A ceramic vase by Paul Corbin of Decorah.
Writer: John Busbee
“A weekend in the country, we should try it.” Stephen Sondheim’s song from “A Little Night Music” hits just the right note for an easy road trip to one of Iowa’s art studio tours. Just hop in the car, hit “play” and off you go.
Ever since the Northeast Iowa Artists’ Studio Tour started nearly 30 years ago in and around Decorah, similar annual tours have popped up in every corner of the state. Most last a few days, when area artists open their studios for visitors — and open a window into their creative process. It’s a chance to see artists in their “natural habitat” and, between stops, admire Iowa’s natural beauty.
Open studio tours evolved naturally from a simple idea: What if art lovers could meet artists where they actually work? Unlike traditional art fairs — with their tents, crowds and quick sales — these tours offer a slower, more personal experience.
The appeal is clear. For visitors, the tours offer a chance to watch an artist work, ask questions and discover unexpected talent. For artists, it’s an opportunity to build relationships, share their story and sell work directly — all in the comfort of their own studios.
These events also invite communities to rally around the arts. Towns and local businesses often chip in, helping to turn a handful of studio visits into full-fledged cultural experiences. Over time, what began as informal gatherings have grown into organized regional events, supported by nonprofits, chambers of commerce and well-designed guides, both digital and in print.
The tours are typically free and self-guided, so you can take them at your own pace. There’s something quietly thrilling about winding down a gravel road and pulling up to an artist’s studio nestled in the Iowa countryside. You’re not just looking at art — you’re stepping into the world where it’s made.
Beyond the art itself, these weekends boost local economies, deepen appreciation for regional creativity and strengthen the connections between artists and the communities they call home.
Jean Murray
Ames Artists’ Studio Tour
Mid-October
Story County
amesart.org
The Ames Community Arts Council has organized a studio tour for a decade to showcase local artists who work with wood, glass, clay, paint, photography and more. But as you might expect, the college town’s creativity goes even further.
The 2025 lineup involves an artist collective, writers’ studio and even the local radio station KHOI-FM. Visitors can find a map online or pick up a printed copy at the tour’s headquarters downtown at Little Woods: Herbs & Teas.
Sara Letsch
Art Harvest Tour
Late September
Boone, Dallas, Greene and Story counties
artontheprairie.org
Several artists in Central Iowa teamed up more than a decade ago to create the first Art Harvest Tour, and it’s steadily grown ever since. Now the annual tour features 20-some artists at a dozen stops along an 80-mile loop through Ames, Boone, Ogden, Jefferson, Perry and Woodward. A brochure and map make the route easy to follow around the Raccoon River Valley and Ledges State Park.
Tour co-founder Ryk Weiss of Ogden explained that when artists exhibit at traditional festivals, they usually display only the artwork they expect to sell. “One of the great things about actually getting into someone’s studio is that you get to see everything they’ve ever made,” he said. “You get to see things that aren’t practical to take to shows, that are just really fascinating.”
Paul Bauhs
Artisans Road Trip – A.R.T.
Early October
Cherokee, Clay, Buena Vista, Dickinson, Emmet and Palo Alto counties
lakesart.org
The Artisans Road Trip was organized in 2004 “by artists, for artists” who live and work around Iowa’s Great Lakes. The founders passed the project in 2022 to Okoboji’s Pearson Lakes Art Center, which has helped the tour grow and evolve.
Participating artist Rosalise Olson, an oil painter, said the event gives artists, who often work alone, a chance to discuss their ideas and techniques with newcomers. “A.R.T. supports both the established studio artist and the new artist in their efforts to share their work with others,” she said. “In the age of viewing so many things on our screens, this in-person dialogue is something we look forward to each fall.”
Most years, about 20 artists participate, either in their own studios or in area shops and galleries. Many visitors make a full weekend of it, traveling back roads and scenic byways in search of one-of-a-kind art and stories to take home.
Jennifer Drinkwater
North Iowa Studio Tour
Late September
Cerro Gordo County
clearlakeartscenter.org
The North Iowa Studio Tour started in 2010 with a handful of artists who eventually formed a small nonprofit. In 2024, it merged with the Clear Lake Arts Center.
Most of the studios are in Clear Lake or Mason City, with a few outliers in Sheffield and Plymouth. The close proximity enables visitors to easily complete the circuit, but many prefer to slow down and enjoy area shops, restaurants and other attractions.
Tom Dakin, who manages the arts center, said some of the artists who live farther away set up shop in Clear Lake. “If they are 25 miles or more outside our area, we have them set up portable studios at the arts center,” he said. And for the artists who work from home, “it’s so nice to have people come to them.”
Nathan Moore
Northeast Iowa Artists’ Studio Tour
Mid-October
Winneshiek County
iowaarttour.com
Darla Ellickson, a jewelry artist in Decorah, and her husband, Glen, founded the Northeast Iowa tour in 1998 with about two dozen area artists. Many traveled often to exhibit and sell their work, so the idea of inviting customers to their home studios was appealing. And as one artist mentioned, “It also gave us a reason to clean our studios.”
The annual tour has grown into a major event over the years, and many visitors return every year to hang out in Decorah and explore the surrounding Driftless hills, especially during the fall when the leaves are changing. It’s “fun to see the studios and the art and to really have a wonderful time driving between the studios,” Glen said.
Unlike the early days, the tour’s website now features a Google map to help visitors navigate. But take note, Glen said: “We do recommend checking directions at the top of the hill, as there may be no service in the valley.
Fred Easker
Southwest Iowa Art Tour
Mid-September
Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, Page and Shelby counties
swiarttour.com
The Southwest Iowa Art Tour was founded in 2014 with a mission to “connect rural communities through art.” And it seems to be working: A dozen communities now participate in what has become the state’s largest studio tour by area.
“The Southwest Iowa Art Tour is unique in that it unites so many different artists from different backgrounds and communities to participate in and promote this grand event,” coordinator Rebecca Castle Laughlin said.
Most years, 80-100 artists participate at 16-20 “gathering places.” The local team at each one puts its own spin on things, with art demonstrations, live music, food and various activities for all ages.
William Gast
Paul Cutting
Mike Schutte
Rebecca Kobos
George Lowe
Frances Garst-Kittleson
Art Ciccotti
Rosalise Olson
J. Rose Novak
John Busbee has been covering Iowa arts and culture for decades and produces a weekly radio show, “The Culture Buzz,” on KFMG radio in Des Moines. He’s received a Governor’s Arts Award for collaboration and partnership in the arts and an Excellence in Iowa History Award for his writing.
