Paint Grand Traverse 2026 Celebrates Eight Days of Art, Community, and Inspiration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 7, 2026

 

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Paint Grand Traverse 2026 has officially come to a close after an extraordinary eight days celebrating plein air painting, community connection, and the natural beauty of Northern Michigan.

Thirty-one nationally recognized plein air artists gathered throughout the Grand Traverse region to capture the area’s landscapes, waterfronts, neighborhoods, and communities through their artwork. From quiet morning painting sessions to conversations with visitors and collectors, the festival highlighted the power of art to connect people and celebrate a shared sense of place.

“As I reflect on this year's event, I find myself especially grateful—not just for the artwork created, but for the people who made it possible,” says Kristi Wodek, Managing Director at Crooked Tree Arts Center - Traverse City. “Together, artists, volunteers, sponsors, staff, home hosts, collectors, and thousands of visitors created something far greater than an art competition. They created a community connected through creativity, generosity, and a shared pride in Northern Michigan.”

This year’s festival awarded more than $17,000 in cash prizes and awards, recognizing exceptional works created throughout the week. Award selections were made by juror Elizabeth Pollie, an accomplished representational painter, illustrator, and educator whose career spans decades.

Pollie earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from The College for Creative Studies, where she later taught, and worked as a nationally awarded freelance editorial illustrator before turning her focus toward representational painting. Her work explores the extraordinary found in everyday life and has received numerous awards, media recognition, and inclusion in collections throughout the country.

Award highlights included Best of Show recipient Neal Hughes for Harbor Night, along with additional honors recognizing outstanding works across the festival’s exhibitions and competitions. A complete list of Paint Grand Traverse 2026 award recipients is available at crookedtree.org/events-and-exhibitions/events/paint-grand-traverse/.

While the festival has concluded, visitors can continue to experience Paint Grand Traverse through the Paint Grand Traverse: Extended Exhibit, on view July 1 through August 22 in the Cornwell and Carnegie Galleries at Crooked Tree Arts Center - Traverse City. The exhibition features a selection of available works created during the weeklong event, offering visitors another opportunity to enjoy and purchase original plein air paintings inspired by the beauty of Northern Michigan. An online gallery is also available for browsing and purchasing artwork at crookedtree.org

Behind the scenes, Paint Grand Traverse was powered by an incredible network of community support. More than 350 volunteer hours and 250 staff hours helped bring the festival to life, while 22 home hosts welcomed visiting artists and 30 community sponsors provided essential support. The week also featured six free artist demonstrations, a watercolor workshop, and a Pint-Size Paint Out introducing young artists to the joys of plein air painting.

Crooked Tree Arts Center extends its deepest gratitude to the artists, volunteers, sponsors, home hosts, community partners, and attendees who made Paint Grand Traverse 2026 a memorable celebration of art, creativity, and connection.

Paint Grand Traverse 2026 Award Winners

Crooked Tree Arts Center congratulates the award-winning artists recognized during Paint Grand Traverse 2026, celebrating exceptional plein air works created throughout the weeklong festival.

Small Wonders Exhibition Awards

• First Place: Thomas Moberg

• Second Place: Jeff Suntala

• Third Place: Crista Pisano

• Honorable Mention: Jimmy Navarro

Fresh Paint Party Awards

• Best of Show: Neal Hughes, Harbor Night

• Merit Award (2nd Place): Kari Ganoung Ruiz, Contemplation

• Merit Award (3rd Place): Lyudmila Tomova Clark, Golden Hour at Mama Lu’s

• Merit Award (4th Place): Richie Vios, Market Day

• Artists’ Choice Award: James Sampsel

• Honorable Mention: Mark Vander Vinne, Nothing But Blues

• Honorable Mention: Lynn Lewis, Blue Haze

• Honorable Mention: Jeff Suntala, Zoltar Has Big Plans

• Award of Recognition: Debra Howard, Botanical Garden

• Award of Recognition: Jeff Steiner, Green Waters of Fishtown

• Award of Recognition: Stephen Wysocki, Dune View

Special Artist Awards

• Award for Outstanding Plein Air Painting by a Female Artist: Crista Pisano, Body of Work

• Award for Outstanding Plein Air Painting by a Male Artist: James Sampsel, Body of Work

• Outstanding Michigan Plein Air Artist Award: Mark Mehaffey, Body of Work

About Paint Grand Traverse
Paint Grand Traverse is an annual plein air festival hosted by Crooked Tree Arts Center that brings nationally recognized artists to Northern Michigan to paint the region’s landscapes, landmarks, and communities. Through exhibitions, demonstrations, workshops, and community events, the festival celebrates the art of painting outdoors and the connections created through shared creative experiences.

 

Best of Show: Neal Hughes, Harbor Night

Canal Chorus as set up and painted by James Sampsel in Fishtown, Leelanau Peninsula. 

Lyudmila Tomova Clark painting Blue Truck Morning at Fishtown in Leelanau Peninsula, Michigan.

Crista Pisano (center right) and Kevin Barton (far right)  posing with new collectors. Artwork created during their duo demo, Two Perspectives One Cloudscape. 

Kari Ganoung Ruiz at her wall during Paint Grand Traverse.  Photo credit: Judy Kelly

Collector and Sponsor Kurt Rivard (right) reviewing works created by Crista Pisano during Paint Grand Traverse. Photo credit: Judy Kelly