Preserving and sharing Minnesota protest art through archives, publications, and exhibitions.
Founded in January 2026 in response to Operation Metro Surge, the Archive has grown from a casual call to local artists into a growing collection with more than 400 contributors from across the United States and around the world.
A portion of proceeds supports the Immigrant Defense Network and other vetted community initiatives.
Art credit: Rebel Loon Archive Logo by Ike Whiting, crop art; logo designed by @bambikhan
Pre-order the Rebel Loon Archive book on Kickstarter!
The Rebel Loon Archive is a large hardcover art book with approximately 200 pages of paintings, poetry, photography, textiles and more speaking out against the 2026 ICE occupation of Minnesota.
Orders are expected to ship in August of 2026.
Art credit: Bruno Press
Support the Archive
Artists are speaking up for justice. Join us in helping preserve their art before it disappears.
Donations directly support the Rebel Loon Archive’s exhibitions, publications, archival preservation, and community programming.
What does the Archive actually do?
EXHIBIT AT TRUE NORTH STUDIO
From May 9th through June 7th, 40+ pieces from the Archive will be on display at True North Studio in Uptown Minneapolis. Open Wednesday-Sunday from 10am-2pm.
Artists’ work pictured, clockwise from left: UnhingedMomInMN, Bruno Press, La Gata Fea Linocut, Douglas Lissick
6/1: RECEPTION & KICKSTARTER LAUNCH PARTY
Don’t miss this event! On June 1st at True North Studio from 6-8pm, we’ll have live music, an artist creating sketched portraits of attendees, food, drinks, and an art project you can make and take home with you. Tickets available at https://givebutter.com/rebel-loon-true-north.
Artists’ work pictured, clockwise from left: Priya Thoreson, Steve Sack, Ellorie Diunizio, Molly Crabapple, Sarah Foote, Clay Bennett, Adam Zyglis
EXHIBIT AT TORRANCE ART MUSEUM
From June 6th through July 18th, many original works shared with the Archive will be displayed for the first time at the Torrance Art Museum in Los Angeles in the exhibit We Are Minnesota: Art as Resistance. Additional works will be shown digitally or as prints.
If you’re on the West Coast, we’d love if you visited the exhibit (and took pictures to send us!).
Art credit: I’m Not Mad At You by Chanel Sassybury, acrylic on wood, 20×20×1”
THE REBEL LOON ARCHIVE BOOK
The Rebel Loon Archive is currently preparing its flagship publication: a 200+ page hardcover art book featuring work responding to Operation Metro Surge and related events in Minnesota.
Curated from nearly 1,000 submissions, the book preserves these artworks as a lasting historical and cultural record.
The Kickstarter is live; click here to view and preorder the book!
Art credit: Standing Together by Meredith Johanson, watercolor and India ink, 7×9”
FUNDRAISING GALA
On October 15th, join us from 6-9pm at the Landmark Center in St. Paul. The Rebel Loon Archive is partnering with the Ramsey County Historical Society to host a fundraising gala.
Featuring live and silent auctions, live music, local art, and catering by Owamni, the event will support both the Archive’s ongoing preservation work and local community organizations including the Immigrant Defense Network.
The theme is “Migration,” so consider which aspect of migration (or creature!) might inspire your outfit. All interpretations, from subtle to dramatic, are welcome.
Tickets will cost $150 per person, and will be available to purchase soon.
Art credit: Rebel Loon Archive Logo by Ike Whiting, crop art; logo designed by @bambikhan
QUARTERLY PUBLICATION
After releasing our 200-page hardcover coffee table book this summer, the Archive will pivot to a regular quarterly publication schedule. These 50 to 60-page softcover books will showcase an artist, artistic medium, or topic that is relevant to Minnesotans and deserves a spotlight.
The Archive is currently collecting art submissions (through September 1st) related to the Boundary Waters and the protection thereof, for publication this winter. Submit art using the button below, or at bit.ly/bwca-art.
Art credit: Mexican Lady with Common Loon by Mary Perez, acrylic 14×14”
DIGITAL ARCHIVE
The beating heart of this initiative is the digital archive. In partnership with scholars, historians, and art professionals, the Rebel Loon Archive is creating an online database of all the art that’s been submitted to us that meets our standards.
Rather than the polished curation required by an exhibit or publication, the digital archive presents the broad swath of the community’s artistic response. If you submitted original (not generative AI) art to the Archive, it will almost certainly be included in this vast library.
Our goal is to have a user-friendly interface that presents a scrollable timeline of events (linked to reputable news articles verifying the facts presented), with artwork linked to those events, along with standard metadata and thorough tagging.
We are planning to partner with the Ramsey County Historical Society, leaning on their expertise as we begin meticulously documenting more than a thousand pieces of art that have been shared with us.
Art credit: A Day in the Life of a Minneapolis 8th Grader by Eleanor K.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Check out the Archive’s Facebook page. We regularly share artwork, behind-the-scenes snapshots, and updates to almost 5000 followers who are passionate about art and human rights. Will you be the new follower who tips the Archive over the edge to hit 5000? Come take a look at our Facebook page and see. While you’re there, scroll (and scroll, and scroll) and spend some time with dozens of powerful pieces of art.
Art credit (in Facebook cover photo): Minnesota Pushes Back by Steve Sack
Don’t let your protest signs end up in the recycling bin.
Give them to us instead. We’ll put them in a museum. It’ll be awesome.
Drop off physical signs here:
Mischief Toy Store, Grand Ave,
St. Paul, MN
Open Tues-Sat 11-8 and Sun 11-5
Too far away?
Get in touch with us and we’ll try to make it work.
Featured art from the Archive’s collection
MINNESOTA KNOWS HOW TO HANDLE ICE
Jearica Fountain
EL PUEBLO UNIDO JAMÁS SERÁ VENCIDO
La Gata Fea Linocut
MINNESOTA RULES
Bonnie Bee
SIGN UP FOR EMAIL UPDATES
Sign up for archive updates and behind-the-scenes previews. Email list members who back the Kickstarter in June will receive an exclusive sticker set included with their copy. (Please check the box so we can actually email you. We promise not to spam you!)