Josh Hintz

Josh Hintz. Photo courtesy of NEWaukee.

Where do you work and what makes your role awesome?

I’m the owner and director of Var Gallery, Var West. I also own Hawthorn Contemporary, which is directed by Jason Yi.

My role allows me to connect with the most creative people in our city including but definitely not limited to contemporary artists, musicians, poets, comedians, and many more.

How long have you lived in Milwaukee and what brought you here?

I’ve lived in Milwaukee my whole life. I was committed to sticking around Milwaukee and starting my gallery here because I truly believed that the creative world here was strong and was only going to grow larger with the collective commitment of our community.

More dense with quality. There’s a lot of talent in this city and most of them are starting to dig deep. From new galleries to performance venues, fresh spaces are popping up everywhere. It’s amazing what has developed in the last five years in the creative world, so I’m guessing the next will prove just as fortuitous.

What is your biggest hope for this city?

I hope that this city continues to grow responsibly. Milwaukee’s growth should not solely rely on outside development interests, but mostly by the people who exist here and that make it great to begin with. We should uplift our city’s talent and not force them out of spaces when a more well-funded party pulls out their checkbook. Currency should not be the only currency in this city.

What neighborhood do you live in and why do you love it?

I live in Walker’s Point. I moved over here from the East Side six years ago, and I absolutely love it. Walker’s Point remains quiet, yet you can easily walk around the neighborhood and find some of the best galleries, bars, and restaurants in the city.