Winona, Minnesota, is getting a new independent art gallery called THIS, opening this weekend with its inaugural group show “Friends & Family.” The gallery is run by artist Anne George, who transformed a former consignment shop into the space. The exhibition features 18 artists, each invited by George or by another participating artist, fostering an inclusive, community-driven approach. George, who moved to Winona from Minneapolis after a major life change, sees the gallery as an extension of her artistic practice and a gift to the local arts community.
The opening of THIS gallery matters because it fills a need for contemporary art space in southeastern Minnesota, a region already known for its music scene and institutions like the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. George’s “yes-it-can-happen” model offers a platform for local and regional artists to exhibit and connect, especially amid a political climate she feels makes such spaces urgent. The gallery strengthens Winona’s growing cultural identity and provides a new hub for artistic energy and collaboration.