JoAnna Poehlmann

Wisconsin Academy Fellow Induction Year: 
2011

JoAnna Poehlmann's art is a rare combination of superb draftsmanship, meticulous observation, droll humor, and effusive joy. Her graphite drawings, watercolor paintings, and multimedia collage drawings, hand-colored lithographs and etchings, and limited edition books are infused with a deep appreciation of art, literature, and the natural world. Poehlmann's pieces are housed in collections both public and private across the world, including the Victoria and Albert Museum (London), István Király Muzeum (Budapest), and Museum für Kunsthandwerk (Frankfurt). In addition, her work has been commissioned for nontraditional venues such as the Baltimore Zoo and Milwaukee Performing Arts Center. Recent solo exhibitions in Wisconsin include The Insectipedia of JoAnna Poehlmann (2010) at the Racine Art Museum and On and Off the Wall: Books, Beasts, Boxes, Bats (2008) at Wisconsin Lutheran College's Schlueter Gallery. A popular lecturer and teacher, Poehlmann reminds student-artists of the tremendous importance of observation and draftsmanship. Well-known among friends and admirers for her extensive collection of specimens, she strongly prefers to draw from nature. For Poehlmann, drawing with scientific accuracy expresses her respect and love for her subjects. At the same time, she draws from the history of art and literature in her work, making fascinating connections and paying tribute to great artists and writers of the past. An artist since childhood with an impressive resume of artistic achievement to her credit, Poehlmann's one concern is having enough time to pursue all of her ideas. As she says, "There's so much to draw, there's never going to be enough time to do it all."