Kohler: A Devotion to Heritage, Craft and the Arts in Wisconsin
The John Michael Kohler Arts Center supports a creative exchange between artists and the community
“Sheboygan: who knew?” We found ourselves earnestly repeating the city’s unofficial motto as we toured several Kohler properties near beautiful Lake Michigan in eastern Wisconsin. The storied brand, which is headquartered in Sheboygan, may be best known for its high-quality bathroom and kitchen fixtures, but it also has a long-running commitment to the arts—and the community that comes with it.
Nearly 100 years after Kohler Co. (originally a cast iron farm equipment manufacturer) was founded by John Michael Kohler, his granddaughter Ruth DeYoung Kohler II established a non-profit arts org in 1967 called the John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC). Its goal was, and still is, to promote “the understanding and appreciation of self-taught and contemporary artists through exhibitions, residencies and community programs.” The original donated building, which is still part of JMKAC, was John Michael Kohler’s home. Now, the expanded 100,000-square foot property boasts soaring ceilings, a sunny glass entrance hall, eight galleries, performance spaces, a museum shop, a cafe and even a creative arts-forward preschool. The fact that it’s absolutely free to visit is just another enticement to head out to Wisconsin.
JMKAC’s current exhibitions include works by Lenka Clayton and Phillip Andrew Lewis, Emily Endo, Guadalupe Maravilla with Emery Blagdon, lana Harris-Babou and Yoshie Sakai, and a large group exhibition by artists Yani aviles, Chloe P. Crawford, Nat Decker, Jeff Kasper, Carly Mandel, Jeffrey Meris, and Libby Paloma that explores disability and protest. Visitors are encouraged to check out the Social STUDIO for an opportunity to further participate with the exhibitions in a hands-on, creative way; here, exhibiting artists also host public talks to connect with the community.
“Rock Fade (≈ 45 Billion Years),” by Lenka Clayton and Phillip Andrew Lewis; Courtesy of John Michael Kohler Arts Center 
“Rock Fade (≈ 45 Billion Years),” by Lenka Clayton and Phillip Andrew Lewis; Courtesy of John Michael Kohler Arts Center 
“Rock Fade (≈ 45 Billion Years),” by Lenka Clayton and Phillip Andrew Lewis; Courtesy of John Michael Kohler Arts Center
Starting in 1974, JMKAC and Kohler Co. collaborated on Arts/Industry, a unique residency program where artists are given dedicated studio space at the Sheboygan factory and access to the materials, industrial machinery and fabricating techniques used by highly skilled Kohler factory associates. The first participating artists were Jack Earl and Tom LaDousa, starting with a one-month pilot residency, and after great success, the program expanded to what it is today. Each year, a cohort of 12 artists—four per quarter—are awarded the residency to create their own work in the foundry or pottery. JMKAC then showcases a collection of their artworks created during their time on the Kohler campus.
When we visited the Arts/Industry studios, we met a group of four artists in residence: Funlola Coker, a sculptor from Philadelphia working with cast iron; Annie Duncan, a San Francisco ceramicist; Dana Hemenway, a sculptor also from San Francisco; and Gardena, California-based Yoshie Sakai who also currently has an exhibit in the Arts Center with Ilana Harris-Babou.
At COOL HUNTING, we always appreciate art in unexpected places, and one of the most surprising ways to view work by a few past Arts/Industry residents is by visiting the JMKAC public washrooms. The artist-designed washrooms across two JMKAC properties—complete with Kohler fixtures, of course—feature floor-to-ceiling works by Matt Nolen, Cynthia Consentino, Merrill Mason, Carter Kustera, Ann Agee, Casey O’Connor and Michelle Grabner. Our favorite was Joy Feasley and Paul Swenbeck’s “Listen, the Snow is Falling” at the Art Preserve with its groovy color palette and kaleidoscopic ceiling.
Art Preserve, JMKAC’s counterpart just a few miles away, offers a unique way to immerse oneself in art. It’s the world’s only art space devoted to artist-built environments: the site of an artist’s choosing, typically their home or yard, transformed into a large, immersive collection of artworks. Sitting on 38 acres of land, the Art Preserve’s permanent collection houses over 38,000 works by more than 30 artists. Some works are displayed as visible storage while others are presented as painstakingly-recreated replicas of the artists’ homes or studio spaces.
A recreation of Lenore Tawney‘s studio shows her collection of objects, textiles and sculptural forms. Multiple storage cases display thousands of paintings, sculptures and other works by Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, all of which are dedicated to his wife. Over 200 of Dr. Charles Smith‘s figurative sculptures and masks, once part of the site-specific collection he named “African-American Heritage Museum + Black Veterans Archive,” are now housed on recycled wood platforms from previous exhibitions.
Through its public programming, themed exhibitions, permanent collections, performances and ongoing Arts/Industry residencies, JMKAC’s devotion to the arts expands beyond just one opening or location. A visit to the Kohler properties reveals a strong commitment to craft, culture and community, all for free in Sheboygan.
For more information about JMKAC’s current exhibitions, residencies, events and more visit jmkac.org.
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