Finders Keepers

Finders Keepers is a monthly art scavenger hunt where YOU can win original artwork. Happening monthly throughout 2024, the hunt is all about finding special Trout Museum of Art (TMA) containers artistically hidden in different locations from Appleton to Oshkosh to Green Bay.

These containers hold images of artworks created by talented artists from across North America, including places like Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Canada. The containers correspond to real artwork you could win, valued between $1,000 and $3,000. Everyone has a chance to win, just decipher the clues to be the first to find the hidden container. Each artist revealed throughout the year will return to TMA in a group exhibition entitled Looking in Winter of 2024.

Thank you to all our Finders Keepers Sponsors

To sponsor a month of Finders Keepers, please contact
TMA Development Manager, Frankie Gilboa, at fgilboa@troutmuseum.org.

The November artwork has been located!

Artist

Rubén Aguirre
Chicago, IL

Found by Mike at the Veteran’s Memorial bridge in Kaukauna.

12 artists
12 artworks
12 winners

What makes this Finders Keepers so thrilling is the mystery. Who’s the next artist? What does the artwork look like? Where is it hidden?

You can participate individually or as a team, working together to decipher each weekly clue. As you unravel the mystery, you reveal a new masterpiece, turning Finders Keepers into a one-of-a-kind mix of creativity, community, and adventure.

Join the Hunt

For your FINAL chance to win an original artwork, follow the clues in December over on TMA’s social media.

With clues revealed each Friday, see the Finders Keepers guidelines below to learn how you can participate.

HOW TO JOIN THE FINDERS KEEPERS FUN

  1. Overview: Finders Keepers is a monthly art scavenger hunt in 2024 where you can win original artwork by finding hidden TMA containers in various locations from Appleton to Oshkosh to Green Bay.
  2. Artwork: The containers hold images of artworks created by artists from North America. The real artwork, valued between $1,000 and $3,000, corresponds to these images. You could take this artwork home just by locating the TMA container.
  3. Monthly Artist Announcement: At the beginning of each month, TMA will reveal the artist behind that month’s artwork.
  4. Weekly Clues: Every Friday, TMA will drop a clue on social media to help you find the hidden container. There will be four clues each month.
  5. Hunt Locations: The containers can be hidden anywhere from Green Bay to Appleton to Oshkosh and any town in-between. The containers will blend artistically with their surroundings, marked with “TMA” or the TMA logo.
  6. Participation: You can participate individually or in teams. Work together to decipher the clues. If you work as a team or solo, you can only win once, ensuring everyone a chance to win.
  7. Winning: If you are the first to find the container, bring it and its contents to the Trout Museum of Art to claim your prize during open hours.
  8. Exhibition: All artists revealed throughout the year will be featured in a group exhibition entitled Looking opening Sept 20.
  9. Rules: Refer to the Art Hunt Rules and Guidelines provided by TMA.

Good luck and happy hunting!

Art Hunt Rules and Guidelines

  1. Participants can only win once, including groups, ensuring everyone a chance to succeed.
  2. Each hidden location will be fully accessible.
  3. The container will ALWAYS be outside and not in a location where nearby business hours will affect accessibility.
  4. No vandalizing any property to locate the container, it will never be buried (unless under snow).
  5. Participants must be courteous and respectful to all people and locations involved or encountered during the art hunt.
  6. No harassing citizens or organizations for clues or hints. Museum gallery staff also do not know any additional hints or information on where a container is located. It’s top secret!
  7. If you cannot locate the container with the first clue, additional clues will be released each Friday during the month (four clues total).
  8. We will announce on our social media and website when the piece is found, so if there is no announcement, you can keep searching!

  1. Take a picture of you / your team on location! We would love to share in your excitement!
  2. To claim the artwork, bring the container and ALL its contents to the museum (111 W College Ave Appleton) before the end of the month during TMA open hours.
  3. TMA staff will take your picture with your new artwork.
  4. You may take the artwork home that day!

Looking Exhibition

All twelve Finders Keepers artists are featured in a group exhibition entitled Looking at the Trout Museum of Art. Each artist has been revealed throughout this year through Finders Keepers.

Sept 20, 2024 to Jan 12, 2025.

Image: Leif Larson

September RECAP

Artist: James Rees
Spanish Fork, Utah

James is known for using the figure as a vehicle for expression, primarily using monotype printing and transfer ink drawing processes.

This artwork was found at the Hortonville Opera House.

AUGUST RECAP

Artist: Morgan Echols
Huntsville, AL

Morgan is celebrated for her vibrant, geometric compositions and precision. Her work expertly balances bold colors and crisp lines, creating visually striking pieces that evoke a sense of illusion and push the boundaries of abstract art.

This artwork was found at Kimberly Point in Neenah.

JULY RECAP

Artist: Leif Larson
Oshkosh, WI

Congratulations to Alyssa and family for finding the July Finders Keepers hidden container. They won an original painting by Oshkosh artist Leif Larson after locating the TMA container at the Kavarna Coffeehouse in Green Bay.

The building (1931) features an Egyptian Revival architectural style, popularized in the 1920s following the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb. It is adorned with ornate decorations, including a terra cotta sun disk likely depicting the Egyptian sun god Ra and blue lotus leaf-shaped terra cotta medallions.

Sponsored by

JUNE RECAP

Artist: James Fowler
Canada

Canadian artist James Fowler was Finders Keeper’s first international artist! Congratulations to Caleb for finding the hidden Finders Keepers TMA container in Pierce Park, Appleton on the Stairway to the Stars sculpture.

MAY RECAP

Artist: Egypt Hagan
Arizona

LA-born artist and muralist Egypt Hagan was May’s Finders Keepers artist. Egypt is known for her vibrant colors, luminous golds, and diverse, powerful imagery. LaBrena located the hidden TMA container at the Flower Power Mural in De Pere.

Sponsored by

APRIL RECAP

Denise Stewart-Sanabria
KNOXVILLE, TN

The April artwork was located at This Big One in Kaukauna. Congrats to Willow and Carissa.

Sponsored by

MARCH RECAP

Artist: Margie Criner
Chicago, IL

Chicago artist Margie Criner was the March artist with an awesome interactive sculpture won by Lindsey! Lindsey figured out the location on the fourth clue and located it at The Howard in Oshkosh.

Sponsored by

FEBRUARY RECAP

Artist: Seth Clark
Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh artist Seth Clark was the February featured artist. Clues led winner Sarahjean and friends to The Plaza in Downtown Neenah where the hidden TMA container was camouflaged into the base of the “Old Friends” statue created by artist George Lundeen (Colorado).

Sponsored by

JANUARY RECAP

Artist: Trina May Smith
Oshkosh, WI

Oshkosh artist Trina May Smith was the January kick-off artist! Congratulations to Tova for finding the hidden Finders Keepers TMA container and winning this AMAZING original artwork by Trina. Tova and her mom found it at the Harry Houdini-inspired Metamorphosis Statue on Lawe St in Appleton.

Sponsored by