Every spring, visitors flock to the Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA) for its Art in Bloom event—a beautifully unusual, collaborative exhibit in which local floral artists create arrangements, using fresh flowers, inspired by the paintings, sculptures and other works in MIA’s collection.
Woodbury artist Mary Ann Morgan has participated in Art in Bloom for the past three years; this year’s show will be her fourth. Morgan says, “The event takes a lot of work … to coordinate 165 artists doing floral interpretations of the collection.” On selection night, the floral artists arrive at the museum with lottery numbers in hand. “When it’s your turn, they call you in groups of 10 to select your piece and officially register your selection as yours,” she explains. Then, it’s off to the races.
Morgan puts together her 2018 piece based on Japanese armor.
Morgan has a varied and successful art background, with both flowers and paintings. Much to her delight and surprise, her Art in Bloom pieces have turned out to be audience favorites, too. Last year, she won Best Floral Interpretation of Artwork for her piece; in 2017, she won a People’s Choice award for Most Creative for her interpretation of Georgia O’Keeffe’s painting, “City Night.”
Morgan says one of her favorite things about the show is the interaction with the public. “It’s fun to hear people’s reaction to my work next to the museum piece, and to hear the appreciation for all of the work put into the vessels that hold the floral arrangements.”
Art in Bloom
April 11-14
Minneapolis Institute of Art
2400 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis
