The AAA Four-Diamond PFISTER® Hotel in Search of its Next Artist In Residence

Milwaukee, Wis., November 29, 2017 – The AAA Four-Diamond Pfister Hotel, owned and managed by Marcus Hotels & Resorts, is in search of its next Artist in Residence. Entering its 10^th year, The Pfister Hotel’s internationally recognized Artist-in-Residence program is an opportunity for an artist to be at the forefront of Milwaukee’s art scene, showcasing his or her work in a studio gallery on the first floor of Milwaukee’s most prestigious hotel.

The Pfister’s Artist-in-Residence program allows local artists to share their work and interact with guests one-on-one in the studio gallery or at art receptions, gallery nights, classes and events hosted by the resident artist. The next artist, succeeding tintype photographer Margaret Muza, will move into the studio space April 1, 2018, and will continue working at the hotel for a one-year period.

Each year, a committee of influential art enthusiasts from throughout the Milwaukee community selects The Pfister’s resident artist from a pool of highly qualified candidates. The committee takes into account the artist’s vision for the gallery space, his or her body of work, artistic process, personality and a public vote.  The selected artist works in The Pfister Hotel’s art studio and gallery that is open to hotel guests and the public. The program encourages visitors to interact with the artist, while watching the evolution of each piece of work firsthand.

“This coming year marks a special milestone as we welcome our 10^th resident artist,” said Tim Smith, general manager of The Pfister Hotel. “The Pfister’s Artist-in-Residence program has touched hundreds of guests and residents over the years as we provide a one-of-a-kind, engaging experience that allows visitors to learn about new art forms and interact with our artist in a creative studio environment. Since our first artist was selected in 2009, our program has become nationally and internationally recognized, earning recognition from The New York Times, Globe and Mail and other top-tier publications. We are proud to have hosted a diverse group of talented artists including painters, fiber artists and photographers, and remember them by their legacy pieces that adorn the Pfister hallways. Each artist has had a role in our success and we are excited to welcome the next Artist in Residence who will make this year even more special.”

Margaret Muza, current resident artist, said the Artist-in-Residence program has given her a deeper perspective about herself as an artist and her photography. “Working in the historic Pfister Hotel has provided me with a great atmosphere to use my unique artform. From the gorgeous architecture of this timeless Milwaukee treasure to the hotel guests and staff I interact with, I’ve learned so much. This opportunity has allowed me to grow as an artist as I share the process of tintype photography with others.”

The deadline to apply for the program is December 14, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. CT.  Interested artists can download the application online at http://www.thepfisterhotel.com/artist-in-residence. 

In the years since its inception in 2009, The Pfister’s Artist-in-Residence program has been critically lauded as not only a pioneering Wisconsin Artist-in-Residence program, but as an example of a hotel taking its dedication to the local community above and beyond traditional expectations. With a deep appreciation and connection to the arts, launching an Artist-in-Residence program was a natural step for The Pfister Hotel, and in the years since, each artist that has held the residency has helped to grow and evolve the program to its current incarnation today.  Marcus Hotels & Resorts has introduced similar Artist-in-Residence programs at additional owned proprieties including The Skirvin Hilton Hotel in Oklahoma City, Okla. and The Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln, Neb.

About The Pfister’s Artist-in-Residence Program

Entering its 10^th year, The Pfister’s Artist-in-Residence program features a working art studio and gallery that is open to hotel guests and visitors. The program encourages the public to interact with the artist and witness the evolution of each piece firsthand.

Over the years, The Pfister has received national attention for its Artist-in-Residence program. Since 2009, the hotel has been a member of the Alliance of Artist Communities, http://www.artistcommunities.org, an international association of artists’ communities and residencies featuring a diverse field of more than 1,000 programs worldwide.

The program’s current artist is Margaret Muza (2017-2018), www.margaretmuza.com.  Past artists include Pamela Anderson (2016-2017), www.pamelaandersonstudio.com; Todd Mrozinski (2015-2016), www.toddmrozinski.com, Niki Johnson (2014-2015), www.nikijohnson.com; Stephanie Barenz (2013-2014), stephaniebarenz.com; Timothy Westbrook (2012-2013), https://unicorns.carbonmade.com; Shelby Keefe (2011-2012), http://www.studioshelby.com; Katie Musolff (2010-2011), http://www.katiemusolff.com; and Reginald Baylor (2009-2010), http://www.reginaldbaylor.com.

About The Pfister Hotel

The Pfister Hotel has been the premier hotel in downtown Milwaukee for over 120 years. Originally built in 1893 by businessman Guido Pfister, it was the most lavish hotel of its time. The hotel’s storied elegance had faded following World War II, until 1962, when Ben Marcus, founder of The Marcus Corporation, purchased this grand hotel out of bankruptcy. The Marcus family renovated and restored the hotel to its original glory, adding convention facilities, a parking garage and 23-story guest tower. The Pfister Hotel remains home to the largest collection of Victorian art of any hotel in the world, and offers an interactive augmented reality tour of pieces in this impressive collection.

Today the Pfister Hotel continues its tradition of gracious service and impeccable style, and has been recognized for 41 consecutive years by AAA as a Four-Diamond property. In 2017, The Pfister Hotel was ranked the No. 1 Best Milwaukee Hotel by U.S. News & World Report and was recognized as a Top Hotel in the Midwest in Condé Nast Traveler’s 30^th annual Reader’s Choice Awards. This exceptional property is a member of two prestigious hotel organizations, Historic Hotels of America and Preferred Hotels & Resorts. The Pfister Hotel is located at 424 E. Wisconsin Ave. in downtown Milwaukee. For more information, please visit www.thepfisterhotel.com and follow the hotel on Facebook and Twitter (@PfisterHotel).

About Marcus Hotels & Resorts

Marcus Hotels & Resorts owns and/or manages 18 hotels, resorts and other properties in the U.S. The company’s distinctive portfolio includes city-center meeting hotels, upscale resorts, historic properties, and premium branded and independent first-class hotels. Marcus Hotels & Resorts is an approved operator for all major lodging brands. A leader in the hospitality industry since 1962, Marcus Hotels & Resorts creates asset value for hotel owners through its expertise in management, development and product repositioning, including hotel food and beverage concepts developed by its Marcus Restaurant Group, featuring premier brands such as Mason Street Grill, ChopHouse and Miller Time Pub & Grill. The company is also growing its experiential restaurant concept, The SafeHouse, with a second location that opened in early 2017 in Chicago, Ill. For more information, please follow the company on Facebook and Twitter (@MarcusHotels).

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.