Polaris: Northern Explorations in Contemporary Art

The rare experiences of the distant north have captivated artists and photographers since the first wave of 19th century Arctic explorations. The landscapes of Iceland, Greenland, and the Arctic continue to be significant subjects for contemporary artists interested in the North’s contrasting conditions and endangered beauty. Through a series of significant artist residencies and personal travels, a critical number of regional artists have investigated our Polar regions, with many reflecting on the motivations for human exploration at the ends of the habitable landscape.

Polaris brings together a selection of works on paper, photographs, and video pieces surveying regional artists who have used the Polar regions as a generative subject for their work. The unique discoveries of these diverse artists are united by their backdrop, a seductive but fragile landscape filled with tremendous geologic histories and unusual human stories.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website