September 26, 2026
Press Release
Date: September 26, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Hannah Steen, Administrative Assistant
Iron Horse Arts District
(308) 248-0001 | admin@ironhorsedistrict.org
Iron Horse Arts District to Feature Hauntingly Detailed Pen-and-Ink Artist Julie Peterson-Shea in October
HOLDREGE, Neb. — The Iron Horse Arts District will welcome artist Julie Peterson-Shea as its featured artist in the Iron Horse Art Gallery throughout October, with a free public reception on Thursday, October 8 from 5 to 7 p.m. Guests are invited to meet Peterson-Shea, view her intricately detailed pen-and-ink work, and enjoy light refreshments.
Peterson-Shea earned a BA in Education in 1992 and an MFA in Drawing in 2002, and has spent more than 30 years teaching art in rural Kansas while illustrating children's books and exhibiting her work regionally and nationally. Working primarily in pen and ink, her drawings pair Victorian symbolism with religious and secular imagery to explore themes of life, loss, perseverance, and identity. Her art career took a back seat for over a decade after a 2004 car accident left all five of her children injured; since her youngest graduated high school in 2019, she has returned her focus to her art practice, creating work she describes as finding "beauty in darkness, meaning in melancholy, and hope in the shadows."
“I actually taught Julie back when she was a student of mine in Funk, so getting to bring her work into our gallery means a lot to me personally," said Mona Peterson, President-Elect of the Iron Horse Arts District Board of Directors. "Her pieces are detailed, they're moody, and once you hear the story behind them, they really stick with you. I couldn't be prouder to see one of my students as our featured artist. Come meet her and see the drawings for yourself.”
While donations to the Iron Horse Arts District are always encouraged, the exhibit and Artist Reception are both free to attend. The gallery will be open to the public during regular hours throughout October.
Event Details
- Artist Reception — Thursday, October 8, 5–7 p.m., Iron Horse Art Gallery, 401 East Ave (basement), Holdrege, free and open to the public
- Exhibit on display throughout October 2026 at the Iron Horse Art Gallery for those unable to attend the reception (or who want another look at the work)
About the Iron Horse Arts District
The Iron Horse Arts District is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing visual and performing arts programming to downtown Holdrege, Nebraska. Through gallery exhibits, public art projects, live events, and its Artist Bureau, the Arts District connects the community with a wide variety of artists. For more information, visit ironhorsedistrict.org or follow @ironhorsedistrict37 on Facebook and Instagram.