Real Tinsel

10/02/2026

Ari Norris is a Chicago-based woodworker who's recently exhibited in Illinois, California, and Wisconsin.

Each piece is a part of Norris' "Masking" series, featuring pastiche forms of common-place art supplies—rolls of blue and green painters tape, pink erasers, rubber bands, pencils, and a measuring tape—all crafted out of wood and hand painted.

The pieces shown (hanging from left to right):

- Masking (Nothing But Flowers)
wood, paint
38 in. x 20 in. x 2 in.
2026

- Masking (Measure Twice)
wood, paint
26 in. x 11 in. x 2 in.
2026

- Masking (Bite)
wood, paint
9 in. x 10.5 in. x 5 in.
2026

- Masking (Runny Nose)
wood, paint
21 in. x 10 in. x 4 in.
2026

- Masking (Jersey Devil)
wood, paint
16 in. x 9.5 in. x 3 in.
2026

Pieces shown (hanging from left to right):

- Masking (Bite)
wood, paint
9 in. x 10.5 in. x 5 in.
2026

- Masking (Runny Nose)
wood, paint
21 in. x 10 in. x 4 in.
2026

- Masking (Jersey Devil)
wood, paint
16 in. x 9.5 in. x 3 in.
2026

Ari Norris,
Masking (Jersey Devil)
wood, paint
16 in. x 9.5 in. x 3 in.
2026

Ari Norris,
Masking (Jersey Devil) | close-up
wood, paint
16 in. x 9.5 in. x 3 in.
2026

Ari Norris,
Masking (Runny Nose)
wood, paint
21 in. x 10 in. x 4 in.
2026

Ari Norris,
Masking (Runny Nose) | close-up
wood, paint
21 in. x 10 in. x 4 in.
2026

Ari Norris,
Masking (Runny Nose) | close-up
wood, paint
21 in. x 10 in. x 4 in.
2026

Ari Norris,
Masking (Runny Nose) | close-up
wood, paint
21 in. x 10 in. x 4 in.
2026

Ari Norris,
Masking (Bite)
wood, paint
9 in. x 10.5 in. x 5 in.
2026

Pictured (from left to right):

- Masking (Nothing But Flowers)
wood, paint
38 in. x 20 in. x 2 in.
2026

- Masking (Measure Twice)
wood, paint
26 in. x 11 in. x 2 in.
2026

- Masking (Bite)
wood, paint
9 in. x 10.5 in. x 5 in.
2026

Pictured (from left to right):

- Masking (Nothing But Flowers)
wood, paint
38 in. x 20 in. x 2 in.
2026

- Masking (Measure Twice)
wood, paint
26 in. x 11 in. x 2 in.
2026

- Masking (Bite)
wood, paint
9 in. x 10.5 in. x 5 in.
2026

Ari Norris,
Masking (Measure Twice)
wood, paint
26 in. x 11 in. x 2 in.
2026

Ari Norris,
Masking (Measure

10/01/2026

3-Legged Stool, a collaborative exchange with Kansas City project space - no commission - Open by Appointment and Project Project, will kick off this a Friday Oct. 2 at Holsum, 1200 W. 12th Street, KC, MO
6-8 pm

09/21/2026

09/19/2026

I wish i had better shots from the show, but unfortunately only got the exodus. IAn absolutely wonderful night made perfect by Ari Norris work and curation. If you missed it, come check it out tomorrow from noon to 5. Thanks art nerds and blessed appreciates of good stuff for making a little magic tonight!

09/14/2026

THIS FRIDAY 9/18 6-8PM - Double opening!

Join us at Real Tinsel for a solo show of Ari Norris' work and his curatorial show "Truly Truly".

Really Really doubles-down on Ari Norris commitment to woodworking, presenting for the first time an exhibition by the artist exclusively realized in painted wood. In the context of Norris’ practice of material subterfuge, representations of studio ephemera such as masking tape rolls, pink-pearl erasers, and paint brushes collide with the midwesterner’s interest in folk art, kitsch, and figuration. Utilizing the impact caused by a repeated word or phrase, known as the illusory-truth effect, influence is forced upon a subject to suggest something to be true if it’s repeated enough, even when it is false. In other words, just because something is said twice, does not necessarily make it any closer to fact.

Ari Norris

“The Painter (You Don’t Know How Deep I Go, or How Down I Get!)”

wood, paint

30” x 20” x 7”

2026

Truly Truly unites a network of thirty-two artists working across five states with widely varying studio practices, but can be summarized succinctly as being done so with sincerity.

eugenio salazar castro
marisolcervantesart
RTC
Mikey Coleman 👨🏾‍🎨🎨
Chris Cosnowski
Jenal Dolson
Salvador Dominguez
alexis estrada
Paul Erschen
(jules fisher) julia alina fisher
sean__gannon
Tommy G
Matt Irie
Noah Kashiani
esaumcghee
Kelsea Nichols
Mike Rea
Nina Rizzo
Samuel Schwindt
Philip Spangler
v
Frank Trankina
Christian Ulloa
William Noah Wandrey
Nick Wilkinson
Titus
Olivia Zubko
Araceli Zuniga

09/02/2026

Looking forward to another new season, kicking off with new work by master of playful minimalism Ari Norris

“Really, Really” opens 6-8 pm on Friday, September 18 along with new shows in the Grotto and Linear A

Also excited to announce our participation in NADA 2026 in Miami, but more on that soon

08/01/2026

Tomorrow's the last day of (summer) school!
If you haven't signed our yearbook yet—tomorrow's your last chance.

Madison Stickler
Bozo
colored pencil, acrylic, and screenprint collage on canvas
11” x 14”

Madison Stickler
Bozo (close up)
colored pencil, acrylic, and screenprint collage on canvas
11” x 14”

Jacklyn Berta
Scoop
acrylic and oil on canvas with steel rod
26”x 28”

Jacklyn Berta
Scoop (close up)
acrylic and oil on canvas with steel rod
26”x 28”

Em Johns
Two-Way
acrylic on canvas wrapped panel
24" x 36"

Drawings by Kitt Nittesheim

top left:
Simply Parched
Ink and marker on paper
24” x 18”

top right:
1:00 AM
ink and marker on paper
24” x 18”

bottom right:
Skinny
ink and marker on paper
24” x 18”

bottom left:
Just Gross
ink and marker on paper
24” x 18”

Esperanza Ortega
Food Block
acrylic, spray paint, wood
51" x 11" x 11"

Esperanza Ortega
Food Block
acrylic, spray paint, wood
51" x 11" x 11"

Jacklyn Berta
Dash
oil and acrylic on canvas with steel rod
42" x 5" x 7"

Jacklyn Berta
Dash (close up)
oil and acrylic on canvas with steel rod
42" x 5" x 7"

Maya Tempel
The End!
oil on canvas
24" x 20"

Maya Tempel
The End! (close up)
oil on canvas
24" x 20"

Maya Tempel
The End! (close up)
oil on canvas
24" x 20"

Anya Elle Kluesner
Undress
acrylic on canvas
22" x 22"

Anya Elle Kluesner
Undress (close up)
acrylic on canvas
22" x 22"

Nalani Gomez
Fold
acrylic on canvas
8" x 8"

Em Johns
Just Some Cracks
acrylic on canvas wrapped panel
10" x 10"

07/24/2026

Esperanza Ortega
Window
acrylic, spray paint, wood, blinds
34" x 26" x 3"

Esperanza Ortega
Window (close up)
acrylic, spray paint, wood, blinds
34" x 26" x 3"

Claire Casey
Knockin' Boots
oil and flashe on canvas
48" x 40"

Madison Stickler
Serving
acrylic on canvas and colored pencil on paper
24" x 30"

Madison Stickler
Serving (close-up)
acrylic on canvas and colored pencil on paper
24" x 30"

Madison Stickler
Serving (close-up)
acrylic on canvas and colored pencil on paper
24" x 30"

07/16/2026

Zebra Meat
Esperanza Ortega
acrylic and spray paint on canvas
26" x 34" x 4"

Boil Over!
Claire Casey
oil on canvas
40" x 30"

Consume
Anya Elle Kluesner
canvas, ready-made clothing, plaster, acrylic paint
50" x 42"

Consume (close-up)
Anya Elle Kluesner
canvas, ready-made clothing, plaster, acrylic paint
50" x 42"

left:
Consume
Anya Elle Kluesner
canvas, ready-made clothing, plaster, acrylic paint
50" x 42"

right:
On Our Way
Maya Tempel
oil on canvas
50" x 36"

On Our Way
Maya Tempel
oil on canvas
50" x 36"

Obstacle Course
Nalani Gomez
acrylic on canvas
48" x 34.5"

Obstacle Course
Nalani Gomez (pictured)
acrylic on canvas
48" x 34.5"

Obstacle Course (close-up)
Nalani Gomez
acrylic on canvas
48" x 34.5"

07/08/2026

Pictured:

WINDOW | Esperanza Ortega
pine, spray paint, acrylic airbrush, blinds

For the next two weeks, Summer School is in session.

Summer School features the work of nine students and recent graduates from the Peck School of the Arts. Their work explores different techniques and ideas, but it's united by the bizarre and magical experience that is attending art school together.

Despite the wide range of interests and subject matters at play, one can’t help but notice connecting threads. The same moves and ideas that pop up across the show, the common concerns and interests that coalesce to form the micro zeitgeist of a painting department—like lifting up a rock to see what's living underneath, Summer School is an unfiltered look into the exciting ideas of Milwaukee's newest painters.

Esperanza Ortega ( Esperanza ) is a multimedia artist whose practice combines painting and sculpture to explore the shifting relationship between the digital and material world

Claire Casey ( Claire Casey ) is an oil painter working primarily in colorful figurative absurdism. Their paintings question what is uplifted or, alternately, repressed by the dominant contemporary American culture.

Madison Stickler ( madison stickler ) makes work that explores the intersections of the digital and physical worlds—recontextualizing images by combining physical collage and materials with digital compositions and visual devices.

Jacklyn Berta ( Jacklyn Berta ) makes painted forms that lure a viewer to be voyeuristic—things hidden behind skins of paint and canvas offer a reward for looking and the rhythmic stitching is analogous to a record of the passing of time.

Nalani Gomez ( Nalani Gomez ) explores conformity in gestural painting combined with subverting systems and boundaries. She superimposes shapes in spatial planes to adhere to a system of control—as the gestures become more and more constrained, they must develop their own autonomy in the final composition.

Kitt Nittesheim ( Kitt Nettesheim ) is inspired by mundanity and normality, and how simple things can build into more than they are. They use sparseness and impulsive markmaking to create strange compositions and twist