MIAD Alumni Association

08/31/2026

Artists from across the U.S. – from recent graduates to established printmakers – have gathered for over a decade to carve oversized woodblocks and use a steamroller to create large-scale relief prints. Really BIG PRINTS! A Decade of Street Roller Printmaking showcases a selection of their work from these biennial events.

Join Berel Lutsky and Craig Grabhorn for an Artist Talk on September 3, and learn more about this annual event, and the exhibition at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design.

Artist Talk: Thursday, Sept. 3, 6pm
MIAD Auditorium 160
273 E. Erie St.,
Milwaukee, WI

See the exhibition before it closes on September 5, 2026.

MIAD Galleries are free and open to the public, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Really BIG PRINTS! is curated by Berel Lutsky, Craig Grabhorn, and Stephanie Carpenter of Really BIG PRINTS!, along with Teddy Lepley and Laura Farahzad Mayer of MIAD.

https://www.miad.edu/miad-galleries-overview

08/27/2026

Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design alumni are invited to join us for an Alumni Fall Gathering & Emeriti Faculty Recognition—an evening of connection, celebration, and the exciting energy of Gallery Night MKE! We look forward to connecting over our shared legacy, reconnecting with old classmates and faculty, and creating new memories.

MIAD Alumni Fall Gathering & Emeriti Faculty Recognition
Friday, October 16, 2026 | 5–8 p.m.

Join us in honoring the lasting contributions of Dale Shidler and Rina Yoon during a special Emeriti Faculty Recognition.

This event is free and your first drink is on us! Guests are invited to make an optional gift to Alumni Senior Thesis Awards, supporting the creativity of our amazing MIAD seniors!

For more information and to register, visit: https://www.miad.edu/alumni-reunion

Questions? Reach out to us at [email protected]

Photos by Geneva Hebron '24 (Communication Design)

08/20/2026

Congrats to the VP of our MIAD Alumni Board, Nadeena Granville and her company Gaining Visuals, who will be exhibiting at Black Culture Fest at the Milwaukee Brewers game on Friday, August 21, from 1:30 - 3 p.m.

08/18/2026

The paintings of Dan Fleming '10 (Communication Design) embrace a dreamlike quality of places and people, with themes of flowers, water, or shadowy figures inserted into colorful landscapes.

Fleming's dual exhibition with Fernando Rico, The Time We Spend Looking Outside, at Madison's Carnelian Art Gallery, highlights relationships to nature while reminding the viewer to stop and smell the flowers.

On view through August 30, 2026.

Carnelian Art Gallery
221 King St. Suite 102
Madison, WI 53703

https://carnelianart.com/show/carnelian-art-gallery-the-time-we-spend-looking-outside

08/13/2026

Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design alum Lee Judilla '24 (New Studio Practice/Writing) is a multidisciplinary artist and the Cactus+ In the Clouds 2026 artist-in-residence. On August 19, Lee (they/he) who’s artist name is Midwest Cyborg, will be in conversation with Caesar Nguyen '26 (Fine Art + New Studio Practice), also a multidisciplinary artist, and part of the newly launched Milwaukee art collective, Barrel O’Monkeys.

The conversation will explore the evolution of Judilla’s art-making through community engagement, organizing, arts education, and their experience through the In The Clouds (ITC) residency, as well as the importance of storytelling in arts practice, and the intersectionality between Asian identity, queerness, and neurodivergence.

Cactus + Artist Talk
Wednesday, August 19, 2026, 6pm
2496 S Wentworth Ave
Milwaukee, WI

Also mark your calendars for Judilla’s community event and screening of “Salimbal” celebrating the 130th anniversary of the Philippine Revolution, August 23, 12-4pm.

In The Clouds (ITC) is the Cactus+ artist-in-residence program which in 2026 supports Wisconsin artists who identify as disabled, neurodivergent, and/or chronically ill. The residency offers resources, provides a stipend, and culminates with an artist talk and an event hosted by the AiR.

Stay connected to Lee Judilla's creative practice via Instagram

08/10/2026

A new mural at John Deere’s Horicon Works created by MIAD professor James Barany ’92 (Drawing) is bringing the company’s history to life. The artwork stretches across multiple buildings along the Rock River, showcasing the evolution of John Deere products while honoring the legacy of generations of employees.

Barany has taught at MIAD since 2000, and is known for his positivity and enthusiasm in the classroom, challenging students to take creative risks, develop their own ideas and build meaningful connections between their artistic practice and professional goals.

The Horicon Works mural adds to Barany’s growing body of public-facing work that connects art, history and community.

The mural is located at:
John Deer at Horicon Works
300 N Vine St
Horicon, WI 53032

Learn more: https://www.miad.edu/a-tribute-to-horicon-works-baranys-mural-celebrates-products-history-and-community

08/07/2026

Barrel O'Monkeys is an emerging artist collective dedicated to creating connection, collaboration and outreach, through personal practice and a dedication to community.

A powerhouse group of MIAD's Class of 2026 alumni, the collective aims to contribute to the Milwaukee art scene by providing space for working artists through collective events.

Join them Sunday, Aug. 9 from 4-8pm for an Exhibition & Studio Warming!

Barrel O'Monkeys
2672 N Holton St.
Milwaukee, WI 53212

Artists include: Anna Barr, Kennedy Ge**er, Elliot Hagen, Jaynee Henningsgaard, Melany Hernandez, Caesar Nguyen, Sydney Short and Rowena Joy.

Find more info at Barrelomonkeysmke on Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/barrelomonkeysmke/

08/04/2026

Riley Peters ’26 (Illustration) was named the Wisconsin State Fair 2026 Fairtastic Grand Champion! Congratulations!👏🥯(Cream Puff Emoji)

🏅 Congratulations to Riley Peters ’26 (Illustration), the Wisconsin State Fair 2026 Fairtastic Grand Champion! Inspired by this year’s theme, “Rooted in Tradition,” Peters’ artwork radiates warmth and nostalgia.

🐮 Wisconsin State Fair starts this Thursday, Aug. 6!

07/27/2026

A bronze sculpture honoring Betsy Thunder, created by Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design alum Debra Fabian '87 (Sculpture), will be dedicated during a ceremony on July 30 in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Betsy Thunder of the Ho-Chunk Nation was born near Black River Falls in the 1850s and was widely known throughout the region as a skilled and knowledgeable medicine woman, providing care to both Ho-Chunk and white patients.

Vanguard Sculpture Services, a MIAD alumni-connected business, also played a key role in fabricating and installing the sculpture's bronze basket element.

Riverside International Friendship Gardens invites the community to celebrate the dedication of the sculpture along with a new Ho-Chunk Garden at Riverside Park.

Date: Thursday, July 30, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: Ho-Chunk Garden, Riverside International Friendship Gardens, Riverside Park, La Crosse, WI

Photo courtesy of Debra Fabian (pictured with sculpture).

07/27/2026

⏰ Last chance to see Don’t Call Me Junior! before it closes on August 1. Featuring projects from every MIAD major and collaborations with community partners, the exhibition offers a glimpse into the future of art and design.

Works Shown
Lauren Garza-Jones ’27 (Fine Art/New Studio Practice) - "Sometimes You Get Discouraged Because I Am So Big"
Layla Smith ’27 (Fine Art/New Studio Practice) - "BLAC"
Layla Yang ’27 (Fine Art/New Studio Practice) - "Vessels And Visitors"
Moss Tucker ’27 (Fine Art/New Studio Practice) - "Can You Grab the Basket?"
James Kramer ’27 (Fine Art/New Studio Practice) - "Mr. Universe"

🔗 More information https://ow.ly/lO1t50Ztrl0

📍MIAD's Frederick Layton Gallery