Jan Norsetter Fine Art

About the Artist

Jan Norsetter - Biography

Jan Norsetter - Biography

Jan Norsetter

Painter

Artist Jan Norsetter is an award-winning oil painter known for vibrant landscape paintings en plein air and evocative studies in still life. Norsetter also practices the decorative art of rosemaling, using skill and an artist’s sensibility to embellish items traditional and modern in an age-old form.

Norsetter sets up her easel in the open air, working outdoors surrounded by a world that imbues her paintings with a sense of place. Her landscapes capture exact but imaginative views of countryside in every season—close to home in Wisconsin and the US, France, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Scotland, and Spain. 

 Norsetter has exhibited in more than 70 juried, collaborative, and solo art shows. Selected paintings, prints and Norsetter’s rosemaling are in permanent collections at museums and cultural institutions, including the Chazen Museum in Madison, Wisconsin, the Chicago Institute of Art in Chicago, Illinois, the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Madison, Wisconsin, and Livsriese, the Norwegian heritage center in Stoughton, Wisconsin. Her work also resides in private collections across the United States and Europe.

She is the recipient of numerous awards, including Best of Show at the 2024 Oshkosh Plein Air Festival, top honors for her nocturne at Paint the Point 2020 in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, and Best of Show at the Theodore Robinson Plein Air Competition in 2013, 2014 and 2016, First Place and Best of Show at the Wisconsin State Rosemaling Exhibit in 2014 and 2017, and First Place in the National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition at the Vesterheim Museum, Decorah, Iowa, in 2009. In July, 2018 Norsetter was awarded the Vesterheim Gold Medal in Rosemaling.

Norsetter holds BS, MA, and MFA degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in fine arts and art education. In addition to her work as an artist, she teaches landscape painting and rosemaling. Norsetter continues to draw inspiration from respected mentors in oil painting and rosemaling through formal and informal opportunities to learn and improve her craft.

Four Wisconsin-based galleries represent Norsetter’s work: Pink Llama Gallery in Cedarburg, River Arts Gallery in Prairie du Sac, and Woodland Studios in Stoughton, and Paoli Road Mercantile, Paoli.

 

All About the Light Poems & Paintings ©2024 ISBN 979-8-3507-3340-2 80 pages Soft Cover Book

  • Glacial Edge Artists Group show at Monroe Arts Center, Monroe WI

     

    Vesterheim Museum, Decorah IA - judging the National Rosemaling Exhibition, June-July, 2024

     

    River Arts Gallery, Prairie du Sac, WI - Seasons! Featured artist show, May 1 - July 31, 2023

    Verona Public Library, Verona WI - Painting My Way Through Verona, March 2, 2023 speech

    • Capitol Lakes Galleries, Madison WI - Small Wonders - Gouache Paintings & Still Life, January 2 - February 28, 2023

    • Mandelbaum & Albert Family Vision Gallery, Madison WI - Envisioning the Environment Scenes from Plein Air Artists Invitational Exhibit, January 19 - May 31, 2023

    • Gouaches - Published Book, ©2022 ISBN 978-1-7923-9717-2 128 pages Soft Cover Book

    • Monroe Arts Center, Monroe WI - Interpretations: The Power of Three, April 8 - June 3, 2022

    • Green Lantern Studios, Mineral Point WI - The Brilliance of December, December 4 - 31, 2021

    • River Arts Gallery, Prairie du Sac WI - [Tiny] Homes: Small-Scale Architectural Paintings - September 1 - November 19, 2021

    • Zazen Gallery, Paoli WI - Home & Away, October 5-December 21, 2019

    • Mineral Point Paint Out Plein Air Competition, Mineral Point WI - Honorable Mention, August 2019

    • One of 3 Judges for the Cedarburg Plein Air Competition, Cedarburg WI - June 2019

    • Theodore Robinson Plein Air Competition, Evansville WI - 2nd Place, October 7, 2018

    • Taliesin 1st Annual Plein Air Event, Spring Green WI - Invitational - September, 2018

    • Vesterheim Museum, Decorah IA - National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition, July 2018 3rd Place ribbon for rosemaling and Vesterheim Gold Medal, rosemaling - Valdres Cheese Bucket

    • Zazen Gallery, Paoli WI - Landscapes & Pastries from Far & Near, October 14-December 29, 2018

    • Fair Trade Coffee House, Madison WI - Forty Oil Paintings: Wisconsin and Beyond, August - November 30, 2018

    • Mineral Point Paint Out Plein Air Competition, Mineral Point WI - Honorable Mention, August 2018

    • Vesterheim Museum, Decorah IA - National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition, July 2018 Third Place award for rosemaling - Valdres Style Cheese Bucket - Vesterheim Gold Medal Award

    • Madison Museum of Contemporary Art Fair on the Square, Madison WI - juried art fair, July, 2018

    • Guest Artist Show with Jane Varda, River Arts on Water Gallery, Prairie du Sac WI, July 5 - September 29, 2018 - Rosemaling and plein air paintings with rosemaled frames

    • Jefferson Plein Air Competition, Jefferson WI - Fourth Place winner, June 2018

    • Cedarburg Plein Air Competition, Cedarburg WI - Third Place winner, June 2018

    • Wisconsin State Rosemaling Association, Stoughton,WI - 52nd Wisconsin State Rosemaling Exhibit, May 2018: Second Place Professional, Honorable Mention Professional, Second Place Non-Traditional and Nordic Rose Award

    • Cedarburg Cultural Center Little Show 2017 - Honorable Mention, November 2107

    • Seasons of the Sugar River: Nature of Water - juried art exhibit, Lower Sugar River Watershed Association, Monroe Art Center, Monroe WI January 26 - March 30, 2018 People’s Choice Award

    • Mineral Point Paint Out Plein Air Competition, Mineral Point WI - Second Place winner, August 2017

    • Interiors Exhibition – June 2 – July 30, 2017 – UW Madison Pyle Center, Madison WI Poetry by Donna Carnes and Blair Mathews, Paintings by Jan Norsetter

    • Vesterheim Museum, Decorah IA - National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition, July 2017 Honorable Mention for rosemaling - Os Style Carpenter’s Chest

    • Madison Museum of Contemporary Art Fair on the Square, Madison WI juried art fair, July, 2017

    • Wisconsin State Rosemaling Association, Stoughton,WI - 51st Wisconsin State Rosemaling Exhibit, May 2017: Best of Show, First Place Professional, People’s Choice Award

    • Zazen Gallery, Paoli WI -  Jan Norsetter - Recent Works, April 21 - June 30, 2017

    • Nicolet College National Art Competition, Rhinelander WI - Award of Excellence winner, September 2016

    • Theodore Robinson Plein Air Competition, Evansville WI - Grand Prize winner, October 2016

    • Mineral Point Paint Out Plein Air Competition, Mineral Point WI - Fourth Place winner, August 2016

    • Vesterheim Museum, Decorah IA - National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition, July 2016 • Third Place award for rosemaling - Valdres mangletre

    • Madison Museum of Contemporary Art Fair on the Square, Madison WI, juried art fair, July, 2016

    • Wisconsin State Rosemaling Association, Stoughton,WI - 50th Wisconsin State Rosemaling Exhibit, May 2016 • 2nd place award for rosemaling - Os footstool

    • Travel Paintings: Ireland & Scotland - one person show April 15 - June 3, 2016, at Zazen Gallery, Paoli WI

    • Seasons of the Sugar River: Metamorphosis - juried art exhibit, Lower Sugar River Watershed Association, Monroe Art Center, March 11 - April 22, 2016, Monroe WI

    • Art of the Landscape - 19 Wisconsin landscape painters - juried invitational, January 15 – March 4, 2016, Smith Scarabocchio Art Museum, Stevens Point WI

    • Candles Exhibition – Nov 2 – Dec 30, 2015 – UW Madison Pyle Center, Madison WI Poetry by Donna Carnes and Blair Mathews, Paintings by Jan Norsetter

    • Tribune Building artist of record - plein air + 3 studio paintings, Wisconsin Rapids WI - completion scheduled for January 2020

    • Wisconsin State Rosemaling Association, Stoughton,WI - 49th Wisconsin State Rosemaling Exhibit, May 2015 • People’s Choice award for rosemaling - The Battle of Kringen Bowl

    • Madison Museum of Contemporary Art Fair on the Square, Madison WI, juried art fair, July, 2015

    • Mineral Point Paint Out Plein Air Competition, Mineral Point WI - Honorable Mention winner, August 2015

    • Zazen Gallery, Paoli WI -  Jan Norsetter Plein Air Paintings, April 17 - May 31, 2015

    • Center for Visual Arts, Wausau WI - juried show Midwest Seasons Exhibition, January 2015

    • Lower Sugar River Watershed Association, Monroe WI - 4 paintings, juried show, Monroe Art Center, November 2014

    • Zazen Gallery, Paoli WI -  Jan Norsetter Sugar River Paintings, Oct 4 - Dec 31, 2014

    • Pink Llama Gallery, Cedarburg WI - One Person Show, November 1 - 30, 2014

    • Theodore Robinson Plein Air Competition, Evansville WI -Grand Prize winner,  October 2014

    • Mineral Point Paint Out Plein Air Competition, Mineral Point WI - Honorable Mention winner, August 2014

    • Zazen Gallery, Paoli WI -  Jan Norsetter Still Life Show, July 2014

    • Madison Museum of Contemporary Art Fair on the Square, juried art fair, July, 2014, Madison WI

    • Vesterheim Museum, Decorah IA - National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition, July 2014 • Honorable Mention award for rosemaling

    • Friends of the Rock River Plein Air Competition, Beloit WI - Angus Young purchase award winner, June 2014

    • Wisconsin State Rosemaling Association, Stoughton,WI - 48th Wisconsin State Rosemaling Exhibit, May 2014 • First Place award and Best of Show award for rosemaling

    • Dane County Cultural Affairs Calendar Competition, Madison WI - March calendar page image for 2015 DCCAC Calendar, awarded March 2014

    • Zazen Gallery, Paoli WI - Farmscapes and Landscapes Show, October 2013

    • One of 3 judges for the Wisconsin Visual Artists Beneath the Surface Exhibit at Overture Center for the Arts, Madison WI, Gallery III, July 8 – September 15, 2013

    • Vesterheim Museum, Decorah IA - National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition, July 2013 • Second Place award for rosemaling

    • Theodore Robinson Plein Air Competition, Evansville WI - Grand Prize winner, June 2013

    • Zazen Gallery, Paoli WI - Travel Paintings en Plein Air one-woman show, April 2013

    • Vesterheim Museum, Decorah IA - National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition, July 2012 • Honorable Mention award for rosemaling

    • Center for Visual Arts, Wausau WI - Horizon Lines 4 person show with Jan Norsetter, Kay    Brathol-Hostvet, Diane Washa and Jonathan Wilde, May 2012

    • Wisconsin State Rosemaling Association, Stoughton,WI - 46th Wisconsin State Rosemaling Exhibit, May 2012 • Third Place award, Honorable Mention award

    • Center for Visual Arts, Wausau WI - juried show, Midwest Seasons Exhibition, January 2012 • Award of Excellence winner

    • Vesterheim Museum, Decorah IA - National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition, July 2011

    • Wisconsin State Rosemaling Association, Stoughton WI - 45th Wisconsin State Rosemaling Exhibit, May 2011 • People’s Choice award & Honorable Mention award

    • Center for Visual Arts, Wausau WI - Midwest Seasons Exhibition, January 2011 

    • Vesterheim Museum, Decorah IA - National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition, July 2010

    • Wisconsin State Rosemaling Association, Stoughton WI - 44th Wisconsin State Rosemaling Exhibit, May 2010 • People’s Choice Award, First Place award

    • Center for Visual Arts, Wausau WI - Midwest Seasons Exhibition, January 2010 

    • Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra, Madison WI - Art of Note Violin; November 2009 • $5000 purchase award to WYSO by the Gialamas Corporation

    • Vesterheim Museum, Decorah IA - National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition, July 2009 • First Place award for rosemaling

    • Artisan Gallery, Emerging Talent 4 person show with Jan Norsetter, Diane Washa, Nina Bednarski and Kay Myers, May 2009 

    • Wisconsin State Rosemaling Association, Stoughton WI - 43rd Wisconsin State Rosemaling Exhibit, May 2009 • Third Place award, Honorable Mention award

    • Historic Art Center, Mazomanie WI - Festival of Trees group show, December 2008 

    • Vesterheim Museum, Decorah IA - National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition, July 2008 • Honorable Mention award for rosemaling

    • Wisconsin State Rosemaling Association, Stoughton WI - 42nd Wisconsin State Rosemaling Exhibit, May 2008 • Third Place award, Honorable Mention award

    • Vesterheim Museum, Decorah IA - National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition, July 2007 • People’s Choice award & Third Place award for rosemaling

    • Wisconsin State Rosemaling Association, Stoughton WI - 41st Wisconsin State Rosemaling Exhibit, May 2007 • People’s Choice award, Best of Show award, First Place award

    • Wisconsin CowParade 2006 - Rosy the Rosemooled Cow; July - November, 2006 - $9000 purchase award for UW Madison Children’s Hospital

    • Wisconsin State Rosemaling Association, Stoughton WI - 40th Wisconsin State Rosemaling Exhibit, May 2006 • People’s Choice award, First Place award

    • Wisconsin State Rosemaling Association, Stoughton WI - 39th Wisconsin State Rosemaling Exhibit, May 2005 • People’s Choice award, Best of Show award, First Place award

     

    Notable Collections

    Livsreise Norwegian Heritage Center, Stoughton WI: The Battle of Kringen Bowl and Nestestu Letterbox

    Private Collection, Madison WI: Norsetter Art of Note violin

    Gialamas Corporation, Madison WI: Norsetter Art of Note violin 

    Dr. Diane Heatly, Madison WI: Rosy the Rosemooled Cow

    Chicago Art Institute, Chicago IL; permanent print collection 

    Chazen Museum of Art, Madison WI; permanent print collection 

    Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Madison WI; permanent print collection