Welcoming Our 2026 Festival Judge, Dr. John Hallett

The Wausau Festival of Arts (WFoA) is thrilled to officially welcome Dr. John Hallett as our esteemed festival judge for 2026!

Dr. Hallett brings an extraordinary and eclectic background to the festival. A sculptor, retired veterinarian, and log rolling coach, his artwork focuses on themes centered around animals, nature, and outdoor adventures.

Dr. Hallett’s work beautifully bridges the gap between traditional and experimental sculpture. In addition to creating classic figurative sculptures, he employs fascinating techniques—such as casting tree bark into bronze, glass, and other materials.

His formal artistic journey reached a major milestone in 2024 when he completed his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) at  Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Since then, his public sculptures have found permanent homes across Wisconsin, including installations at: The UW Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, Lapham Peak State Park, Rockwell Park in Oconomowoc.

If you are a fan of outdoor sports, you may already be familiar with his craftsmanship. Dr. Hallett is the artist behind the trophies awarded at the American Birkebeiner Ski Race, the Lumberjack World Championships, and the Stihl Timbersports Championships.

You can preview his incredible portfolio online atwww.hallettironworks.com or follow his creative process on Instagram@hallettironworks.

As our 2026 judge, Dr. Hallett has a challenging but exciting task ahead of him. The Wausau Festival of Arts presents 17 distinct awards to our showcasing artists, culminating in our highest honor: The Ed Shoenberger Best of Show award.

The winners will be officially announced and celebrated during our special reception on Saturday night. Each selected artist will receive a cash prize and a commemorative award banner to displayat their booth.

We can't wait to see Dr. Hallett's expertise in action as he evaluates this year’s incredible lineup of talented creators!