Stephanie Schlatter, 2026 Manitou Music Poster Artist

About Stephanie

Stephanie is a full-time working artist. Born and raised in Grand Rapids [Michigan, where she now lives for part of the year], “I discovered Leelanau in my early 20s and have slowly worked at calling this place home ever since,” she said. “I’m a landscape painter, and the rolling hills, orchards, vineyards, lakes, dunes, and vistas of Leelanau are endless sources of inspiration. Each painting is a love letter to this sacred land.”

Stephanie and her husband, Marc, now call Glen Arbor their year-round home. And she is solidly rooted in Glen Arbor in other ways — attending to her own practice as well as promoting the creative work of other artists: She is co-owner of Arbor Gallery on M-102 in Glen Arbor Township, alongside her business partners David Westerfield and Paul Czamanske.

The Story of “Gathered Together” 

“In 2020, when this painting was created, we were coming out of lockdown, and I found myself putting people in my landscapes for the first time,” Stephanie said. “I believe, subconsciously, this was a response to the isolation of lockdown. That said, it was also a very productive year for me. Artists do require isolation, and I flourished creatively. I was sitting at Arts Tavern, waiting for a table, and all the people enjoying themselves and gathering, plus all that color, grabbed my attention. But most of all, it was the shadows that caught my eye. I knew I’d be painting this scene later in my studio. This painting was about the human need for connection, and the shadow and light in life and nature.”