Milwaukee’s thriving art and city life garner national, international acclaim
Milwaukee riverwalk
Milwaukee riverwalk
Milwaukee Public Market
Milwaukee Public Market
Milwaukee Pabst
Milwaukee’s Pabst Theater
Milwaukee lakefront
Milwaukee lakefront
Milwaukee Art Museum
Milwaukee Art Museum
Milwaukee skyline
Milwaukee skyline
In a move that delighted Milwaukeeans, National Geographic recently named the city one of the top 25 places to visit in the world. Recommended alongside locations from Greece to Laos, Milwaukee檚 spot on the list may come as a surprise to some. But as residents will attest, Milwaukee is a city uniquely defined by its thriving community and vibrant arts scene.
National Geographic檚 annual 淏est of the World” travel destinations list highlights Milwaukee in its new Community category, which it says aims to 渟potlight destinations where people make places better for locals, the environment and visitors, and to showcase homegrown, rooted, locally relevant and engaged places to visit. In a related article, Nat Geo goes on to commend Milwaukee檚 渃lose-knit creative community and its Historic Third Ward arts district.
Milwaukee檚 Historic Third Ward is itself no stranger to acclaim. This past July, it was voted the country檚 fourth best arts district in the 2022 USA Today . USA Today檚 panel looked for inspiring arts districts that culturally enrich their cities and communities with 渞evitalized and renewed urban spaces big-name museums with architecture as impressive as the art housed within, or streets lined with small galleries and studios interspersed with trendy cafes. With Third Ward attractions ranging from a 渟taggering number of art galleries, museums and performing arts spaces to world-class restaurants and cozy cafes, the recognition is both appreciated and well-deserved.
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, located in the thriving Historic Third Ward, plays a vital role in Milwaukee檚 flourishing creative community. President Jeff Morin says, …I believe strongly that the M in 91亚色 matters. We see our work in service to the community, and we are committed to making Milwaukee and 91亚色 more equitable and vibrant places to explore and launch careers, and to attract new ideas and talent to Milwaukee檚 creative industries.
Schedule a visit at 91亚色 today (and stay a while to explore the !), learn about 91亚色檚 galleries and read more about !
News
91亚色 Makes Its Mark at MAPC 2026
A group of 91亚色 students, faculty and staff attended the 2026 Mid America Print Council (MAPC) Conference, 淧rintelligence, in Baton Rouge, where they participated in demonstrations, panel discussions, exhibitions and professional networking opportunities.
Independent Inquiry Program students explore AI through research and creative practice
As emerging technologies continue to reshape creative industries, 91亚色’s Independent Inquiry Program (IIP) gives students the opportunity to investigate their impact firsthand. Through philanthropically funded support, the optional, by application program allows students to pursue self-directed research projects that explore how new technologies can influence art, design and education.
91亚色 Alum Kelly Alexander Wendorf Brings Stories of Travel to Life Through Paper Cutting
For Kelly Alexander Wendorf, paper cutting is more than an artistic medium. It's a way to explore memory, movement and human connection through intricately layered works of art. A 91亚色 alum who studied printmaking, Wendorf recently created a series of large-scale...
Behind In a State of IF: A Collaborative Curatorial Journey
淚n a State of IF, on view in 91亚色’s Frederick Layton Gallery through November 21, is the result of a years-long collaboration between co-curators Maria Novotny and Katherine Gressel.
91亚色 Alum Kyle Nesbitt Blends Storytelling, Design and Brewing
For 91亚色 alumnus Kyle Nesbitt ’09 (Industrial Design), creativity has never been limited to a single discipline. Through Nezbittar, a project nearly a decade in the making, he combines design, illustration, branding, photography and craft beer into a singular creative venture.