Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery
LINDSBORG - Four new exhibitions open at the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery on November 2, 2025, and continue through January 11, 2026. They feature a memorial exhibition of paintings by Maleta Forsberg; works by Lester Raymer, tattoo samples from regional shops; and the annual Holiday Gift Show. The opening reception for the exhibitions will be on Sunday, November 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. with exhibition talks beginning at 2:30.
Lindsborg artist Maleta Forsberg passed away in August of this year and the Gallery is honored to be able to present a special exhibition of her paintings. Maleta grew up and went to school in Colony, Kansas. As an artist, she was primarily self-taught – taking classes at the Kansas City Art Institute, and workshops with other artists throughout her life. She was a dedicated painter, did innumerable commissions, and has works in homes and collections throughout the United States and overseas. Maleta once said, “Being an artist is an ongoing learning process. There is always something new to try.” Additionally, she gave art lessons and helped many artists with their technique over the years.
Maleta also served in many leadership roles in community groups and art associations. She and her husband Wayne restored the Olive Springs Schoolhouse on their property and used it as a gallery for her art. They also renovated the Plaza Theater in Lindsborg and turned it into The Courtyard, now a Lindsborg landmark. She had a life filled with art and this exhibition demonstrates her versatility and command of her mediums.
Lester Raymer (1907-1991) was born in Alva, Oklahoma and also spent time growing up in Colorado. He completed academic courses at Northwestern University in Alva, and studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, graduating in 1935. After meeting his future wife, Ramona, in the 1930s, they married in the 1940s and lived in her hometown of Lindsborg. There he became a fulltime studio artist, working in a variety of media that included painting, ceramics, printmaking, sculpture – examples of which will be on display in the exhibition. In 1946-47 he taught art at Bethany College following Birger Sandzén’s retirement.
After a very successful career, he died in June of 1991, leaving to the Raymer Society the task of promoting his life, exhibiting his art, and developing the Red Barn Studio Museum in Lindsborg.
Marked: Art That Lives on the Skin, features tattoo designs from True Love Tattoo and Rogue Collective Tattoos & Piercings in Salina, along with selections from Tenfold Tattoo in Wichita. In the last couple of decades, tattoos have shifted from symbols of rebellion and exclusiveness to an accepted form of individual expression. They have become mainstream, with a much greater acceptance by society. They also have a rich and colorful history that dates back to the earliest traces of human civilization - transitioning from tribal symbols to exquisitely rendered imagery that showcases some of the most elaborate art being made today. This exhibition will give viewers a small sampling of tattooing’s possibilities.
The Gallery's popular Holiday Gift Show completes the selection of new exhibitions. The work of over 40 invited artists are represented in the show and include paintings, prints, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, mixed media pieces, and more.
The Sandzén Gallery is located at 401 North First Street in Lindsborg. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free, with donations appreciated. Docent tours for groups are available by two-week advance appointment.
For more information about Birger Sandzén, the Gallery, and these exhibitions visit www.sandzen.org or phone (785) 227-2220.