MIAD alumni, faculty featured in Baird Center art collection
MIAD alumni are well represented in the We Energies Foundation Art Collection at the Baird Center, as are MIAD Professor Emerita Jill Sebastian and acclaimed artist Dawoud Bey, who created ”Milwaukee Portraits” of MIAD students. The collection was introduced to the public under its new name at the Baird Center in May 2024.
The alumni are Mark Brautigam, Nova Czarnecki, David Najib Kasir, kathryn e. martin, Brandon Minga and Tom Uttech (Layton School of Art).
“The We Energies Foundation Art Collection has been carefully curated to portray the characteristics, culture, people and landscapes of Milwaukee and the surrounding region,” according to the Baird Center website.
A-Pattern-of-Families-Divided-by-the-Greater-Than
David Najib Kasir, “A Pattern of Families Divided (diptyque),” 2024. Image courtesy of the Baird Center.
Honeyed-by-Nova-Czarnecki
Nova Czarnecki, “Honeyed,” 2024. Image courtesy of the Baird Center.
Uttech-Mikwendamowin
Tom Uttech, “Mikwendamowin,” 1998. Image courtesy of the Baird Center.
Milwaukee-Rising_Brandon-Minga
Brandon Minga, “Milwaukee Rising,” 2024. Image courtesy of the Baird Center.
Transformation-kathryn-e-martin
kathryn e. martin, “Transformation,” 2024. Image courtesy of the Baird Center.
Lake-Michigan_Mark-Brautigam
Mark Brautigam, “Lake Michigan, Photographs (diptych),” 2023. Image courtesy of the Baird Center.
On the site, Brandon Minga describes one of his several works on view: “Milwaukee Rising was created to welcome people into Milwaukee and specifically [the] Baird Center. With modern Milwaukee rising out of the past through its heavy metal and industrial trades the piece looks towards the city’s future being built on the strong backs of the people who made it the machine shop of the world.”
Nova Czarnecki’s “Honeyed features a young woman whose dress is made of water as the central focus, standing within a Wisconsin summer forest just beginning its transition into autumn. The folds of her gown meld into water that holds native Wisconsin fish, floating flowers, fruits that have fallen from the trees above and a fawn coming to drink.”
The artist’s statement continues with the “hopes the viewer can see themselves in the painting and see themselves as royalty.”
kathryn e. martin’s “Transformation, framed in ten pieces, is a snapshot of Milwaukee as it has transformed over the years through a compilation of census data and Milwaukee names, with acknowledgement to the Native American Indians. In each frame, set behind conservation glass, is a 4” low-relief mixed-media work.”
martin is also one of the co-curators of “Viewpoints on ARTservancy: An artists’ residency that supports artists and partnerships with land conservancy,” on view August 19 – October 5, 2024 in MIAD’s Brooks Stevens Gallery.
The Baird Center is open to visitors Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. at 400 W Wisconsin Ave.
News
Students celebrate professional growth at 2024 First-Year Exhibition
An annual tradition at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design from late March through September, the juried First-Year Experience Exhibition celebrates students’ yearlong personal and professional growth.
Ice cream social meets fine art networking at Cone-ections
Through the Intro to Arts Management course at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), five students collaborated to plan a successful artist networking event via ice cream social. Milwaukee-area artists and MIAD alumni visited campus to connect with students and enjoy a cone!
La Mère Brazier: Phoebe Nelson Senior Exhibition 2025
Phoebe Nelson ’25 (Illustration) came to the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) to study children’s book illustration. Now at the end of her senior year, she is writing and illustrating a children’s book about Eugénie Brazier, the first person to get six Michelin stars, for her Senior Exhibition project.
MIAD Independent Inquiry Program launches with three student grants
Galilea Cerda ’26, Tina Voith ’26 and Madi Weglarz ’25 are the first three Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design students selected to receive Independent Inquiry Program stipends to investigate new technologies and their applicability to art and design education. As first-time applicants, each receives a stipend of $1,200 for a six-week Mini Inquiry this summer.
Grilled Cheese grants propel MIAD seniors
Funds from the annual Grilled Cheese Grant helped Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) awardees Siren Harris, Yo Yo collective and Madi Weglarz complete their 2025 Senior Exhibition projects and future work. All the MIAD awardees are Fine Art + New Studio Practice seniors.