Andrea Herkert

Andrea Herkert is descended from a family who immigrated from Telemark, Norway which makes her art very personal. She holds a degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison with majors in Art and Art History. These disciplines have served her well as she sought to master the art of Rosemaling with its rich cultural history and strong ties to classical art. After a free-lance career in calligraphy and water color illustration she began studying the Norwegian Folk Art of Rosemaling in 2006 and never looked back! She studied with many master Rosemalers from the United States and Norway, and in 2013 received the prestigious Vesterheim Gold Medal (VGM), the highest honor given an American Rosemaler. Andrea has been teaching since 2010, served an apprenticeship with Nancy Schmidt, VGM through the support of the Wisconsin Arts Board Folk Art Apprenticeship Grant in 2010-11, and went on to mentor eight apprentices herself. Andrea continues to study and most recently traveled to Norway on a month-long individual study of Rosemaling and the culture from which it grew, supported by a Fellowship from the American-Scandinavian Foundation. She had the opportunity to study with contemporary folk artists, historians and curators. Andrea lives in the country outside of Verona, Wisconsin with her husband, Jim, where the beauty of nature inspires her work and her soul.

What energizes you as you consider the future of the arts in Wisconsin?

As a visual artist and one involved in the smaller community of folk art, the majority of my time is spent in studio—a soul-enriching experience but also a very solitary one. Having a support like the Wisconsin Arts Board feels like an incredible lifeline to the greater arts community! The many varied programs offering support for artists of all disciplines gives validation and importance to the art and artists in our Wisconsin communities. The ongoing financial commitment from the State of

Wisconsin for the Wisconsin Arts Board programs shows ongoing belief in the importance of the Arts in our state.

The Wisconsin Arts Board has been a support for me personally and has offered connections to other programs lifting up the arts for study and connection, such as the Scandinavian Studies department at UW Madison, the Milwaukee Art Museum and the American Scandinavian Foundation located in New York City.

While my work in studio may be solitary, the strength of the committed Wisconsin Arts Board to connect me with students, learning opportunities and outreach as well as encouraging me as a Wisconsin resident artist, is beyond exciting, and will ensure that my art form will live on and the arts in Wisconsin will remain strong!