Pam Rucinski has been rosemaling since 1974. She teaches all over the United States, has taught in Japan, and has traveled to Russia for folk art studies. Pam received her Vesterheim Gold Medal in 1995, in part for her Gudbrandsdal painting. She has developed her own subtle variations over the 20+ years she has painted this style, looking to Jacob Klukstad and baroque wood carving for her inspiration. Through the Wisconsin Arts Board, Pam has worked with four apprentices concentrating on the Gudbrandsdal style. In 2019, Pam was awarded an American Scandinavian Foundation Fellowship. In June 2019, she and co-fellow, Carol Bender, spent three weeks in Sweden, studying folk art with artists who are using the traditional techniques and materials of the 1700-1800s. She and Carol Bender were recently awarded a second fellowship through American Scandinavian Foundation and will travel in August and September of 2023. This time, they will study Swedish folk arts and Gudbrandsdal rosemaling, especially the work of Jakob Klukstad.
Learn more: Watch this video, Collections Connections: Rosemaling in the Hallingdal Style where Pam highlights Hallingdal-style rosemaling, or this video, Collections Connections: Gudbrandsdal Rosemaling from Past to Present where she highlights Gudbrandsdal-style rosemaling, both featuring objects from Vesterheim’s collection.