Layton School of Art alum passes away

Leon Travanti
Leon Emidio Travanti ’56 (Painting), a graduate of Layton School of Art, passed away on January 21, 2023. The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design currently houses work by Travanti from his time as a student. The prodigious artist also donated two of his works to MIAD’s annual gala Creative Fusion.
Displaying an interest in art from an early age, Travanti pursued a degree at the Layton School of Art, MIAD’s predecessor college. His storied career included an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Fine Arts, installations at prestigious locations from the Chicago Art Institute to New York’s National Academy of Design and teaching positions at many respected art colleges nationwide. Travanti’s artistic practice spanned fine art to graphic design.
Preceded in death by his wife Carolyn White Travanti (1934-2021), herself a remarkable artist, Travanti’s legacy of education and artistic excellence continues to nurture the MIAD community. A celebration of life will be held at Saint John’s on the Lake (1840 N. Prospect Ave) at 1 p.m. on April 1, 2023. The family requests memorials be made to the Milwaukee Art Museum or the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum.
Read Mr. Travanti’s full obituary.
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