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
Meet Carmen Briones and 2026 Senior Exhibition Project Echo
Carmen Briones ‘26 (Product Design) is a President’s (Honor) List student from Cambria, Wis., president of the MIAD IDSA student chapter and an intern at SI Jacobson Manufacturing. Briones designed a device called “Echo” that removes ovarian cysts without surgery.
Meet Eeshaan Dutt and 2026 Senior Exhibition Project Indra Supreme
Eeshan Dutt ‘26 (Illustration) is a President’s (Honor) List student from India and a recipient of a 2026 Alumni Thesis Award. Dutt’s work centers on visual storytelling through sequential art, where he explores how narratives can engage and connect with audiences.
Poster designs boost professional skillsets, children’s nonprofit
Continuing an annual tradition begun in 2010 at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), Illustration juniors worked with Cramer-Krasselt and Penfield Children’s Center to design posters for the center’s Annual Croquet Ball fundraiser.
MIAD Task Award: Alum pays it forward with generous mentoring
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) alum Amy Cannestra ’06 (Communication Design) believes in giving back, in mentoring and in the supportive nature of the Milwaukee art and design community. By founding Task Creative and the MIAD Task Graduate Award, the incredibly busy creative exemplifies all three beliefs. The Task awardee, Ashley Osorio ’26 (Fine Art + New Studio Practice), will receive five consecutive days to use the Task Creative space for a project of their choosing this summer.
Meet Michaela Prischman and 2026 Senior Exhibition Project Cloth
Michaela Prischman ’26 (Communication Design) is a President’s (Honor) List student from Tinley Park, Ill. She created “Cloth,” a tool to help guide young professional women to find and organize alternative work attire through a personalized style subscription box.