Two alumni from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) are exhibiting work at Madison’s Overture Center. Cassandra Smith ’06 (Sculpture) and Stacey Steinberg ’04 (Drawing) both have work on display in separate galleries at the performing arts space.
When MIAD saw on Instagram that former student Daneisha Kirksey had designed graphics and prints for Target’s Black History Month, we reached out to find out what inspires her. Here’s what Kirksey, who studied Illustration and Communication Design, and is a fashion illustrator, graphic designer and an associate apparel designer at Target, had to say.
When she first started at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), Emily Rutherford ’23 (Illustration) originally intended to pursue a career in Animation, even minoring in Digital Media Production. But through an opportunity with the Lubar Innovation Center, she branched out more than she expected by illustrating a children’s picture book.
The Milwaukee Bucks have announced their newest project in a longstanding collaborative relationship with the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD). MIAD alum and former Bucks intern Bree Vouga ’23 (Communication Design), who is now a Graphic Designer for the basketball team, worked with her colleagues to create large posters promoting voting for the Bucks All-Star contenders.
Amy Cannestra ’06 (Communication Design) is opening her newest solo exhibition at Appleton’s Trout Museum of Art. “The Body Problem” explores self-acceptance and how we view our own bodies through a multitude of media.
Chris Terpstra ’12 (Industrial Design) built his first motorcycle at age 14 using an old rototiller engine, an exercise bike and steel fence posts, among other things. Today, the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) alum is still repurposing old parts to build new machines.
Although Paula DeStefanis ’96 (Sculpture) works full-time as the director of the Arts Mill, she does not always get the time to focus on her own artistic practice. Recently, DeStefanis welcomed the opportunity to dive into her own work at a residency at Château d’Orquevaux in Champagne-Ardenne, France.
One alum from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) has found her niche: illustrating mouthwatering depictions of Filipino cuisine. Amira Humes ’21 (Illustration) was recently selected to design a mural, located in Brooklyn, New York, featuring a favorite Filipino dish.
MIAD alum Brandon Minga ‘04 (llustration), principal artist and founder of the House of Rad (hrad), was excited to host the 20th anniversary of the Feed Your Soul benefit for Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin on November 3, 2023. This was the second consecutive time hrad has hosted the event.
Three MIAD Communication Design students received 60th anniversary American Graphic Design Awards from Graphic Design USA (GDUSA) magazine. The students were selected from over 8,000 entries, and judged alongside professional design work. Fewer than 10% of entrants received an award.
The Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM) selected the design of MIAD alum Debbie Sajnani ’16 (Communication Design) for its 2023 annual ornament. The ornaments are recreated each year by artisans using a reserve painting technique, according to MAM.
For decades, Milwaukee has hosted an annual Holiday Lights Festival. To commemorate the festival’s 25th anniversary, Milwaukee Downtown will also host the new Ornament Trail this year. Five Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) alumni and one instructor, who teamed up with both students and alumni, produced giant ornaments for the event.
