Outdoor Paintings

Outdoor Paintings

The Historic Third Ward Association — in conjunction with MIAD — unveiled four new large-scale outdoor paintings in the Third Ward in fall 2024.

View the new works on the exterior walls of the following buildings: Cafe Benelux (326 N. Broadway), MIAD (273 E. Erie St.), Broadway Theatre Center (158 N. Broadway) and Ascension Third Ward (174 N. Broadway).

The outdoor paintings include:

John Kowalczyk’s “Foxes and Friends”
Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway
Sponsored by 333 Water
Artist Statement: “Foxes and Friends features some of the beautiful wildlife you might find along the lakefront in Milwaukee. Foxes are extremely adaptable and can thrive in various environments inspiring us to embrace change with grace and playfulness. Monarch butterflies are symbols of rebirth and transformation. It is delightful to encounter both in our urban environment. I believe in the power of art to connect, build community and spread joy.”

Caroline Ferrero’s “Flying Colors”
Ascension Third Ward, 174 N. Broadway
Sponsored by Tim and Sue Frautschi
Artist Statement: “I appreciate the unique details of the birds that find residence in Wisconsin at various times of the year. Seeing two or more species together is always a special event, because they bring beauty along with their distinctiveness. My mural brings together the Robin, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch, Evening Grosbeak and Baltimore Oriole to represent the diverse people who fly to and from Milwaukee. The hands represent the people of Milwaukee reaching toward and welcoming these visitors. That is the beauty of Milwaukee — a mix of people that come and go. However, it is the culture and community, bound by different colored swirls, that influence and inspire us to learn more about each other.”

Erin Eastham’s “Birds of Wisconsin and the Great Lakes”
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, 273 E. Erie St.
Sponsored by Brian and Laura (Armstrong) Montgomery
Artist Statement: “I have always enjoyed seeing animals and incorporating them in the pieces I make. Since moving to Milwaukee I was surprised by how many bird species and waterfowl visit Wisconsin for the waterways and the lakes. We see seagulls and other birds almost every day in the city, and I wanted to showcase the beauty of these animals that I feel is often overlooked.”

Rachel McNeilly’s “Milwaukee Strong!”
Café Benelux, 326 N. Broadway
Sponsored by The Krei Family (Ken, Andrew and Margaret)
Artist Statement: In April 1945, a lone duck nest was found under the Wisconsin Avenue Bridge, nine eggs nestled within. Despair, exhaustion and uncertainty fogged Milwaukee as WWII neared its end. However, this little nest, alongside the duck who built it — lovingly named Gertie — had shone a new light of hope into the city. The nest was carefully watched over by Boy Scouts and a Wisconsin Humane Society Officer, and eventually six of the nine eggs hatched, each duckling receiving their own name. Gertie and her family became a Milwaukee sensation, visited by over 2 million fans. In this painting, Gertie is recreating the iconic Rosie the Riveter pose to symbolize her significance in reigniting the hope and strength to the Milwaukee community during the final moments of WWII.”

Aquae Nguvu Gallery and Studio

Fri: 5-9 p.m., Sat: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
207 E. Buffalo St., Suites 120 & 130

Seeing Dementia – Chasing Moments: Tracy Keller Nickolaus and Cindy Hansen

An exhibition of the paintings of Tracy Keller Nickolaus and the photography of Cindy Hansen addressing the issues of dementia.

Art Start Studios

Sat: 12-5 p.m.; 5:30-8:30 p.m. opening reception
316 N. Milwaukee St., Suite 280

Greetings from Milwaukee!

Join Art Start at the Opening Reception of Greetings from Milwaukee! Our 2nd annual youth summer art exhibition celebrating summer in the city of Milwaukee and led by the 2026 Art Start Creative Career Summer Interns. Stop by for art viewing, hands-on art activities, performance pieces and more, all highlighting the city
we call home.

Gallery 218

Fri: 5-10 p.m., Sat: 12-5 p.m.
The Marshall Building, 207 E. Buffalo St., Suite 218

36th Anniversary

Celebrate our 36th anniversary on Gallery Night with live jazz by String Theory Guitar Duo And Outthebox jazz band. Art exhibition by Judith Hooks, Bernie Newman, Holly Strope, Jennifer Scavone, Steve James, Rick Sullivan, Rebecca Martinez and Woody Olsen. Oil, acrylic and watercolor painting; photography; and mixed media. Appetizers and cash bar.

Harmonic Harvest Atelier

Sat: 12-4 p.m.
207 E. Buffalo St., Suite 300

Renaissance Threads: A Scrapbook of Silver Lining Stories

Step into our Atelier and explore the latest Renaissance Threads tapestries and community-created Silver Lining Story scrapbooks. Then, join us for a free, hands-on scrapbooking workshop where you can reflect on a meaningful moment, share a story, and add your own creative touch to this growing community archive. No experience is needed — just bring your memories, imagination, and a willingness to create alongside others. Together, we’ll celebrate resilience, connection, and the silver linings that shape our stories.

Harmonic Harvest Marketplace

Fri: 5-8 p.m., Sat: 12-4 p.m.
250 N. Water St.

Art in Harmony – Summer 2026 Artist Unveiling

Join us in welcoming Louie Brewer as the second featured artist in our rotating exterior art series, Art in Harmony. Celebrate the unveiling of two original works displayed in the exterior art frames at our HQ. An imaginative young artist, Louie creates with curiosity, experimentation, and a joy for the creative process. Inspired by color, movement, nature, and the world around him, his work encourages viewers to see things from a fresh perspective. Through his art, Louie hopes to inspire others to create freely, explore boldly, and rediscover the joy and wonder of self-expression.

JK Art House

Fri: 5-9 p.m., Sat: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
191 N. Broadway

Forward V: Our Wisconsin and Regional Artist

Forward V is our fifth annual summer exhibition of Wisconsin artists and the region. This year’s exhibition debuts in our new home
at 191 N. Broadway in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward. Forward V gathers Marc Anderson, Reginald Baylor, Allison B. Cooke, Al Eickberg, Steve Gerhartz, Bobby Girsh, Michael Guinane, Mutópe J. Johnson, Darren Jones, Shelby Keefe, Antwan Ramar, Jolanta Kinga Rose, Colette Odya Smith, Michael Charles Sutton and John Waite. We introduce two emerging artists selected for their exceptional promise: MIAD graduaate Greta Berens and UW-Milwaukee graduate Abigail Tran.

Julius Brown

Fri: 5-9 p.m.
The Marshall Building, 207 E. Buffalo St., Suite 402

SUMMER MIX

Julius Brown presents a selection of favorite video works from the past few years displayed in a very large format. Included will be oval-shaped and other non-traditional shaped videos. If you’ve been wondering what all the fuss is about now is your chance.

Kashes Collection

Fri: 5-9 p.m., Sat: 12-4 p.m.
207 E. Buffalo St., Suite #210

What We Carry

What We Carry explores the unseen weight we move through each day — stress, expectations, grief, joy, memories, and everything in between. These works serve as reminders that while life often asks us to hold more than we realize, we are never defined by the weight itself. Through layers of movement, tension, and release, each painting reflects the constant balance between pressure and presence. The series invites viewers to pause, acknowledge what they carry, and remember that even in the heaviest moments, there is always room to breathe.

Kim Storage Gallery

Fri: 5-8 p.m., Sat: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (Artist Talk: 1 p.m.)
The Marshall Building, 207 E. Buffalo St., Suite 404

Color Play

What does color feel like? In the hands of the artists gathered for Color Play, it feels like memory, motion, celebration, and wonder. Kim Storage Gallery is proud to present this vibrant group exhibition featuring the work of Poppy Dodge, Megan Woodard Johnson, Kathleen Waterloo, and Gretchen Warsen — four artists united by an unapologetic devotion to color as a primary language of expression. Across wildly different materials and methods, each artist approaches color not as decoration but as the very subject of their work.

Lela Boutique

Fri: 5-8 p.m. (Artist Meet and Greet); Sat: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
321 N. Broadway

Artist Jill Kenehen-Krey

Artwork featuring travel, nature, food, fashion, community and MKE through her use of photography, collage and paint.

lululemon

Fri & Sat: 10 a.m.-7 p.m
322 N. Water St.

Different Perspectives

Munich born Ella Blame is a multidisciplinary artist whose life has been deeply shaped by both music and visual art. She lived in Munich and Berlin, Germany, and Vienna, Austria, before immigrating to the United States, where she settled in southeastern Wisconsin. Through her works, Ella seeks to distill the essence of rhythm and movement, weaving a visual dialogue between the finished and the unfinished, the raw and the refined, and the interplay of darkness and light.

Material Studios + Gallery

Fri: 5-9 p.m., Sat: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
The Marshall Building, 207 E. Buffalo St., Suite 600

Art is Community

Explore the creative spaces of 22 working artists as they open their studios, share their processes, spark conversation, and celebrate the connections that art creates. As Milwaukee’s largest artist collaborative in the Historic Third Ward, Material Studios + Gallery encompasses more than 6,900 square feet of creativity.

Visitors will have the unique opportunity to engage directly with artists, experience a wide range of creative practices, and discover how individual voices come together to strengthen our collective creative community. Join us as we explore what Art is Community means — both personally and together.

Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design

Fri: 5-9 p.m., Sat: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
273 E. Erie St.

Don’t Call Me Junior!

Showcasing works across all MIAD majors from the junior year, Don’t Call Me Junior! focuses on the talent and vision of a new generation of emerging artists and designers. The exhibition reflects how the third year curriculum prepares students for careers in their respective fields. The featured work covers projects from courses in all of MIAD’s BFA majors and includes collaborations with community partners.

Really BIG PRINTS! A Decade of Steam Roller Printmaking

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.

Milwaukee Public Market

Sat: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
400 N. Water St.

Pop-Up Art Market

Milwaukee Public Market’s popular Pop-Up Art Market is back — and this time it’s outside at Riverwalk Commons! Enjoy free live music on the Riverwalk Commons stage, drinks from the Shipping Container Bar and food from local food trucks, while you browse and shop handmade goods created by talented local artists.

One Hundred Percent MKE

Fri: 5-9 p.m., Sat: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
217 N. Broadway, Third Floor

Return to Creativity

Gallery Night is back at One Hundred Percent Milwaukee — and there’s so much new to discover. If you’ve visited us before, we invite you to come again. This summer, we’re welcoming new resident artists and showcasing fresh work from artists who are deeper into their residency, revealing how their ideas and practices have evolved over time. Step into our third-floor working studio, experience art in progress, and reconnect with a creative community that’s always growing. Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, there’s something new waiting for you here.

Pamela Anderson Studio + Gallery

Fri: 5-9 p.m., Sat: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
The Marshall Building, 207 E. Buffalo St., Suite 600

Print Drop! Bodacious Peonies

Artist Pamela Anderson will debut a limited-edition print release of Bodacious Peonies during Gallery Night. Inspired by peonies from her garden, a cherished-vintage pitcher discovered in Aspen decades ago, and the vibrant spirit of her home, Jewel Box, this painting marks a new chapter in her artistic practice. Created as a deeply personal work, the original painting will remain in the artist’s collection. Each signed and numbered giclée offers collectors an opportunity to bring this joyful, color-filled celebration of beauty, memory, and everyday life into their own homes.

Portrait Society Gallery of Contemporary Art

Fri: 5-8 p.m., Sat: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
207 E. Buffalo St., 5th Floor

Khari Turner: Grandma’s Garden

A Milwaukee native who now lives in New York City, Khari Turner presents a new body of work about his grandma’s garden, with images that relate to deeply embedded childhood experiences. Some of the new work combines painting and stained glass in monumentally scaled compositions. His work is distinguished by its painterly flow of imagery where the human body is revealed and concealed.

Skylight Music Theatre

Fri: 5-9 p.m.
158 N. Broadway

Brushstrokes & Broadway

Join Skylight Music Theatre for an evening of Broadway karaoke, featuring favorite performers sharing their singing talents in a fun, lively setting. Guests can enjoy a cash bar while exploring the work of and meeting Wisconsin oil painter Karen Elwing. Elwing’s original paintings, fine art prints, and art-inspired gifts celebrate the beauty of Door County’s shorelines, gardens, rural landscapes, and small-town charm.

Please Note: Artist Karen Elwing will showcase her work Saturday noon-4 p.m. in Catalano Square.

The Catacombs of Neto / Las Catacumbas de Neto

Fri: 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
207 E. Buffalo St., #LL18

To Exist – Behind the Curtains

The Catacombs of Neto Art Museum presents Behind the Curtains by Neto Atkinson alongside guest artist Le Spider’s debut solo exhibition, TO EXIST. Together, these deeply personal bodies of work explore the human experience through layered imagery, intimate narratives, and emotional depth. Neto Atkinson draws viewers into unseen spaces of reflection and vulnerability, while Le Spider confronts themes of silence, endurance, and survival.

Each exhibition offers a distinct yet connected journey through darkness, resilience, and self-discovery. This immersive experience invites viewers into a shared space of connection and contemplation, where beauty emerges through perseverance and the power of continuing to exist.

The District Row

Fri: 5-8 p.m.
249 N. Water St.

“Through MattO’s eyes” — Photography with a twist

Tiki legend MattO brings his photography to life via familiar places and spaces. Experience “through MattO’s eyes” artistry, where photos meet technology in a unique and playful expression.

Tory Folliard Gallery

Fri: 5-8 p.m., Sat: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
233 N. Milwaukee St.

Summer in Wisconsin

Summer in Wisconsin highlights the extraordinary talent in Wisconsin art. This exhibition features paintings, drawings, sculpture, and photography by the state’s best- known contemporary artists. As our largest exhibition of the year, Summer in Wisconsin features over 100 new works by established and emerging artists. This diverse collection showcases the creativity and mastery that define Wisconsin art.

Historic Third Ward

Participants