The Bayfield Heritage Association (BHA) is thrilled to have acquired Leonard Anderson’s collection in 2024 and have it become a permanent exhibit. Anderson’s depictions of the Apostle Islands and the rich heritage of Bayfield, Wisconsin from the mid to late 1900s offer viewers a chance to experience the historical and natural beauty of this unique region through the eyes of a past local watercolor painter.
Take a 360 walk-through of this exhibit.
Leonard Anderson (1913–2001) was connected to Lake Superior from the very start, where his Scandinavian roots ran as deep as the waters. With his father Capt. John Anderson of Booth Fisheries and mother, Mikala Tollefson, he grew up in Bayfield, WI, surrounded by the Apostle Islands and visited his family’s fishing camp on Rocky Island and South Twin with his Uncle and Auntie (Mikala’s sister) Benson.
In 1921, after relocating to Duluth, MN with his family, Leonard showcased his artistic talents in various school art competitions and as a member of the Denfeld High School yearbook committee. After serving in World War II, he pursued his passion for art at the Society of Arts and Crafts in Detroit and carried his talent into a successful career as Art Director for J. Walter Thompson Advertising Firm with accounts such as Ford, Kodak, and the U.S. Marine Corps, to name a few.
Throughout his life, he visited his roots in Bayfield and the Apostle Islands (usually in a new Thunderbird!) whenever he could. Those trips nurtured his love of the water, and the joy found in family gatherings.
Upon retiring in 1973, Leonard settled back into Duluth, where he continued to sketch, photograph, paint and catalog the water he had cherished all his life. Even after he moved into senior living in Wisconsin, he kept Lake Superior close to his heart. When he passed away in 2001, we believe his spirit returned home at last, forever part of the waters that shaped him.
Check out the slideshow of this BHA exhibit. Hover/tap on the slides and a full-screen option will appear.
