Vriesen and Vriesen Studios

Vriesen and Vriesen Studios was founded in 1989 as a partnership between Jan Vriesen, landscape painter and museum exhibit specialist, and his wife, Deborah Morrison, iconographer, painter and illustrator.  Our commercial and ecclesiastical studios are both located at our farm in rural Minnesota.

For over thirty years, the professionals who are Vriesen and Vriesen Studios have created high-quality artwork for museums, other organizations and for individuals. (see client list) Our commitment to excellence in workmanship is central to the success of any diorama, publication or mural-based exhibit which utilizes us.  We pride ourselves in our long experience in the field of museum exhibitry.

About Deborah Morrison (Vriesen)

About Jan Vriesen

Jan Vriesen is a multi-faceted artist whose diverse fields of specialization include:  exhibit background painting, exhibit design and consultation, fine art and art instruction.  A museum professional since 1965, Jan is well suited to the role of enthusiastic team member or its director.

Along with scientific and commercial illustration, Deborah has worked as a graphic designer, art director and exhibit background painter.  She currently does paintings and murals for museums, interior designers, churches and other public spaces, as well as commissions for private individuals and providing assistance to Jan with his exhibit backgrounds. (see a few examples of Deborah's solo work) Deborah Morrison (Vriesen) is a self-taught artist.  Her first professional art employment, in 1975, was the scientific illustration of books and other publications for the New York State Museum.  She has illustrated for scientists publishing monographs in botany, entomology, paleontology, anthropology and geology, as well as having illustrated textbooks for the New York State Education Department .

After emigrating to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, from Germany in 1957, Jan gained experience at the McCord Museum, in Montreal, and the Royal British Columbia Provincial Museum, in Victoria, BC, as he finished his degree.

Jan continued working at the Provincial Museum for a total of eleven years.  He benefitted greatly from the direction of ground-breaking exhibit designer JJ Andre.  Jan left the Provincial Museum to strike out on his own in 1982.

Jan is one of the most experienced exhibit painting specialists in the world. (Please see the definitive Habitat Dioramas:  Illusions of Wilderness in Museums of Natural History, by Dr. Karen Wonders, in which Jan is noted.)  Jan's work is exhibited at many of North America's most important museums.  (Click here to see Jan's work)

In addition to scientific, technical and commercial illustration, murals and fine art, Deborah posesses a personal vocation in iconography in her own Eastern Orthodox faith tradition.  Click here to see icons written in the hand of Deborah Morrison Vriesen Deborah is also available to create ecclesiastical murals, faux finishing, decorative and fine artworks for other kinds of  Christian faiths than her own.

Jan works on the Denver Convention Center project at one of our Minnesota studios.

Deborah takes a break from sanding gesso on an icon board prior to "writing" an icon

Deb's e-mail

Back home

Museum Exhibit Backgrounds

Jan's Solo Work

Jan's e-mail