UW-Milwaukee’s 49th Annual Juried Show Features Milwaukee’s Talented Student Artists

Artist Julia Bradfish was awarded Best In Show at UWM’s Juried Art Show for her oil portrait, “Regimen,” featuring a woman shaving her legs on the toilet. Bradfish, one of three women honored with awards at the show, reflects on her experiences as a woman throughout several of her pieces.

“I address stereotypical expectations of women in society,” said Bradfish. “I also address other themes like family dynamics and how they impact your identity as well as nostalgia.” 

During the opening reception on Feb. 24, the top exhibiting artists were announced and awarded with cash prizes. In addition to Bradfish’s award, MIAD student Caroline Calvano was awarded first runner up for her wood sculpture “Loopy Stool.” Clare Curran was awarded second runner up for her accordion screen-printed book, “Five Homes.” MIAD student Ryan Story was awarded third runner up for their photo “Cardboard Castle.” UWM’s Karissa Demotto and Alex Renier were awarded honorable mentions for their works “Tooth Container” and “Bell.”

“I use art as a way of looking inward and taking time for myself,” said Julia Bradfish, winner of Best in Show. “I am interested in self-discovery and tend to use paintings as a sort of therapy by addressing events I’ve experienced. I also enjoy the sense of control, which is helpful when touching on individual experiences.” 

The art show, which ran from Feb. 21 to March 18, was juried by Milwaukee artist Evelyn Patricia Terry, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design Associate Professor Brad Bernard and UW-Mliwaukee Associate Lecturer Lois Bielefeld. The show featured dozens of student artists covering mediums like painting, metal work, photography, ceramics, sculpture and more. 

“I enjoy working with printmaking and metalwork,” said Demotto. “Printmaking relies more on the imagery and treatment of the surface. I also like the contrast of working with metal because it is about creating something physical, something that you would be able to hold in the palm of your hand.”

UW-Milwaukee’s art professors and lecturers have helped students not only develop students skills, but foster a sense of self in the process of creating. 

“My time here at UWM has given me the opportunity to explore and learn how to create art that has my own voice and style embedded within each composition,” said Demotto. “Being able to refine my own aesthetic has really allowed me to make my artistic voice stronger.”

Bradfish noted that professors Angie Piehl and Shane Walsh have been particularly helpful.

“My first two years of studying painting and drawing I was determined to master foundational skills and noticed that my work improved in terms of color usage and proportionality,” said Bradfish. “This past semester has been by far the most crucial because I started to shift my focus to the ideology of my work and understanding that being a student and an artist are two vastly different things. My work now focuses on the message that I want to deliver to the viewer which not only makes me more driven to create but also makes for a more intriguing image.” 

Both Bradfish and Demotto are graduating in spring 2023. 

“Since I only have a year left at UWM, this is always in the back of my mind,” said Bradfish. “I would like to be able to sell prints of my work. I am also interested in potentially attending graduate school to further my education which would be beneficial for my career.”

As they approach graduation, they are figuring out how to transition from being full-time students to investing in their careers as artists.

“Moving forward, I plan to continue building my social media platform,” said Demotto. “I will eventually dive into creating my own small business.”

The 49th Annual Juried Show ran from Feb. 2 to March 18 at the Union Art Gallery. The next exhibition is the “First Year Experience,” running from April 14 to 29.