MIAD faculty, alumni shine at WI Visual Art Achievement Awards
Professor Leslie Fedorchuk and alumni of the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) received four of the eight individual 2026 Wisconsin Visual Art Achievement Awards for “their significant contributions to the state’s creative culture.”
Professor of Writing & Humanities and Director of Service Learning Fedorchuk received the Educator (University) Award. Alumni Rachel Hausmann Schall ‘15 (Integrated Studio Arts) received the Arts Writing Award for her work at Artdose magazine; Chad Alexander Matha ’24 (Fine Art + New Studio Practice) received the Emerging Artist Award; and Brandon Minga ’04 (Illustration) received the Community Arts Advocate Award for House of Rad.
In May, the same month as receiving the WVAA award, Fedorchuk concluded more than 30 years at MIAD. Her many achievements include developing and teaching courses in the humanities, art history, writing, letterpress and book-arts, and she played a pivotal role in the founding of MIAD’s Service Learning Program.
Fedorchuk is also a sought-out national and international artist-in-resident, consultant, panelist, presenter and teacher, who maintains, and shares, an active practice of lifelong learning.
“This award was such a welcome validation of not only my work, but also the work of my MIAD colleagues,” says Fedorchuk. “Sharing the day with so many former students who are accomplishing and contributing so much to the world through their work makes the award especially meaningful.”
Arts Writing Awardee Rachel Hausmann Schall. Photo courtesy of Adam Ossers, docMyArt
Emerging Artist Awardee Chad Alexander Matha. Photo courtesy of Frank Juarez Artdose Magazine
The biennial WVAA awards are co-sponsored by the Museum of Wisconsin Art and the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters.
Professor Leslie Fedorchuk and alumni of the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) received four of the eight individual 2026 Wisconsin Visual Art Achievement Awards for “their significant contributions to the state’s creative culture.”
Professor of Writing & Humanities and Director of Service Learning Fedorchuk received the Educator (University) Award. Alumni Rachel Hausmann Schall ‘15 (Integrated Studio Arts) received the Arts Writing Award for her work at Artdose magazine; Chad Alexander Matha ’24 (Fine Art + New Studio Practice) received the Emerging Artist Award; and Brandon Minga ’04 (Illustration) received the Community Arts Advocate Award for House of Rad.
In May, the same month as receiving the WVAA award, Fedorchuk concluded more than 30 years at MIAD. Her many achievements include developing and teaching courses in the humanities, art history, writing, letterpress and book-arts, and she played a pivotal role in the founding of MIAD’s Service Learning Program.
Fedorchuk is also a sought-out national and international artist-in-resident, consultant, panelist, presenter and teacher, who maintains, and shares, an active practice of lifelong learning.
Arts Writing Awardee Rachel Hausmann Schall. Photo courtesy of Adam Ossers, docMyArt
“This award was such a welcome validation of not only my work, but also the work of my MIAD colleagues,” says Fedorchuk. “Sharing the day with so many former students who are accomplishing and contributing so much to the world through their work makes the award especially meaningful.”
Emerging Artist Awardee Chad Alexander Matha. Photo courtesy of Frank Juarez Artdose Magazine
The biennial WVAA awards are co-sponsored by the Museum of Wisconsin Art and the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters.
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