News
Two MIAD students finalists for Grilled Cheese Grant
The ninth annual Grilled Cheese Grant finalists include two Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) students: Stella Kowalski ’24 (Fine Art + New Studio Practice, Illustration) and Makenna Schibler ’25 (Fine Art + NSP). They are two of five finalists who are in the running for the crowd-funded grant.
Artist Talks provide MIAD student experience in museum world
For Stella Koslowski ’24, presenting at the Art Institute of Chicago during University Partner Fest 2024 “is a great way for students to gain experience in the museum world because it takes your research to a more professional setting and encourages you to have discussions with new people.”
Empathy, heritage, fashion drive MIAD 2024 Senior Exhibition
The future has arrived as MIAD celebrates more than 200 emerging creative professionals at the MIAD 2024 Senior Exhibition April 19 – May 11.
MIAD seniors receive 2024 Alumni Senior Thesis Awards
Thanks to the generosity of alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the college, the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) will award $5,328 to 27 seniors to directly support the fabrication and installation of their senior exhibition capstone projects. Through the application process, students submit plans and sketches for their final project, as well as a budget for materials. Winners were selected by a panel of a record 54 MIAD alumni with experience in fine art and design career fields.
Overture Center gallery hosts MIAD alumni
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.
Direct-to-can printing company cultivates MIAD partnership
For the second year in a row, students in the Packaging Design course at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) will visit Milwaukee’s Craft Beverage Warehouse, a direct-to-can printing company.
Battle of the Bands: Product Design class showdown
French Renaissance alt rock met space cowboy country from the future in one Product Design class at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD). Students in Storytelling: Compelling Narrative of the Design Process were tasked with creating a band, complete with newly designed instruments, stage plots and lighting, costumes and even a feature on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.
Ordinary people doing extraordinary work: Growing Resistance
In the 50th anniversary year at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), the college presents “Growing Resistance: Untold Stories of Milwaukee’s Community Guardians,” an exhibition in the Brooks Stevens Gallery running January 8 – March 2, 2024. Related programs include zine making, a book club, student-guided tours and a story circle with community partners.
Metalwork and molds: MIAD alum on Kohler Residency
Eye-opening and awe-inspiring: this is how Nirmal Raja ’08 (Painting) describes learning to work with liquid metal. The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) alum recently completed the John Michael Kohler Arts Center Arts/Industry Residency in Kohler, Wisconsin.
MIAD Values Recognition Award: Dale Shidler
Dale Shidler, Professor of Communication Design, received the January 2024 MIAD Values Recognition Award at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD). Dale’s nominations highlighted his embodiment of MIAD’s Core Values, especially Integrity, Kindness and Community.
MIAD students, alumni, faculty create work for ThriveOn King
Four Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) community members will contribute to the first floor of the new ThriveOn King community hub on North Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. They make up part of the 20 Milwaukee artists who will convey the history and heritage of Bronzeville in this collaborative space.
MIAD Board of Trustees welcomes new members
The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) Board of Trustees welcomed two new members at their January 2024 meeting. Dr. Daniel A. Schroeder, co-founder and president/CEO of Organization Development Consultants, Inc. (ODC), and Noah Stone, reference librarian and circulation assistant at North Shore Public Library, joined MIAD’s Board.
Lubar Innovation Center students design for Kohler
When Kohler needed t-shirt designs created for their Sustainability Champions program and I-Prize competition, the company turned to the Lubar Innovation Center at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD). From there, staff at the Innovation Center connected Kohler with two MIAD Illustration students.
MIAD alumni exhibit at Overture Center in Madison
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.
MIAD Product Design senior wins a top international award
What do you do when you’re a Product Design major at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) and want to redesign an existing houseware product to meet the needs of the future? If you’re Carl Sabroff ’24, you design the Wobble planter and go on to win one of the top prizes at the International Housewares Association’s (IHA) 31st annual Student Design Competition.
Inclusive fashion design for Target’s Black History Month
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.
Magic as science: Illustration faculty talks comics
A queer, young adult, Frankenstein-inspired exploration of identity, expectations and family: this is the crux of Talia Dutton’s new graphic novel, M is for Monster. Dutton, assistant professor of Illustration at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), talks comics and representation and shares how teaching influences her own art.
Innovation Center connects MIAD alum to book illustration
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.
Rare book art: UWM Special Collections hosts MIAD students
Continuing a decades-long partnership, students from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) visited UW-Milwaukee’s Special Collections to research miniature books for Professor Leslie Fedorchuck’s Magical Miniatures design elective class.
MIAD Illustration students design ‘amazing’ posters for Trek
“Amazing” is how Collin Grotenhuis, creative director at Trek Brand, describes the posters created by MIAD junior Illustration students in the third year of a collaborative partnership between the college and the international bicycle corporation.
Entrepreneurial pursuit: Building a museum experience
Painting, time-based media, interior design, pretty much any creative pursuit – these are all gateways to creative problem-solving and entrepreneurial thinking, argues Scott Schwebel. In his new role as the Milwaukee Art Museum’s chief experience officer, the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) emeritus board trustee shares his perspective on the role of creativity in the business world.
Fine Art professor exhibits at Milwaukee Art Museum, Green Gallery
Peter Barrickman, professor of Fine Art + New Studio Practice at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), maintains a thriving artistic practice outside of his teaching. In the space of a few months, the artist completed a residency in Asención, Chile, was featured in Milwaukee Art Museum’s “50 Paintings” and unveiled a solo exhibition at The Green Gallery.
MIAD students blend art and science in Wisconsin’s Northwoods
Since 2008, select students at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) have taken a weeklong field trip many may find surprising – to Kemp Natural Resources Station in Wisconsin’s Northwoods.
Milwaukee Bucks exhibit posters at MIAD locations
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.
2023 MIAD Wrapped
2023 at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) was a year of opportunity and growth for students, faculty and staff. From closing a $10 million campaign to opening the new MIAD Gallery at The Ave to hosting a series of groundbreaking exhibitions, MIAD celebrates the achievements of its community and looks forward to another exceptional year in 2024.