From repurposing cast-off articles into beautiful pieces of art to feeding the souls of those who encounter her works, “rejuvenation” is both material and experiential for mosaic artist Sherri Kruger-Kukowski.
Inspired by the beauty, textures, and colors of nature, Sherri hand cuts every piece of glass incorporated into her multi-media works—where many fractured pieces artfully and thoughtfully become a holistic source of awe and inspiration. It is a process she has refined over the last 30 years, resulting in numerous awards, grants, gallery exhibitions, and media features.
Experience "Repurpose, Preserve, Rejuvenate" at the Warroad RiverPlace art gallery from January 10 to March 8, 2025. It is free to visit Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM.
Image: “Seasons” by Sherri Kruger-Kukowski
SHERRI KRUGER-KUKOWSKI
Art feeds her passion and soul to create as she develops her skills. Retired after 25 years teaching high school mathematics, Sherri follows in the footsteps of her creative parents and siblings: woodworker, florist, and pipe organ designer-fabricator, and she is now a full-time artist.
In the past 30 years, Sherri has taught herself stained glass mosaic techniques using stained glass and other found objects or treasures, as she refers to her substrate hunts. With a grant from the Northwest Arts Council, Sherri traveled to Philadelphia and studied under mosaic artist Bonnie Fitzgerald. While out east, Bonnie taught the fundamentals of public art and the materials necessary to create a public piece of art that would stand the test of time. Public art is a balance of including the public to be a part of the design and creation of the art. Working alongside community members, she taught them the skill of mosaic art so they would be an active part of creating the art for their community. Sherri has completed a 24x12-foot stained glass mosaic wall for the City of Badger, MN. Two other public art pieces are furniture for the Roseau Public Library (Roseau, MN) and the Hallock Public Library (Hallock, MN).
Sherri has participated in several art shows, winning awards, people’s choice awards, and the Art Advocate of the Year Award. Sherri’s work is constantly changing. The theme, available materials, and numerous treasure hunts allow her work to reach out to the patrons observing the art. Many of her pieces depict nature and use the treasures of the great outdoors: moose antlers, white-tail deer antlers, driftwood, and pebbles. All pieces include her primary medium–glass–which is used in some form to incorporate with her “treasures” to tell a story.
It was a great honor for her to be included in an exhibit in Southwestern Pennsylvania called “The Ruins.” A fellow mosaic artist is taking the ruins of a coal mine and filling them with history using mosaic art. Sherri met the artist Rachel Sager while attending a conference in Buffalo, New York, in the fall of 2023. Being invited to complete a piece with international artists was humbling and a great honor.
Sherri has exhibited at the Waseca Art Gallery (Waseca, MN), Red Door Art Gallery (Wahpeton, ND), and Tettegouchee State Park Visitors Center (Silver Bay, MN). Sherri has also exhibited at several state-wide art in the parks and festivals.
Presently, Sherri is a retired high school math teacher, studio owner, and artist in Badger, MN. She and her husband have four children, seven grandchildren, a two-year-old black lab named Lucy the faithful doorbell, and Oreo the crazy cat.
For more information: windingrivermosaic.com