Work on three Riverwalk murals to begin this month

MILWAUKEE (Oct. 8, 2024) – Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21 and the Downtown Placemaking Task Force, in partnership with the Milwaukee Riverwalk District, are leading an initiative to install four new murals along the Milwaukee Riverwalk. Over the next several months, four areas between Mason Street and Knapp Street will be activated with new murals to engage pedestrian and waterway traffic, as part of the new Milwaukee Riverwalk Mural Collection.

A Request for Proposals was released in August for the four new mural sites. The Downtown Placemaking Task Force conducted submission reviews and interviews to select final artists. Beginning this month, three artists will begin work on the Riverwalk at the Knapp Street Bridge, Juneau Bridge Tower and 740 North by 3L Living spaces. A fourth artist will begin work at the Marcus Performing Arts Center in spring 2025.

Unnaturell Design Co.’s mural concept “Luminous Waters” was selected for the Knapp Street Bridge site and will represent the biological diversity of the Milwaukee River through a vibrant, modern palette and illustrative, bold style. Unnaturell Design Co. is the collaboration of Caledonia, Wisconsin-based muralist Thyla Arden and Washington-based artist Ayda Rose. Installation of “Luminous Waters” is expected to begin in mid-October.

CERA’s mural concept was selected for the Juneau Bridge Tower site and is part of the artist’s Light Seekers series, which features a protagonist in a moment of curious and inquisitive exploration. The piece depicts a musician in motion following a light, as a connection to nearby performing arts venues. Milwaukee-based mural artist CERA, a 2012 graduate of the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, will begin installation of this mural in October.

Brian Kaspr was selected as the mural artist at 740 North by 3L Living, where he will install a colorful, energetic collage mural inspired by community feedback. Over 140 community members provided input on their Riverwalk experience, along with Milwaukee icons, lettering, and native plant species, to guide elements of the mural. Kaspr is a visual artist born and raised in Milwaukee, who explores abstraction through the use of typography, lettering, and found imagery. Installation of his mural will begin on October 11.

La Bang Studio, founded by artist Christina Vang, was selected to install “Vessels of Milwaukee” at the Marcus Performing Arts Center site. The mural concept features containers of all shapes and sizes, celebrating the rich narratives and unique assets of the Milwaukee Riverwalk and the Milwaukee Theater District. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Vang graduated from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design in 2009 and has cultivated a creative practice propelled by curiosity, play, and intuition. Vang’s work at the Marcus Performing Arts Center site will begin in spring of 2025.

The Milwaukee Riverwalk Mural Collection is presented in partnership with the Downtown Placemaking Task Force, Milwaukee Riverwalk District, Milwaukee Theater District, Visit Milwaukee and the City of Milwaukee. Since 2017, Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21 and the Downtown Placemaking Task Force have coordinated more than 25 murals throughout Downtown Milwaukee, including Westown in Bloom, Heart & Sol, Schlitz Park mural, Brighten the Passage and the Giannis mural, to name just a few.

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.