Curated pieces were selected by a diverse panel of Milwaukee arts professionals
MILWAUKEE– (January 22, 2024) – As part of the $456 million Baird Center expansion, 21 artists, many of whom are local, were selected to create artwork to display in the expanded Baird Center north building and existing south building. The majority of artists were chosen by a highly diverse voting panel assembled by third-party art consultant Public Art Services.
The artist selection process began in April 2022 with a search by Colorado-based Public Art Services, the art consultant chosen to lead the project, for art selection panelists with diverse backgrounds in the visual arts and poetry community.
Public Art Services developed a Request for Qualifications (RFQ), with guidance from Wisconsin Center District (WCD) representatives, to identify international, national, regional and locally-based artists/artist teams to create artwork that speaks to Milwaukee and Wisconsin’s diverse culture and rich history. The RFQ was released in August 2022 and closed in September 2022.
Following a robust selection process, 16 artists/artist teams were awarded contracts. An additional four artists were selected with the assistance of EUA, one of the architecture firms that designed the Baird Center expansion. The expansion will also see the return of the artist who created the iconic Syl, the security guard sculpture positioned in the Baird Center’s south entrance. The artist will create Syl’s female counterpart for Baird Center’s north building.
“Public Art Services did a tremendous job overseeing the artist selection process and the panel identified talented artists whose pieces represent our city and state’s vibrant culture,” Wisconsin Center District President and CEO Marty Brooks said. “I believe this incredible collection will engage and bring joy to Baird Center guests from across the globe for years to come.”
Baird Center is proud to announce the artists/artist teams creating original works to help tell Milwaukee and Wisconsin’s story to Baird Center visitors:
- Ben Butler
- Bluword of Water
- Brandon Minga
- David Najib Kasir
- Ed Marquand, Tieton Mosaic
- FreelandBuck
- Greg Gossel
- Haddad|Drugan
- Jay Yan
- Jeffrey Swider-Peltz
- John Fleissner
- Kathryn Martin
- Kevin Miyazaki
- Marc Sijan
- Mark Brautigam
- Nicolas Lampert
- Nova Czarnecki
- Reginald Baylor Studio
- Rosy Petri
- Tommy Sweeney
- Tuan Tran, Design Fugitives
“It was exciting and gratifying to work with such a diverse selection panel of local artists, poets and arts supporters. The result is a group of artists with deep representation by regional and Milwaukee-based artists,” Public Art Services Creative Design and Project Manager John Grant said. “It’s really what these arts projects are all about and it’s a way for Baird Center to support its community of creative artists.”
To learn more about each of the artists/artist teams and their pieces, contact Joe Scialfa at 414-363-0584 or Charlee Hrubesky at 414-567-8058.