MIAD Alumni Association

Eric Oxendorf ’74 (Photography) was presented with the 1st Annual Americana Photo Awards, in the category of Home Town at a prestigious Winners & Nominee Gala Ceremony streamed live online for industry leaders and the International photography community.

"It's an incredible achievement to be selected among the best from the 1,684 entries from 29 countries we received this year" said Basil O'Brien, the awards Creative Director. "Eric Oxendorf’s ‘The Conversation’ is an exceptional image and represents Americana photography at its finest.”

AMERICANA PHOTO AWARDS is the leading international awards program celebrating excellence in Americana photography. Honoring professional and amateur photographers worldwide, the awards recognize outstanding images capturing the spirit, culture, people and visual story of America.

https://www.americanaphotoawards.com/

“The Passage of Being” sculpture by Nate Page ’00 (Painting/Drawing) has been chosen by the City of Madison as the signature piece at the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park on the northeast side of Madison, WI. The Imagination Center will serve as both a library and community gathering space, with Page’s sculpture serving as a centerpiece to draw in visitors.

"I was excited to create a work for the Imagination Center because of its unique combination of park and library," Page said. "Growing up near Madison, recreation and places of learning always felt separate to me, so this project offered a rare opportunity to create something shaped by the energy, interaction and sense of community that emerges when those worlds are brought together."

Image: Design Proposal of "The Passage of Being" by Nate Page

https://www.wkow.com/news/wisconsin-born-artist-selected-to-create-outdoor-sculpture-for-madisons-first-park-based-library/article_67ac09ad-f7a0-4928-ab9b-db5d4c985c3f.html

👏 Another example of exceptional work by MIAD's Class of 2026!

MIAD alum Amy Cannestra '06 (Communication Design) founded Task Creative in Milwaukee to support exhibitions and professional development for emerging artists. Seniors who applied for a 2026 Alumni Senior Thesis Award were also eligible for the Task Graduate Award, receiving mentorship by Cannestra, and use of the Task space this summer.

Ashley Osorio '26 (Fine Art + New Studio Practice) is the inaugural Task awardee. Osorio's Senior Exhibition "Soñando Estados Unidos" drew on interviews with Latino business owners and workers. For her Task award project, she plans to curate a group exhibition "sharing this opportunity with other Latino/Hispanic MIAD students to continue expressing our culture and community."

Thank you to Amy and our generous Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design alumni for providing these incredible opportunities! Watch for an announcement of Osorio’s exhibition this summer.

https://www.miad.edu/miad-task-award-alum-pays-it-forward-with-generous-mentoring

Congratulations to the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design Class of 2026! Over 200 graduates were conferred with their BFA degrees at Spring Commencement ceremonies held at the Pabst Theater on Saturday, May 9, 2026. Welcome to the MIAD Alumni family!

Thank you to Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Critical Studies, David Lawson, for this great faculty perspective photo. Official commencement photos to come!

Get tickets now for MIAD’s Spring Fashion Showcase Thursday May 7!

Tickets at miad.edu/fashionshow
Thursday, May 7: Doors: 5:30 p.m. Showtime: 6:30 p.m.
MIAD, 273 E. Erie St., Milwaukee

Even if you are not attending MIAD's Creative Fusion, you can bid now on more than 125 auction items, including incredible student work! Bid until 7:45 p.m. on Saturday, May 2 at miad.edu/creativefusion 🔗

More than 40 students and 28 alumni connected at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design Alumni of Influence networking event on Tues., April 21, 2026.

This fourth annual event presented by the MIAD Alumni Association Board connected students with alumni of all disciplines for career conversations, making connections, and preparing students for the workplace. The energy of the event was infectious!

We are grateful to our alumni for meeting with the next generation of talented MIAD creatives!

Contact [email protected] on how to get involved as an alum!

Photos by Emily York '27 (Fine Art + New Studio Practice)

Visit the 2026 MIAD Fine Art + New Studio Practice Senior Exhibition on view at the Charles Allis Art Museum! 4/17 and 4/24 are free Fridays!