Meet Makenna Schibler and 2025 Senior Exhibition Project Day Ten
This is one in a series of online interviews with MIAD seniors, who share their thoughts about their 2025 Senior Exhibition project and their MIAD education.
Makenna Schibler ’25 (Fine Art + New Studio Practice) is from Louisville, Ken.
What is your “elevator pitch” for your senior exhibition project?
I am a practicing fiber artist based in Milwaukee. I use techniques such as freeform crochet, knitting, tufting, sewing and quilting to reimagine the digital image as a tactile 2D wall work. For my senior thesis, I decided to create from familiar imagery of the traditional American values with a combination of a deteriorating dollar bill, a pair of blue jeans with cowboy boots, and two fishbowls. The bill and blue jeans are connected in themes of blue collar with the ironicism of the use of material. The fish bowls placed underneath/adjacent the blue jeans serve as a foundation for the individual.

Makenna Schibler, “Day Ten,” 2025.

Makenna Schibler, “Day Ten,” detail, 2025.

Makenna Schibler, “Day Ten,” detail, 2025.

Makenna Schibler
Anything you’d like to share about yourself or MIAD?
I am so grateful for how MIAD helped segue me to connections outside of the school, properly introducing me to the Milwaukee art scene. I’m thankful that I am the most motivated I’ve ever been while making art and so excited to continue.
I am involved in a couple of community art projects around the city of Milwaukee that will surface later in the year. I’ll continue to submit and exhibit new and old works in and out of the city while accepting commission work. My involvement with MIAD will also continue over the summer with workshops. Very excited about what’s to come!
News
MIAD student duo publishes issue 2 of Triple magazine
Co-founded by Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) students James Kramer ’27 and Lydia Walz ’26, Triple3 Magazine is an independent, Milwaukee‑made arts and culture publication.
Meet Emma Jenkins and 2025 Senior Exhibition project Rowan
Meet Emma Jenkins and 2025 Senior Exhibition project Rowan. Emma Jenkins ’25 (Communication Design) is from Milwaukee.
MKE Prints exhibition installed at MKE airport
MKE Prints is a collection of hand-pulled screen prints was created by Communication Design students at MIAD on view at the MKE airport.
Recollection Wisconsin digitizes Guido Brink collection
Thanks to the Recollection Wisconsin Digitization Initiative, the Guido Brink collection at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) will soon be digitized and available for public access. Current UW-Milwaukee graduate student Ceceilia Loeschmann is digitizing and cataloging the collection during summer 2025.
Student commission celebrates previous MIAD board chair
Deanna Tillisch, outgoing chair of the board at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), received a student-commissioned monotype print in recognition of her service. “Deanna Dancing” was made by Anna Louise Barr ’26 (Fine Art + New Studio Practice).