Paul has 40 years of design experience, and brings authenticity and generosity to every client engagement.
about Paul
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Paul Herwig is a Minneapolis-based, award winning visual artist and stage designer who brings 40+ years of experience in the events, arts, and design industry to his unique design work and relationship-building with clients.
Projection and animation are at the forefront of event decor - the new future of event design. What Paul offers you with Future Projections is the ability to totally personalize your event design with imagery that specifically reflects your event, executed live and on site to give your event a special created-in-the-moment feel. As Paul creates the projection art to accompany your event, your guests will be delighted, amazed, and immersed in the color and motion - whether still imagery, or animated. Future Projections work is unique in the area. Let Paul help uplift your event, be it celebrating the bonding of a newly wedded couple, expressing pride in business achievement and employees' hard work, or unveiling the new fundraising goals of your organization to fulfill its mission. |
Paul Herwig
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Paul Herwig grew up in Albert Lea, Minnesota, and studied visual art at the University of Minnesota and theater at the Lecoq School in Paris, France (1981-1983). After touring extensively throughout France, England, Canada, and across the United States, Paul returned to Minneapolis in 1998. Alongside his partner and wife, Jennifer Ilse, he co- founded Off-Leash Area, a dance and theater company that in its 25th year has become one of the longest-running and most awarded independent performance groups in the region.
Paul has designed more than 40 theatrical sets, a practice that evolved into creating live animated projection art for events, performances, and public art installations. Through his project Future Projections, he has developed a robust roster of regular clients, animating the Minneapolis Institute of Art's Art in Bloom Preview Party for three consecutive years, New Belgium Brewing's Winter Dig Out and The Museum of Russian Art each for the past two, and numerous fundraisers and galas for organizations including the Children's Theatre Company, the Cowles Center, and Lundstrum Performing Arts. Paul continues to collaborate with local arts groups, designing for James Sewell Ballet, Black Label Movement, and Off-Leash Area. In his public art practice he often collaborates with local composers and cultural institutions. Projects include Facing the Fire, a projection and music installation created in the Longfellow neighborhood of South Minneapolis. The project reflects on the civil unrest of 2020 and amplifies the voices of residents who lived through it. His most recent commission was “Rising from the Ruins”, a cosmic fairy-tale told in graphic novel style, wrapping the walls of the Mill City Museum Ruin Courtyard. He has also received commissions from the Minnesota State Fair. In addition to large-scale projects, Paul brings light and animation to the streets of Minneapolis with his Projector Bike, using the city itself as his canvas and transforming overlooked corners into sites of temporary beauty and wonder. Most recently he received a commission from Lake Street Lift to animate the East Lake Street corridor in south Minneapolis. |
design awards & recognitions
McKnight Artist Fellow - 2009
Weisman Art Museum / Carl Flink Commission - 2025
Mill City Museum / MN Historical Society Commission - 2024
MN State Fair Commission - 2023
Longfellow Rising Commission - 2022
Selected for Inclusion in the Prague Quadrennial of Stage Design & Space - 2019
Sage Award for Outstanding Design in Dance - 2010
Featured on TPT Channel 2's MN Original - 2015
Northern Spark, Design Commission - 2013
MN State Fair, Design Commission - 2013
Hennepin Theater Trust - City of Mpls, Design Commission - 2013
City Pages Artists of the Year - 2005
Lavender Magazine Best Set Designs of the Year - 2009
City Pages Best Set Designs of the Year - 2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005
MN State Arts Board Artist Initiative, Awardee - 2025 - 2024 - 2023 - 2021 - 2020 - 2018 - 2013 - 2007
For more on Paul's Stage Design work click here. For more on Paul's theater work click here.
Weisman Art Museum / Carl Flink Commission - 2025
Mill City Museum / MN Historical Society Commission - 2024
MN State Fair Commission - 2023
Longfellow Rising Commission - 2022
Selected for Inclusion in the Prague Quadrennial of Stage Design & Space - 2019
Sage Award for Outstanding Design in Dance - 2010
Featured on TPT Channel 2's MN Original - 2015
Northern Spark, Design Commission - 2013
MN State Fair, Design Commission - 2013
Hennepin Theater Trust - City of Mpls, Design Commission - 2013
City Pages Artists of the Year - 2005
Lavender Magazine Best Set Designs of the Year - 2009
City Pages Best Set Designs of the Year - 2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005
MN State Arts Board Artist Initiative, Awardee - 2025 - 2024 - 2023 - 2021 - 2020 - 2018 - 2013 - 2007
For more on Paul's Stage Design work click here. For more on Paul's theater work click here.
