Select Page

MKE: On the Creative Map

(pronounced ‘mill-e-wah-que’)

A rich heritage, a thriving culture, and long history have created myriad references and nicknames for Milwaukee.  “MKE,” “The Brew City,” and “The Good Land” are only a few of the common phrases used to describe the 30th most populous city in the United States.  Once the home of four of the world’s largest breweries, “The Brew City” characterizes one of Milwaukee’s dominant industries. A unique yellow brick abounds in downtown warehouses, homes and other buildings, evoking the name “Cream City.” Numerous summer festivals have Milwaukee coined as “The City of Festivals,” and the season includes Summerfest, the world’s largest music festival.  But, there are other characterizations of Milwaukee, such as being named a 2013 Top 12 ArtPlace in America, and the 6th best college destination for mid-sized metropolitan areas.

‘Walk Around Milwaukee’ video: more at VisitMilwaukee.org

Milwaukee has other distinct features, often described in a single breath as a small city and big town. The atmosphere is friendly and down-to-earth with a subtle Midwestern charm (think America’s Heartland), and there is a genuine sense of community. And while the general attitude is small-town oriented, Milwaukee has many attributes that you’d find in a large city, such as professional sports teams, museums and galleries, and an incredible variety of restaurants and retailers. Friendly, livable and affordable, the city embraces college students, with several colleges and universities close to the downtown area.

 

Milwaukee Skyline

Lake Michigan provides a spot to cool off during the warm spring and summer months, and is a great place to bike, run, or rent a paddleboat. In winter, the lake is quietly beautiful, with frozen sheets of slowly moving ice, and Lafayette Hill nearby for sledding. Milwaukee’s Lake Park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, designer of New York’s Central Park, and has miles of beaches and adjacent parks.

Once known as a brewing and manufacturing mecca, Milwaukee has truly become a dynamic, contemporary city with strong support for the arts. The Historic Third Ward is one of the fastest-growing residential, commercial, and creative areas in Wisconsin. The internationally renowned Calatrava expansion of the Milwaukee Art Museum, in large part funded by the community, is a sight to behold. The museum graces the lakefront and is within walking distance of MIAD. Theater companies and dance troupes thrive here, as do music groups of every variety. Public sculpture can be found along the Riverwalk and in many places throughout the city. Milwaukee also hosts highly popular, quarterly Gallery Nights, with galleries and museums staying open late to feature discussions with artists, designers, and curators.

So, if you’re looking for a place on the creative map, MKE is it.

 

MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 1
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 2
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 3
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 4
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 5
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 6
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 7
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 9
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 10
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 11
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 12
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 13
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 14
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 15
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 17
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 18
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 19
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 20
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 22
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 23
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 24
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 25
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 26
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 27
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 29
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 30
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 31
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 32
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 33
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 34
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 35
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 36
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 37
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 38
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 39
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 40
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 41
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 42
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 43
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 44
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 45
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 46
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 47
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 48
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 49
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 50
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 51
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 52
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 53
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 54
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 55
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 56
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 57
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 58
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 59
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 60
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 61
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 62
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 63
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 64
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 65
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 66
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 67
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 68
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 69
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 70
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 71
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 72
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 73
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 74
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 75
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 76
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 77
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 78
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 79
MKE: On the Creative Map | Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design 80

View more images in the Milwaukee Image Gallery

For more information on Milwaukee: www.visitmilwaukee.org

**We acknowledge that in Milwaukee, we live and work on traditional Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk, and Menominee homelands along the southwest shores of Michigami (Big Lake), part of North America’s largest system of freshwater lakes, where the Milwaukee, Menominee, and Kinnickinnic rivers meet and the people of Wisconsin’s sovereign Anishinaabe, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Oneida, and Mohican nations remain present.**

News

Senior’s passion for Illustration and Natural Sciences thrives at MIAD

Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) senior Lilly Zbiegien’s two passions – Illustration and Natural Sciences – flourished at an early age and have continued through college. Recently Zbiegien presented her Natural Science Independent Study research, “Junkyard Nests,” showing not only the impact of plastic pollution on birds, but also her skill in portraying the environment through Illustration.

Reducing food insecurity at MIAD’s People’s Pantry

Students, staff and faculty at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) are addressing short-term food insecurity on campus with direct action. One of the college’s newest resources, the People’s Pantry, provides free food for anyone in the MIAD community who needs a meal, no questions asked.

gener8tor Art x Sherman Phoenix announces 2024 Fall Cohort

Of the seven Milwaukee artists selected for the gener8tor Art x Sherman Phoenix 2024 Fall Cohort, three are part of the community at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD). Assistant Professor Morgan Bouldes, current senior Nomka Enkhee ’25 and Photography & Digital Media Lab Technician Grant Gill ’13 (Photography) were selected as part of the grant and mentorship program.

Painting is alive at the Painting is Dead Gallery

It’s over 20 years and 30 miles from a figure drawing class at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design to the new Painting is Dead Gallery in Fredonia, Wis., owned by Katie Musolff ’04 (Painting) and Andy Fletcher, who first met in the class.