Select Page

Remembering Adam F. Nilson, Fine Art alum

Giant mural painted on the side of brick building of a woman on a crescent moon. Text on the mural reads

Adam F. Nilson, Miller High Life mural (photo courtesy of Nilson Studios)

Adam F. Nilson ’03 (Drawing) passed away on March 5, 2023. He was the owner of nationally recognized Nilson Studio, where he created many beloved Milwaukee area murals. Generous with his community, Nilson also hosted art supply drives and mentored students to ensure children had access to the arts.

According to his website, Nilson credits his son Jackson with “the inspiration and courage to strike out on his own.” After graduating from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, Nilson founded his studio mural business. His work spanned private murals and fine art work to Milwaukee hallmarks like the iconic Miller sign. Nilson’s clients ranged from restaurants and breweries to the Milwaukee Bucks, and his work was featured on several HGTV shows.

Starting his career at 17 years old, Nilson created a graffiti mural for his school, Beloit Memorial High School. Even years after graduating, Nilson continued to give back to students at Beloit Memorial and in the Milwaukee community, participating in fundraising efforts and mentoring to keep kids engaged in art.

Nilson’s generous creative contributions profoundly impacted his Wisconsin communities and beyond. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 1 p.m. at the Daley Murphy Wisch & Associates Funeral Home and Crematorium in Beloit, WI. A visitation will precede the service at 10 a.m. Nilson’s family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to charity in his name.

Read Adam Nilson’s full obituary here.

News

GDUSA selects MIAD Students to Watch 2024

Brady VanderHart ’24 and Emma Jenkins ’25, Communication Design majors at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), were named Students to Watch 2024 by Graphic Design USA magazine (GDUSA).

House of Rad and MIAD alum Brandon Minga host Feed Your Soul

MIAD alum Brandon Minga ‘04 (llustration), principal artist and founder of the House of Rad (hrad), was excited to host the 20th anniversary of the Feed Your Soul benefit for Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin on November 3, 2023. This was the second consecutive time hrad has hosted the event.

MIAD students receive 2023 Graphic Design Awards from GDUSA

Three MIAD Communication Design students received 60th anniversary American Graphic Design Awards from Graphic Design USA (GDUSA) magazine. The students were selected from over 8,000 entries, and judged alongside professional design work. Fewer than 10% of entrants received an award.

IAD seniors tour construction site of The Couture

Interior Architecture and Design (IAD) seniors from MIAD were taken to new heights on November 13 when they toured the construction site of The Couture, a 44-story skyscraper under construction that will be Milwaukee’s tallest residential and mixed-use building. The tour was part of a series of tours their senior thesis “Building Systems” class is taking with instructor Dan Kalkman, AIA.

IMPORTANT DATES

Ongoing
Accepting applications for Fall and Spring 2024
Apply now!

December 31, 2023
FAFSA available for 2024-25 school year
Use MIAD's school code: 014203

February 10, 2024 | 12 – 3 p.m.
MIAD Information Day
Register now

February 15, 2024
Application & Merit Scholarship Priority Deadline
Apply now!

April 27, 2024
Admitted Students Day

May 1, 2024
Tuition Deposit Deadline