Samantha Harrill is Artist of the Year

 The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is pleased to announce that Samantha Harrill of Warroad is the Northwest Minnesota Artist of the Year for Visual Arts. This award was presented on Saturday, April 25 at Warroad RiverPlace.

Originally from Red Lake Falls, Harrill is a gifted ceramic artist. She studied Design and Art at Bemidji State University. She creates a variety of functional and decorative pottery pieces out of Northern Spruce Studio in downtown Warroad. Samantha’s always been drawn to working with her hands and creating things from scratch.

Pottery clicked for Samantha in a different way than other art forms. She shared, “There’s something about clay that’s grounding and a little unpredictable, and I was drawn to that right away.” She continued, “A surprising fact about me is that I’m a bit of a metalhead. After 20-some years, it’s just part of my process — when I sit down at the wheel, that’s what I listen to. There’s a rhythm to both pottery and metal — it can feel intense and even a little chaotic, but also really grounding and almost hypnotic once you get into it.” Samantha draws inspiration from nature – it’s her biggest influence — “the colors, textures, and quiet simplicity of it. I’m also inspired by potters who focus on craftsmanship and intentional design — artists who let the materials speak for themselves.”

Samantha is the Executive Director of Warroad RiverPlace. In that position, she works tirelessly to affirm and bring the arts to northern Minnesota, while advocating for all art mediums, theater, art workshops for children and adults, music, and cultural and celebration events.

Sherri Kukowski said, “Samantha is a gifted ceramics artist. When the Warroad RiverPlace became more than a dream for the area, Samantha jumped in with her energy and artistic flair. Seeing through the construction phase of the project to the present day, Samantha opened the doors for many local artists to have the experience and exposure of a metro area-type gallery that many could only dream about. With her ability to find artists, mentor them, display their artwork, and host a successful opening for each artist with hundreds in attendance at openings and throughout the length of each artist's show, she has encouraged and broadened all the artists she has touched. In her short tenure at Warroad RiverPlace, she is opening the doors to all mediums. Warroad Summer Theatre has held several events, including a very successful dinner theatre. The classroom is constantly a buzz of artists that Samantha and her team search out to teach art to all ages.”

Owner of Bloomin’ Creations LaRon Hahn said of Samantha’s pottery, “Samantha is a gifted artist with exceptional talent. Her pottery is truly top-notch. Each piece is thoughtfully designed, well-crafted, and finished with great attention to detail. The quality and consistency of her work is exceptional.”

Jenee Provance was the Artistic Director of the first Warroad Summer Theatre production held at RiverPlace. This was during a period of time when Samantha was “multi-tasking” for the facility before she took on the director position. She explained that “Amid her other responsibilities, Samantha always made herself available to our organization as we navigated our way through the growing pains of using a facility, which was a caliber --or 10 -- above what we were used to. Samantha is an amazing human being with drive and determination to showcase the arts in northern Minnesota.”

Harrill gave this advice to aspiring artists, “Be patient with yourself. It takes time to develop your skills and find your voice, and that’s not something you can rush. Don’t be afraid of mistakes — they’re honestly one of the most important parts of the process. Especially in pottery, things don’t always turn out how you expect, and that’s where a lot of the learning happens. I would also say to stay curious and open to trying new things. You don’t have to have everything figured out right away. And most importantly, just keep showing up and doing the work. Consistency matters more than perfection, and over time, that’s what really builds confidence and growth.”

On the impact of the arts on society, she shared “I think art adds meaning to everyday life in a way that people don’t always realize right away. It gives us a way to slow down, to notice things, and to connect — whether that’s with ourselves, with other people, or with the world around us. With pottery specifically, I think it brings that connection into daily routines. It’s not just something you look at — it’s something you hold, use, and live with. A mug, a bowl, a plate — those are things people interact with every single day. There’s something really powerful about that. It turns ordinary moments into something a little more intentional. I think that’s where art has a quiet but lasting impact — it becomes part of people’s lives in a way that feels natural, but still meaningful.”

Our Artist of the Year award can be given to any discipline artist including visual, performing, or creative writing who are emerging or at a mid-way point in their artistic endeavors. It is a cash award of $500. Funding for the Northwest Artist of the Year comes from The McKnight Foundation. Three awards are given each year to recognize artists and arts advocates within our seven-county region who stand out in terms of artistry or volunteerism in the arts. Of the Year Award winners were nominated by area residents.

Congratulations, Samantha!