Product Design adjunct professor creates coats for cancer doctors
One of the coats that Larry Murphy designed for his cancer care team.
Larry “Murf” Murphy, Product Design adjunct professor at MIAD, has a unique way of thanking his cancer care team. Each year since 2018, on the anniversary of his surgery, Murf creates designs on lab coats for his doctors. “I iron the jacket, and then I just start and whatever happens, happens,” said Murf in an interview with Fox 6.
In addition to teaching Product Design classes at MIAD, Murf worked as Chief Designer for GE Healthcare. Creating works of art using a lab coat, magic markers and colored pencils for his care team is a “therapeutic giveback” for him. “It allows me to get the situation, get the experience, sort of out of my head through my hands onto a canvas which happens to be a coat. And I get to move away and move ahead,” he says.
Murf presented this year’s coat to radiation oncologist Dr. William Hall at Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Hall says he will display the coat in his office. Murf has no plans to slow down and hopes to create 100 more coats. “All they need to do is keep me alive, and I’ll keep drawing,” he says. Read the full interview with Fox 6.
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.
Intergenerational sharing as knowledge building at MIAD
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) instructor Hj Bullard continued a longstanding collaboration with House of History this semester in their First-Year Experience “Community Connections” class.
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.