Bio and Artist Statement
Born in New Ulm, Minnesota, Bob Nonnemacher grew up surrounded by Main Street simplicity and the quiet farmlands of the Midwest. These roots shaped his enduring appreciation for order, balance, and beauty in everyday forms. After earning his Bachelor’s degree in Art from Winona State University, he developed a practice that fuses craftsmanship with a pursuit of visual wonder.
Working in acrylic, Nonnemacher creates deconstructed abstract compositions defined by bold lines, eye-popping color palettes, and geometric precision. His earlier works employed a unique method: painting both sides of a canvas with contrasting techniques—wet/dry, glossy/flat—then cutting it into hundreds of pieces. By flipping and reassembling these fragments onto a new surface, he revealed striking contrasts and fresh optical energy, transforming simple shapes into vibrant fields of motion.
His newer collections expand this vocabulary with more complex forms—crosses, octagons, compasses—and carefully blended textures that bring depth and dimension to his surfaces. Enhanced palettes of gold, silver, iridescent tones, and luminous ombré effects energize each canvas, creating compositions that oscillate between control and surprise, simplicity and intricacy.
At the heart of Nonnemacher’s work is an invitation to slow down, to explore geometry not as cold abstraction but as a source of profound beauty. “When people view my paintings, I want them to be able to look at a simple shape and find great beauty. Geometry is beautiful. It’s not something we usually think about. I want my art to change that.”
“When people view my paintings, I want them to be moved by beauty in a simpler form.”
After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Art at Winona State University in Minnesota, Bob began a thriving 30-year career in publishing as a designer, art coordinator, art buyer, illustrator, and project manager working for world-renowned publishing houses.
Bob frequently exhibits his art throughout the Midwest. His original works have sold to private and corporate collectors throughout the USA.
He currently resides in Minneapolis MN.
Geometry is beautiful. It's not something we ordinarily think about. I hope my art will help change that.
Photo by: Rob Kight / Rob’d Arts
Exhibitions
2025
Solo Exhibition, Waseca Art Center, Waseca MN, July-September 2025
Beyond the Brush Exhibition, Unity Church, St Paul MN, May-June 2025
2024
A Confluence of Shapes Solo Exhibition, Blue Moon Gallery, Grayslake IL, June 2024
St Paul Art Crawl, The Dow Gallery, April & September 2023
2023
Art-a-Whirl 2023, St Paul MN
19th Annual Regional Juried Exhibition (IL, MI, IN, IA, WI, MN), Freeport Art Museum, Freeport IL, May/July 2023
St Paul Art Crawl, The Dow Gallery, April 2023
2022
Solo Exhibition: Geometry is Beautiful, Evanston Art Center, Evanston IL, March/April 2022
Annual InView Members + Faculty Exhibition, Highland Park Art Center, Highland Park IL, January 2022
Annual Members Exhibition, Robert T Wright Gallery of Art, College of Lake County, Grayslake IL, January 2022
2021
Collective Artist, Blue Moon Gallery, Grayslake IL
100th Anniversary Celebration Members Exhibition, Oak Park Art League, Oak Park IL, October 2021
41st Annual Recent Works Juried Exhibition, Robert T Wright Gallery of Art at College of Lake County, Grayslake IL, October 2021
Later Impressions Chicago Alliance of Visual Artists Juried Exhibition, Bridgeport Art Center, Chicago, September/October 2021
Annual Members Exhibition, Museum of Wisconsin Art, West Bend WI, September/October 2021
SOS Planet Earth National Juried Exhibition, Stola Contemporary Art, Chicago, August/September 2021
Featured Artist, The Red Oak Restaurant, Bristol WI, June-August 2021
Chicago Alliance of Visual Artists Members Exhibition, Edgewater ArtSpace, Chicago, April/May 2021
Annual InView Members + Faculty Exhibition, Highland Park Art Center, Highland Park IL, January 2021
2020
Later Impressions 2020 Chicago Alliance for Visual Artists Annual Juried Exhibition, Leslie Wolfe Gallery, Chiago IL, November - December 2020
Annual Winter Juried Exhibition, Anderson Arts Center, Kenosha WI, October 2020 - January 2021
40th Annual Recent Works Juried Exhibition, Robert T Wright Gallery of Art at College of Lake County, Grayslake IL, October 2020 (on-line)
Dangerous Lullabies National Juried Exhibition, Old Courthouse Art Gallery, Woodstock IL, October 2020
Geometry is Beautiful Featured Artist Exhibition, Blue Moon Gallery, Grayslake IL May 2020
Collaboration Juried Group Exhibition, The Art Center, Highland Park IL, March 2020
What Do You Want to Say? Group Exhibition, Blue Moon Gallery, Grayslake IL February 2020
Members Exhibition, Robert T. Wright Gallery of Art at College of Lake County, Grayslake IL, January 2020
In View, Annual Member & Faculty Exhibition, The Art Center, Highland Park IL, January 2020
Adler Member Artists Collective Exhibit, David Adler Music & Arts Center, Libertyville IL, January 2020
2019
Spaces & Places, Featured Artist Exhibition, Robert T. Wright Gallery of Art at College of Lake County, Grayslake IL, December 2019
Corvinus Prophecy Group Exhibition, 4Art Space, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago IL October-December 2019
Fourth Friday Juried Group Exhibition, Starline Gallery, Harvard IL, October 2019
Fourth Friday Juried Group Exhibition, The Dole Mansion, Crystal Lake IL, October 2019
Recent Works Juried Exhibition, Robert T. Wright Gallery of Art at College of Lake County, Grayslake IL, October 2019
Inside the Other Side, Solo Exhibition, Welles Gallery at Old Courthouse Art Gallery, Woodstock IL, September 2019
Escape National Juried Group Exhibition, Old Courthouse Art Gallery, Woodstock IL, June 2019
Not Forgotten Featured Artist, Blue Moon Gallery, Grayslake IL, June-August 2019
Grand Opening Featured Artist, Blue Moon Gallery, Grayslake IL, April 2019
XOXO, Downtown Racine Art Walk, Racine WI, April 2019
Representative Onstad District 65 Office, Wisconsin State Capital, Madison WI, February-April 2019
The Inaugural Regional Juried Art Exhibition, Re:Vision Art Gallery, Kenosha WI, April 2019
Chicago Alliance of Visual Artists Member Show, Bridgeport Art Center, April 2019
Ecofest Art Project, Gateway Technical Institute, Racine WI, March 2019
2nd Annual Juried Exhibit, The Gallery on 16th Street, Racine WI, March 2019
Pop-up Gallery, Blue Moon Gallery, Libertyville IL, March 2019
In View, Annual Member & Faculty Exhibition, The Art Center, Highland Park IL, January 2019
Adler Member Artists Collective Exhibit, David Adler Music & Arts Center, Libertyville IL, January 2019
Members Exhibition, Robert T. Wright Gallery, Grayslake IL, January 2019
Identity Juried National Exhibition, Old Courthouse Art Gallery, Woodstock IL, January 2019
2018
4X4 Art Squared, Urban Edge Gallery, Waukegan IL, November 2018
Artscape Juried Show, The Grand Center of Arts & Culture, New Ulm MN, December 2018
Fourth Friday Juried Event, Starline Factory Gallery, Harvard IL, October 2018, January 2019, February 2019
Recent Works Juried Exhibition 2018, Robert T. Wright Gallery of Art, College of Lake County, Grayslake IL, October 2018
The Division of Space, Solo Show, The Grand Center of Arts & Culture, New Ulm MN, August 2018
Artist Alley Pop-up Gallery, Blue Moon Gallery, Libertyville IL, June July, August, September 2018
To Be Heard National Juried Exhibition, Old Courthouse Art Gallery, Woodstock IL, June 2018
The Division of Space, Solo Exhibition, Dandelion Gallery, Waukegan IL, May 2018
Contemporary Native American Art & Journey to America Juried Exhibition, The Art Center, Highland Park IL, March 2018
Members Exhibition 2018, Robert T. Wright Gallery of Art, College of Lake County, Grayslake IL, January 2018
2005 - 2017
Imagists on the Edge, Urban Edge Gallery, Waukegan IL, June 2017
Both Sides, Solo Exhibition, 4Art Space Gallery, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago IL, May 2017
Both Sides, Solo Exhibition, 4Art Space Gallery, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago IL, April 2017
Both Sides, Solor Exhibition, Dandelion Gallery, Waukegan IL, September 2016
Artists On the Bluff Group Exhibition, Lake Bluff IL, 2016
Native American Iconic Portraits, Solo Show, The Grand Center of Arts & Culture, New Ulm MN, June 2015
Native Soul, Solo Exhibition, Undercroft Gallery, Waukegan IL, March 2015
Native Soul, Solo Exhibition, Dandelion Gallery, Waukegan IL, October 2014
Postcard Art Competition/Exhibition 2005, Curt Teich Postcard Archives, Lake County Discovery Museum, Wauconda IL
Gallery Affiliations
The Dow Gallery, St Paul MN, 2022-present
Northeast Minnesota Arts Association, Member, 2023
Blue Moon Gallery, Founding Member Since 2019, Collective Artist 2021, Affiliate Artist 2022-present
Re:Vision Art Gallery, Kenosha WI, Member 2019
Lemon Street Gallery, Kenosha WI, Monthly Exhibitions, 2018-2020
David Adler Music & Arts Center, Libertyville IL, Member, 2018-2022
The Art Center, Highland Park IL, Member 2017-2022
The Grand Center of Arts & Culture, New Ulm MN, Member Since 2015
Robert T. Wright Gallery of Art, College of Lake County, Grayslake IL, Member 2015-2022
Artists On the Bluff, The Gallery, Lake Forest IL, Monthly Exhibitions, Member 2014-2022
Dandelion Gallery, Waukegan IL, Monthly Exhibitions, 2013-2018
Honors
Honorable Mention, The Energy Within, Bridgeport Arts Center, September 2021
Award of Excellence, Red X, Leslie Wolfe Gallery, November 2020
Award of Merit, Red Cloud, Robert T. Wright Gallery of Art, College of Lake County, Grayslake IL, October 2020
Honorable Mention, Colors Outside My Door, Robert T. Wright Gallery of Art, College of Lake County, Grayslake IL, October 2020
Juror, 65th Annual Art Fair on the Square, Deer Path Art League, Lake Forest IL, April 2019
Honorable Mention, Three Diamonds, Robert T. Wright Gallery of Art, College of Lake County, Grayslake IL, October 2018
Merit Award, Geronimo—A Colorful Spirit, Postcard Art Competition/Exhibition 2005, Curt Teich Postcard Archives, Lake County Discovery Museum, Wauconda IL
Education — Winona State University, BA Art, 1982
Private Collections — Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin
Corporate Collections — Swingline of the ACCO Brands Family, Waukegan Tire Company, Northwestern Mutual Financial Services
