Finders Keepers

Finders Keepers is a monthly art scavenger hunt where YOU can win original artwork. Happening monthly throughout 2024, the hunt is all about finding special Trout Museum of Art (TMA) containers artistically hidden in different locations from Appleton to Oshkosh to Green Bay.

These containers hold images of artworks created by talented artists from across North America, including places like Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Canada. The containers correspond to real artwork you could win, valued between $1,000 and $3,000. Everyone has a chance to win, just decipher the clues to be the first to find the hidden container. Each artist revealed throughout the year will return to TMA in a group exhibition entitled Looking in Winter of 2024.

APRIL

The April artwork has been located at This Big One in Kaukauna! Congrats to Willow and Carissa.

Denise Stewart-Sanabria
KNOXVILLE, TN

For your next chance to win an original artwork, follow the clues in May over on TMA’s social media.

Sponsored by

12 artists
12 artworks
12 winners

What makes this Finders Keepers so thrilling is the mystery. Who’s the next artist? What does the artwork look like? Where is it hidden?

You can participate individually or as a team, working together to decipher each weekly clue. As you unravel the mystery, you reveal a new masterpiece, turning Finders Keepers into a one-of-a-kind mix of creativity, community, and adventure.

APRIL RECAP

April clue break-down! How did Willow and Carissa find the hidden TMA container?

Clue #1
💦⚡️🌆
Answer: Electric City – Kaukauna

Clue #2
An audio clue with the sound of flowing water.

Answer: This Big One is located near the river with a small creek running alongside the site.

Clue #3
Happy Little ____.

Answer: Happy Little TREES. This Big One is a Kaukauna landmark featuring a Douglas Fir that was cut down after standing for 586 years.

HOW TO JOIN THE FINDERS KEEPERS FUN

  1. At the beginning of each month in 2024, TMA will announce the artist behind the month’s artwork.
  2. Every Friday, TMA will drop clues on our social media. Your task is to follow these clues to pinpoint the hidden container.
  3. The containers are designed to artistically blend in with their surroundings, looking different each month identifiable with the letters TMA or the TMA logo. They could be hidden anywhere from Green Bay to Appleton to Oshkosh.
  4. You can participate individually or as a team, working together to decipher each weekly clue.
  5. There will be four clues total for each month’s work, revealed each Friday. It may take one or all four clues to locate the container!
  6. If you’re the first to find the container, congratulations, you win the artwork. Just bring the container and all its contents to the museum to claim your prize!

Art Hunt Guidelines

  1. Participants can only win once. 
  2. Each hidden location will be fully accessible. 
  3. The container will ALWAYS be outside and not in a location where nearby business hours will affect accessibility.  
  4. No vandalizing any property to locate the container, it will never be buried (unless under snow). 
  5. Participants must be courteous and respectful to all people and locations involved or encountered during the art hunt. 
  6. No harassing citizens or organizations for clues or hints. Museum gallery staff also do not know any additional hints or information on where a container is located. It’s top secret!
  7. If you cannot locate the container with the first clue, additional clues will be released each Friday during the month (four clues total). 
  8. We will announce on our social media and website when the piece is found, so if there is no announcement, you can keep searching! 

  1. To claim the artwork, bring the container and ALL its contents to the museum (111 W College Ave Appleton) before the end of the month during TMA open hours. 
  2. TMA staff will take your picture with your new artwork and provide a photo release form for you to sign.
  3. You may take the artwork home that day!

JANUARY RECAP

Artist: Trina May Smith
Oshkosh, WI

Oshkosh artist Trina May Smith was the January kick-off artist! Congratulations to Tova for finding the hidden Finders Keepers TMA container and winning this AMAZING original artwork by Trina. Tova and her mom found it at the Harry Houdini-inspired Metamorphosis Statue on Lawe St in Appleton.

Sponsored by

FEBRUARY RECAP

Artist: Seth Clark
Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh artist Seth Clark was the February featured artist. Clues led winner Sarahjean and friends to The Plaza in Downtown Neenah where the hidden TMA container was camouflaged into the base of the “Old Friends” statue created by artist George Lundeen (Colorado).

Sponsored by

MARCH RECAP

Artist: Margie Criner
Chicago, IL

Chicago artist Margie Criner was the March artist with an awesome interactive sculpture won by Lindsey! Lindsey figured out the location on the fourth clue and located it at The Howard in Oshkosh.

Sponsored by

Looking Exhibition

In TMA’s final exhibition of 2024, all Finders Keepers artists will be featured in a group exhibition entitled Looking. Reveal artists with us all year in Finders Keepers.

Find Looking at TMA from Sept 20, 2024 to Jan 12, 2025. Opening night of this exhibit will be Sept 20 from 5 to 8pm, free & open to the public.

Image: Trina May Smith, January Artist, Sponsored by Boldt

Thank you to all our Finders Keepers Sponsors

To sponsor a month of Finders Keepers, please contact
TMA Development Manager, Ghadeer Musa, at gmusa@troutmuseum.org.