exhibitions

Waves and Wings: Masterpieces in Motion

Featuring works by Bruno Ertz & Winslow Homer

April 24, 2025 – September 28, 2025

Take flight through watercolor and sculpture in Waves and Wings: Masterpieces in Motion—a stunning new exhibition at the Charles Allis Art Museum. Featuring over a dozen works from Wisconsin’s own Bruno Ertz, paired with iconic coastal scenes by legendary American painter Winslow Homer, this show explores birds, insects, and the natural elements in fluid, graceful motion.

Set against the elegant backdrop of the historic Allis mansion, guests are encouraged to sit and stay awhile—surrounded by curated furniture and artifacts from the Allis Collection.

Bruno Ertz (1873–1956)
Born in Manitowoc, WI, Bruno Ertz was a self-taught artist known for his intricate watercolors of insects, birds, and natural scenes. Encouraged by early praise from the Smithsonian Institution, Ertz went on to work and exhibit across the Midwest, including through the Federal Art Project at the Milwaukee Public Museum. His detailed, delicate compositions celebrate Wisconsin’s natural landscapes and winged creatures in vivid motion.

Winslow Homer (1836–1910)
One of America’s most revered artists, Winslow Homer began his career as an illustrator before turning to painting. His work captured scenes of war, nature, and sea life with powerful realism and emotional depth. From the coasts of Maine to the tropics, Homer’s watercolors reveal both the serenity and the struggle of life through masterful technique and dramatic compositions.