Sheboygan's Art Scene
Featuring John Michael Kohler Art Center
Anchored by the John Michael Kohler Arts Center and Art Preserve, Sheboygan's Arts Scene is flourishing from creating your own art, art galleries, art events, and street art. While the Arts Center features eight galleries, two performance spaces, a café, museum shop, and a drop-in art-making studio and is free to the public, it is one of many opportunities to explore the arts scene in Sheboygan, WI.
Arts Scene Bucket List
This creative shop is truly one of a kind! Hello Happiness is a thrift creative shop carrying a variety of second-hand art supplies, tools, and accessories. There are painting supplies and crocheting supplies, all your must-haves for scrapbooking and jewelry making. There are all kinds of art materials just waiting to be discovered. The shop is a great place for beginners to shop and get their hands on new materials they want to experiment with, while staying on a budget in case the material isn’t for them. It’s never too late to learn a new skill or try a new practice. If you are looking for new creative hobbies this winter, you’ll absolutely need to visit Hello Happiness.
The Sheboygan Visual Arts Gallery and Studio is a unique and urban-chic building located near Downtown Sheboygan. This gallery is geared towards arts shopping, gallery exhibits, and different arts events. This curated space is another must-see in Sheboygan, especially because it is the home of many local artists who not only work on their art in the building, but sell and exhibit it too. Stroll through and appreciate the art, who knows, maybe you’ll find a new piece to take home with you!
We can’t recommend enough going on a local scavenger hunt to find all the street art and murals around Sheboygan. These pieces represent how much art is valued by the people of Sheboygan, and can be found scattered all across town, transforming urban landscapes into something priceless, powerful, and passionate. For a full list of the murals painted around town, go to visitsheboygan.com to keep track of how many masterpieces you find.
If you are an art-lover always on the lookout for new neat ways to engage with art and artists, swing by Paradigm Coffeehouse for a delicious brunch, something to sip at, and indulge in the artistic atmosphere while learned about upcoming events in the Sheboygan arts community. Paradigm hosts art events like arts and crafts sales, arts meetings, live music, readings, and more. The amount of creativity that radiates off of this neat local café can’t be ignored. Not only is it a neat place to familiarize yourself with local art and art events, but it’s a great place to be introduced and welcomed into the community no matter where you are from! There is nothing but kindness, good energy, and artistic influence buzzing around this congregation of creativity.
Artdose is a locally published and printed magazine for the arts in Sheboygan and the surrounding areas. Celebrating its 10th anniversary of publication in 2023, Artdose features local artists, art exhibitions, articles, venues, galleries, and more inside its pages. It even reaches outside of Sheboygan County and highlights different Midwest art galleries and shows. We highly recommend checking out Artdose, especially if you are interested in hitting a tour list of artistic locations across several Midwest states. Pick up the latest edition at Ampersand Co. located right next door to Paradigm Coffee.
Local Arts Attractions
Above & Beyond Children's Museum
Located in downtown Sheboygan, ABCM offers indoor interactive play plus a giant purple octopus' playground outside! Where play and education connect with year-round programing and events.
Sheboygan Board and Brush
At Board and Brush Creative Studio, their goal is to turn you into a “DIY master” to make your personalized wood sign look as though it has been with you for years—like a vintage heirloom.
John Michael Kohler Arts Center
Featuring eight galleries, two performance spaces, a café, museum shop, and a drop-in art-making studio. Free to the public with free parking and free access to the social studio.
Wisconsin Art Destinations
Travel beyond your horizon when you plan a visit to Wisconsin to explore renowned art museums. Wisconsin Art Destinations is comprised of 13 art museums all across Wisconsin that are working together to highlight Wisconsin as a destination for visual arts. Devoted to igniting a sense of discovery, these museums will each entice you with a distinctly unique experience.
Sheboygan is home to the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, but there are several museums within a day trip from Blue Harbor Resort that you could plan to visit during your stay.
Rahr-West Art Museum
610 N 8th Street, Manitowoc, WI (44 minutes from Blue Harbor Resort)
The Rahr-West Art Museum is housed in a beautiful late 19th century Victorian mansion and extends to a 20th century art exhibition wing. Works in the collection include notables such as Picasso, Georgi O'Keeffe, Andy Warhol, and visitors can view a replica of a Sputnik fragment, which mysteriously landed in Manitowoc just outside where the museum is now located.
Museum of Wisconsin Art
205 Veterans Ave, West Bend, WI (52 minutes from Blue Harbor Resort)
Museum of Wisconsin Art believes where they live is important and are passionate about Wisconsin. Everything they exhibit and talk about ahs been made by an artist with deep connections to the state.
Additional Wisconsin Art Destinations
Haggerty Museum of Art
1234 W Tory Hill Street, Milwaukee, WI (1 hour, 2 minutes from Blue Harbor Resort)
Milwaukee Art Museum
700 N Art Museum Drive, Milwaukee, WI (1 hour, 3 minutes from Blue Harbor Resort)
Paine Art Center and Gardens
1410 Algoma Boulevard, Oshkosh, WI (1 hour, 9 minutes from Blue Harbor Resort)
Trout Museum of Art
111 W College Avenue, Appleton, WI (1 hour, 21 minutes from Blue Harbor Resort)
Bergstrom Mahler Museum of Glass
165 N Park Ave, Neenah, WI (1 hour, 23 minutes from Blue Harbor Resort)
Miller Art Museum
107 S 4th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay, WI (1 hour, 37 minutes from Blue Harbor Resort)
Racine Art Museum
441 Main Street, Racine, WI (1 hour, 43 minutes from Blue Harbor Resort)
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
227 State Street, Madison, WI (2 hours, 1 minute from Blue Harbor Resort)
Chazen Museum of Art
800 University Avenue, Madison, WI (2 hours, 2 minutes from Blue Harbor Resort)
Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum
700 North 12th Street, Wausau, WI (2 hours, 28 minutes from Blue Harbor Resort)
