4.16.25 Glen Henry
NW Art Exhibit Juror Glen Henry
Our featured guest this week was Glen Henry, the juror of our NW Art Exhibit in Crookston this year. The exhibit features 128 pieces of art by student and adult artists residing in a seven-county region including Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Pennington, Roseau and Red Lake. The winners will be recognized at the Northwest Minnesota Artist Reception in Crookston on April 27.
Glen Henry is a versatile and accomplished Indigenous artist whose creative journey spans a variety of mediums, including drawing, painting, and graphic design. He is the Director of Exhibitions at Minnesota State University Moorhead.
He received his BA and MFA from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. Throughout his career, Glen has built a distinctive artistic voice, blending traditional techniques with modern digital approaches. His artwork often explores themes of identity, culture, and the complex intersections of the past and present, while using bold, expressive color palettes and innovative design methods. As an Indigenous artist, he incorporates aspects of his culture into his work, allowing for a unique narrative that resonates with both personal and universal experiences.
Glen spoke about what he looks for when he jurors an exhibition, including subject matter, potential, original thought, style, creativity, and skill level. He noticed that this exhibit included a lot of plein air imagery, landscapes, the outdoors, forestry, and animal life. which makes sense given our location. He reads the inspiration for or interpretation of the piece as he judges.
When asked what advice he would give to artists who are considering submitting their work for exhibits, he said “Be confident that you will be finished in time. Be courageous and have perseverance. It takes courage to show your work.”
Currently, MSUM has a BFA exhibition up at the Diederich Art Gallery. Glen spoke about the art education program at the school and upcoming exhibits.
The NW Art Exhibit is open until Sunday, April 27.
