Paint Grand Traverse 2026 Announces Nationally Acclaimed Artists; Fresh Paint Party Tickets Now on Sale
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 19, 2026
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Crooked Tree Arts Center (CTAC) proudly announces the 2026 participating artists for Paint Grand Traverse, the week-long plein air painting festival and competition returning to the Traverse City region June 21–28, 2026. Now in its ninth year, the event continues to draw nationally recognized painters and collectors to northern Michigan, further establishing the Grand Traverse region as a premier summer destination for art and cultural travel.
A Cultural Anchor for the Region
“Paint Grand Traverse has become a signature summer event for our region,” said Kristi Wodek, Managing Director of Crooked Tree Arts Center – Traverse City. “Collectors from all over the country travel here specifically for this week, and artists return year after year. It’s a powerful example of how the arts elevate both the cultural and economic vitality of northern Michigan.”
Featuring 32 accomplished artists from across the country, Paint Grand Traverse transforms northwest lower Michigan into an open-air studio. Throughout the week, artists paint on location across Old Mission Peninsula, Leelanau Peninsula, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Downtown Traverse City, and beyond, capturing the region’s shifting light, shoreline vistas, vineyards, marinas, and historic small towns.
2026 Participating Artists
Artists are invited based on prior awards and selected through a competitive juried process, ensuring an exceptional level of quality across the collection. This year, one-third of participating painters call Michigan home, reinforcing the event’s strong regional roots:
Kevin Barton – Petoskey
Lori Feldpausch – Traverse City
Kristin Hosbein – St. Joseph
Debra Howard – Omena
Logan Hudson – Fife Lake
Mark Mehaffey – Empire
Thomas Moberg – Lansing
Julio Suarez – Jackson
Jill Stefani Wagner – Saline
David Westerfield – Grand Rapids
Adam VanHouten – Traverse City
These artists will paint alongside peers from across the country, including Lisa BurgerLentz (Media, PA), Lyudmila Tomova Clark (Cary, NC), Vlad Milan Duchev (Baltimore, MD), John Eiseman (Hebron, MD), Millie Gosch (College Park, GA), Steve Griggs (Centennial, CO), Neal Hughes (Medford, NJ), Fred Jackson (King of Prussia, PA), Lynn Lewis (Kensington, MD), Jimmy Navarro (Des Moines, IA), Crista Pisano (Nyack, NY), Robin Roberts (Ashland, OH), Kari Ganoung Ruiz (Interlaken, NY), James Sampsel (Port Orford, OR), Richard Sneary (Kansas City, MO), Jeff Steiner (Minneapolis, MN), Jeff Suntala (Cleveland, OH), Mark A. Vander Vinne (Porter, IN), Richie Vios (Austin, TX), Rokhaya Waring (Clyde, NC), and Stephen Wysocki (Armstrong Creek, WI).
A Week of Art in the Open Air
Derived from the French phrase en plein air, meaning “in open air,” plein air painting captures fleeting atmospheric and lighting conditions outdoors. During Paint Grand Traverse, visitors can encounter artists working throughout the region, attend live demonstrations, participate in workshops, and bring young creatives to the popular Kids Pint-Sized Paint Out.
More than 250 original works will be created throughout the week, each one a direct response to the landscape, light, and energy of a northern Michigan summer.
Fresh Paint Party: A One-Night-Only Experience
At the conclusion of the festival, the paintings are brought together into a dynamic, salon-style exhibition, with the first opportunity to view and purchase the collection taking place at the marquee event, the Fresh Paint Party, held Saturday, June 27. This is a lively evening and the only opportunity to see the entire collection of paintings in one place. As artwork is purchased, it leaves with its new collector and is no longer on view, making the event a truly fleeting, can’t-miss experience.
Guests will enjoy live music, light appetizers, drinks, and the opportunity to meet and mingle with the artists.
Saturday, June 27, 2026
Crooked Tree Arts Center – Traverse City
322 Sixth Street, Traverse City, MI
Ticket Options
To serve both serious collectors and art enthusiasts, two ticket types are available:
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Purchase Award Ticket – Ideal for collectors; includes early entry and first access to view and purchase artwork, plus admission to the Awards Presentation and Fresh Paint Party.
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General Admission – Perfect for those who want to experience the celebration without a purchase commitment.
Following the festival, a small exhibit of work created during Paint Grand Traverse will be on view through August 22 at Crooked Tree Arts Center – Traverse City, with online sales available for collectors nationwide.
Tickets are now on sale and available at https://www.crookedtree.org/