Sebastian Penn: Senior Exhibition 2025

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.

Sebastian Penn ’25 (Animation Track in Illustration), “From Home to Legacy: Black and Queer Bars in Milwaukee.” Sebastian is a President’s (Honor) List student from Holman, Wis.

What is your “elevator pitch” for your senior exhibition project?

“From Home to Legacy” is an animated short talking about the history of black and queer bars in Milwaukee, their importance and also how they connect to current community organizations in the city like the House of History and Diverse and Resilient.

What has the senior exhibition experience been like for you?

This senior exhibition has been a really busy but exciting time. When the year first started, I put a lot of pressure on myself to have all the answers, but I have learned that this is just the start of my career as an animator, not the end. This experience has offered me the time to explore what that future looks like for me.

The Animation Track pushes you to consider where this project can take you and reinforces that it should be something you ultimately enjoy. I found that I wanted my work to surround Milwaukee, and the culture I have come to be a part of here. That is why I looked into the history of black and queer people in the city and the vital impact they have made. Through working on this project, I have not only made amazing connections with my fellow MIAD students, but also the beautiful communities in the city that deserve all the care and celebration this world has to offer.

What will you take away from this project as you transition into the professional world?

Going into this project, I really wanted to become more comfortable as an animator and develop my artistic voice with the medium. I was not sure how I would fit into a professional industry after college, but these past couple of years and thesis, specifically, have made me more confident. I’ve learned how to storyboard, create color scripts and develop a cohesive look for a longer animated project. Effect animation and dynamic transitions are two things that I have really wanted to focus on, and my thesis has been a great testing ground for that as well. I want to enter the marketing and advertising world after graduation, and I think all of these skills I have developed will be a great asset to achieve that goal.

Anything else you’d like to share about yourself or MIAD?

My MIAD experience has been interesting. Going into college, I was really unsure of my voice as an artist/designer, but I think the community I have found both in and outside of school has helped me find it. This year specifically, I have made a ton of projects that I am really proud of. Last summer, I was able to work with the House of History, an organization dedicated to documenting and celebrating black and LGBTQ history in the city. I found out about the project through a MIAD professor, and it really influenced my current thesis topic. I really love focusing on black and queer culture in my work and shedding light on why the safety of these communities are important. I am also a part of our school’s BLAC (Black Leaders Art Coalition), and we are really trying to build community with the black students at MIAD and build a safe space for us to thrive.

After graduation, I will be doing an internship with BrandLab, a marketing and advertising organization that focuses on uplifting BIPOC talent and diversifying these industries. After that, I will be focusing on building up my portfolio and freelancing in Milwaukee.

Apply to MIAD and plan your visit to MIAD’s Senior Exhibition!