Explore the Visual Arts at Pablo Center
With three year-round galleries, the James W Hansen Gallery, the Brady & Jeanne Foust Gallery, the Laurie Bieze Gallery, and a resident art collection on display throughout the building, Pablo Center at the Confluence invites you to explore the visual arts. Free, open to the public, and highlighting the best of regional and national artists across a variety of media; the visual arts shine at the Confluence.
Experience exhibits of visual art in a dramatic environment. Located on the first floor of Pablo Center, the James W Hansen Gallery features a schedule of exhibitions ranging in a multitude of artistic mediums from 2D to performance art and beyond. Presenting emerging and established artists, annual juried exhibits, themed exhibits, and retrospectives, the sky’s the limit in the James W Hansen Gallery.
About James Hansen
A native of St. Paul Minnesota, Mr. Hansen has a strong belief that service and engagement with the creative class is critical to building a sustainable community that benefits the common good. As an officer of a Fortune 500 company, CEO of a publicly-traded technology business, and as an adjunct professor, Mr. Hansen is a supporter of young entrepreneurs, and both civic and arts organizations.
The second-floor Laurie Bieze Gallery features artwork selected for exhibition drawn from the Laurie Bieze Permanent Art Collection. Themed exhibits highlight recent acquisitions, artist retrospectives, and significant contributions from our collections. On permanent display are stained-glass works by Laurie Bieze, carefully selected by her family, supporters, and friends.
About Laurie Bieze
Laure Bieze was known for her passionate advocacy of local artwork, and her tireless promotion of the creative economy, embodying the working artist ethos in the Chippewa Valley. An artist of many mediums, Laurie was renowned for her stained-glass artwork. Always pushing fellow artists and economic leaders into the mindset that art is of value to the community, Laurie was understood to have a “Fire in the belly.” Throughout her life and even through cancer, she strived to live her life according to one of her favorite quotes, "To thine own self be true". Listening to her inner voice, pursuing her love of art, and finding the light in others were values she held dear.
Highlights of Laurie Bieze’s extensive body of artwork can be found on display through Pablo Center’s art collection, the Laurie Bieze Permanent Art Collection.
You only need to walk the halls of Pablo Center to view art in a remarkable setting. Highly accessible and located on the first floor of Pablo Center, the Brady & Jeanne Foust Gallery highlights exhibits inspired by our community. Gain an appreciation of the Chippewa Valley as you enjoy student art exhibits, and themed exhibits inspired by our region’s flora, fauna, and folks.
About Brady & Jeanne Foust
Brady Foust taught in the geography department at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire from 1971 to 2008. After retirement, he was one of three founders of HazardHub which was established six years ago. It quickly became one of the leading providers of geospatial hazard data to the insurance industry. It was purchased by Guidewire Software in August 2021.
Jeanne Foust had a 30-year career at Esri, the world’s leading geographic information systems (GIS) software producer. She retired in 2021. Brady and Jeanne are longtime supporters of the arts in Eau Claire. Brady was involved in the development of Pablo Center from the beginning. During its construction, he conducted over 60 tours of the work in progress. He also served on the Confluence Council, Inc. Board of Pablo Center as a member, Vice President, President, and Past President.
All artwork pricing is set by the artists and is non-negotiable and non-refundable. All artwork sales are by commission with Pablo Center at the Confluence. Your purchase supports our endeavors to present quality visual art programming that is free and open to the public.
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