A bit about us…

We began our business in Red Wing, Minnesota in 2002 and are proudly Master Certified by the Professional Picture Framer’s Association. Our design team includes artists, photographers, graphic designers, engineers, and business professionals. We engage in ongoing industry education and we stay up to date on styling trends. Our approach to custom picture framing is grounded in traditional techniques and industry standards.

In 2014 we opened our second location in Rochester, Minnesota and a third location in 2019 in Northfield, Minnesota. In 2024 we opened a dedicated print facility and moulding chop shop in Stockholm, Wisconsin.

Red Wing continues to be our primary production location.

  • Valerie Becker, MCPF

    Co-Founder

    Valerie has dedicated over 25 years to the art of picture framing. She achieved her Certified Picture Framer designation in 2007 and in 2014 she became the first Master Certified Picture Framer in Minnesota. She also was awarded the prestigious Vivian C. Kistler Master Certified Framer Scholarship and has been a judge in international framing competitions on behalf of the Professional Picture Framing Association.

    Valerie brings a rich background in small business finance to her work and founded Red Wing Framing & Fine Art Printing in 2002, with subsequent expansions to Rochester, MN in 2014 and Northfield, MN in 2019.

    Her passions include her children, grandchildren and her small farm. An expert cross-stitcher and animal lover, she combines her skills and passions in all aspects of her life.

  • Thank you Ancestry.com

    John Becker, P.E.

    Co-Founder

    John has a long history within the creative and technology communities and has been a registered Minnesota Professional Engineer (mechanical) since 1985.

    John manages the fine art reproduction, printing and digital re. He is also responsible for the chop shop, project deliveries, and any needed repairs. Outside of work, John is a lover of words and maps and considers himself an aesthete by nature.

  • Clare Polencheck, MCPF

    Red Wing Manager

    Clare has been in the framing industry since 2012, spending several years of apprenticeship under MCPF Valerie Becker. Clare earned her Master Certified Picture Framer designation in 2023, her Certified Picture Framer designation in 2019, and she was awarded the Vivian C. Kistler MCPF Scholarship from the PPFA. Her creative background includes professional photography, graphic design/arts, and digital restoration.

    Clare holds degrees in Business Management and Computer Programming, and is experienced in digital marketing, website development, and ad campaign management. She is also a PPFA volunteer.

    Clare is devoted to preserving individual and collective histories through preservation framing.

  • LaVanda Mireles

    Rochester Manager

    LaVanda has been with Rochester Framing since 2023. She is a visual artist whose creative practice focuses mainly on mixed media collage, assemblage, and experimental printmaking using cyanotype. Her work emphasizes the elements and principles of design, while expressing themes of the human condition and human relationship with nature.

    She studied painting and drawing at university and continues to practice her observational skills in figure drawing at the Rochester Art Center.

    She connects with customers through her many years of experience in designing and handling art in fine art picture frame shops, galleries, and museum settings.

  • Alysa Ohland Toov

    Northfield Manager

    Alysa creates a warm and inviting design environment. She is a thoughtful designer with a focus on meeting the unique needs and preferences of her customers. Alysa appreciates all types of art and loves hearing the stories behind her customers’ projects.

    Alysa has a Master’s degree in art history from the University of St. Thomas.

    In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, tennis, fly fishing and spending time with her family.

  • Biggie

    Shop dog

    Biggie came to us very serendipitously, which means it was meant to be. Biggie is a five-year-old border collie and has lived in four homes over the past five years. He is very quiet and timid, but he is very observant. It will take time for him to adjust to his forever home and learn his shop dog responsibilities, but we are thrilled to have him as part of our team.

  • Pi

    Shop dog (in memoriam)

    Pi was born on 03-14-2017 (Pi Day) and left us on 09-14-2024. Pi was raised in the frame shop and was a regular with most project deliveries. She was smart and stubborn, and she was always a client favorite.

A history of creativity…

Our shop building boasts a rich history of creativity dating back to 1894. Originally built as Charlie Wah's Chinese Laundry at the future site of the Sheldon Theatre, it was relocated to its current spot to make way for the theatre's construction.

After the move, Andrew and Edward Lidberg, a father-son team, established Lidberg Studio, one of Red Wing's first photography studios. For nearly twenty years, they specialized in portrait and postcard photography, adding large windows to harness natural light for their portraits.

Over the next thirty years, the building became home to various real estate and photography studios. In 1953, Ms. Louella Champs opened Chalet Studio, providing portrait photography services for 25 years.

For another thirty years, the building housed multiple real estate offices until we moved Red Wing Framing and Fine Art Printing into the space in 2007.