About the Artist
Elizabeth Putnam — Contemporary Mixed Media Painter
You stop. You're not sure why. Something pulls you closer — a luminous depth, a texture that feels discovered rather than made, a light you can't quite place. You find yourself leaning in, quieter than you were a moment ago, thinking what is that? I see... I feel... I wonder...
That experience — the pull, the pause, the shift — is at the heart of an Elizabeth Putnam painting.
Elizabeth (Beth) Putnam is a Minneapolis-based mixed media painter who explores the intersection of structure, light, and atmosphere through layered abstraction. Her paintings are developed through an extended process using multiple layers of paint, translucent glazes, texture, mica, and other light-reflective elements. Subtle differences in color and depth shift with the light and viewing angle, making living with one of her paintings an active experience — one that sets the tone of a home, shapes the mood of a room, and invites a gentle shift from the noise of everyday living to a space of reenergizing comfort and quiet contemplation.
A leader in arts education for decades, she led the development of innovative programs and consulted with organizations across the country. That background — rooted in the belief that creativity is essential to how people think and experience the world — inspired her lifelong work and remains a driving force in her fearless, experimental artistic process.
Beth grew up on the lakes of the Midwest, a kid who roamed freely, explored without a map, and followed curiosity wherever it led. That spirit never left her. Today she finds inspiration in motion, the natural world, and the people she encounters along the way — drawn to their stories, their perspectives, the unexpected places conversation can go. Whether she's on a lake, walking a shoreline, or descending on a scuba dive, cycling with the wind full against her or wandering familiar streets and finding them new again, the dramatic turning of the seasons and the emotional charge of a moment find their way into her paintings, one layer at a time.
Portfolio Collections
Luminous Earth— Geological presence, atmosphere, and the effects of changing light.
Inner Landscapes — Emotion, mood, and interior states of being.
Embedded Origins — Observation, memory, and forms found in nature.
Exhibitions
Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition (Juried), 2026
Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition (Juried), 2024
Floral Art (Juried), Rum River Art Center, 2025
Tell Me a Love Story (Juried), Rum River Art Center, 2025
Anoka County Library Public Art Series (Juried), Rum River Art Center, 2024–2025
Deconstruction / Abstraction (Juried), Rum River Art Center, 2024
Memberships
International Society of Experimental Artists (ISEA)
Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA)
Questions?
Please use the Contact Page to get in touch about available paintings, shipping, or selecting a painting for your space. If you send me a photo, I can create a visualization showing how a painting would look in your home.
Contact Page
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