Connie Henke

Connie Henke is a Central Wisconsin watercolor painter whose work is inspired by her immediate surroundings and the places she has traveled. Drawn to the natural world, she frequently paints fall foliage, flowers, and quiet landscapes, often working from photographs taken during her travels throughout the United States and Europe. Her paintings reflect a strong love of color and an appreciation for the interplay of line, shape, texture, light, and composition. As Henke notes, “Color motivates my creative energy, as does the interaction of line, shape, texture, light, and composition.”

Henke has been a working artist and art educator for over thirty years, retiring from teaching in 2021. During her career in education, she received numerous honors, including Teacher of the Year in 2006 and Elementary Art Teacher of the Year for the State of Wisconsin in 2016. Her dedication to teaching is reflected in the success of her students, many of whom earned local and state art awards, including a Governor’s Award in 2019.

In addition to her studio practice, Henke serves as Art Director at the Alexander House: Center for Art & History in Port Edwards, Wisconsin, where she is responsible for scheduling and coordinating exhibitions throughout the year.

Henke has exhibited widely across Wisconsin. Her recent honors include Best in Show at the 1st Annual Paint Wisconsin Juried Exhibition: A Tribute to Marilyn Fuerstenberg in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and acceptance into the Winter’s Garden Juried Exhibition at the Riverfront Gallery in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Her work is held in numerous private collections, as well as at the Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin Rapids and the Olio Arts Center in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.

In 2023, Henke was accepted as a member of the Wisconsin Watercolor Society.

In 2026, Henke’s Artwork, “Crimson Tranquility” was selected for the 2026 Wisconsin Rapids Cranberry Blossom Festival Poster Design.