-by-4-foot oil painting was unveiled Thursday at the State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights.
“I wanted to communicate the energy, excitement and joy that the Fair brings me,” Barlow said, according to the Minnesota State Fair Foundation, which has sponsored the annual art competition for 18 years. “The Fair often feels otherworldly, especially near the Midway, with all the sounds, laughter, bright lights and activity. I wanted my work to represent that.”
“I often paint people of color and love our skin tones to be really vibrant and beautiful,” she added in the foundation’s announcement. “In this piece, you also see the neon lights from the Midway reflected in the faces, communicating how bright and lively the Fair is at night.”
Although the painting presents one image, it is actually a collage, the artist said.
“I wanted the painting to look like a snapshot, but in reality, each element is from a separate image. For example, the people are from one photo and each of the rides are separate, too,” Barlow said.
Her original painting will be displayed at the Fine Arts Center during the State Fair, from Aug. 25 through Labor Day, Sept. 5. It has also been reproduced as a commemorative poster and a limited number of signed prints that are currently available for sale at mnstatefair.org/commemorative-art. Proceeds support the State Fair Foundation in its mission to preserve and improve the fairgrounds and educational programs.
Barlow has a bachelor of fine arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and a master of fine arts degree from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.
She is a recipient of the 2021 Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship, 2019 McKnight Visual Artist Fellowship, the 20/20 Artist Fellowship from Springboard for the Arts, and four Minnesota State Arts Board grants between 2016 and 2021.
In 2018, she received the Minnesota Museum of American Art Purchase Award in the juried Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition.
Barlow has taught at the University of Minnesota, Metropolitan State University and Carleton College.
She is represented by Bockley Gallery. For more information, visit lesliebarlowartist.com.
Previous winners of the State Fair art competition are Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher (2004), Mary GrandPré (2005), Nancy Carlson (2006), Michael Birawer (2007), Edie Abnet (2008), Leo Stans (2009), Deborah Voyda Rogers (2010), Steve Thomas (2011), Joe Heffron (2012), Marie Olofsdotter (2013), Emily L. Taylor (2014), Adam Turman (2015), Michael Sweere (2016), Ta-coumba Aiken (2017), Kristi Abbott (2018), R.J. Kern (2019) and Kevin Cannon (2021).
