Sculpture Milwaukee Presents Sculptor Joel Otterson and Music Director Ken-David Masur in Conversation With Artist and Curator Michelle Grabner
April 16, 5:15 PM
Bradley Symphony Center
212 West Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee, WI — Sculpture Milwaukee is pleased to present artist Joel Otterson and conductor Ken-David Masur, music director of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, together in a far-ranging conversation about art, creativity, and the foundational role of the arts in civic life. The April 16 discussion, part of our ongoing Sculpture Milwaukee Talks series, will be moderated by artist Michelle Grabner, curator of Kohler Co.’s Arts/Industry Collection and a former Sculpture Milwaukee guest curator.
Celebrated in their respective fields, Masur and Otterson have deep, abiding interest in each other’s disciplines. Otterson describes himself as “obsessed with symphonies,” and Masur, now wrapping up his seventh and final season with the MSO, “is as dedicated to art, its histories, and its social implications as Otterson is,” Grabner said.
In addition to exploring connections between art and music, this free public talk will touch on Voluptuous Desire, the monumental piece by Otterson now on view in the Ellen & Joe Checota Atrium at the Bradley Symphony Center as part of Sculpture Milwaukee’s current exhibition, Actual Fractals. Otterson produced the cast-iron sculpture, which takes the shape of an ancient Greek amphora, in 2018 while he was a participant in the Arts/Industry program, a unique residency administered by the John Michael Kohler Arts Center and hosted and funded by Kohler Co. in Kohler, Wisconsin.
“I’m tremendously excited to bring Otterson and Masur together with Grabner, all world-renowned creatives who’ve made lasting marks on the cultural life of our city and state,” said John Riepenhoff, executive director of Sculpture Milwaukee. “This event is the result of the generous, thoughtful, ongoing collaboration we enjoy with the MSO, the John Michael Kohler Art Center, and Kohler Co, and it reflects the robust cultural infrastructure we are continuing to build together here.”
About Ken-David Masur
Hailed as “fearless, bold, and a life-force” (San Diego Union-Tribune) and “a brilliant and commanding conductor with unmistakable charisma” (Leipziger Volkszeitung), Ken-David Masur’s tenure as music director of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra has been notable for innovative thematic programming and bridge-building, including a festival celebrating the music of the 1930s, when the Bradley Symphony Center was built; the Water Festival, which highlighted local community partners whose work centers on water conservation and education; and a new city-wide Bach Festival celebrating the abiding appeal of J.S. Bach’s music in an ever-changing world. He has also instituted a multi-season artist-in-residence program and led highly acclaimed performances of major choral works, including a semi-staged production of Peer Gynt.
About Joel Otterson
Born in Los Angeles in 1959, Otterson received his BFA from Parsons School of Design
in 1982. He was an artist-in-residence with the Arts/Industry program in 1991, 2017, and 2018. His work has been exhibited at many international galleries and museums, including the Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY; the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY; the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, MA; and the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, CA. Otterson’s work is included in the permanent collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Hammer Museum, the Cincinnati Art Museum, and many other public and private collections. He lives and works in Los Angeles.
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.
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Sculpture Milwaukee
Installation of New Works by Martine Syms in Milwaukee’s Bronzeville District, Presented by Bronzeville Center for the Arts and Sculpture Milwaukee
Dec 10th, 2025 by Sculpture MilwaukeeNow on view, a streetside exhibition of new works by Martine Syms explores the artist’s dynamic practice and epigrammatic reflections on contemporary life and culture.
Bronzeville Center for the Arts and Sculpture Milwaukee Jointly Announce New Partnership to Present Monumental Public Art in the Bronzeville District
Nov 10th, 2025 by Sculpture MilwaukeeTwo Milwaukee arts organizations will collaborate to bring outdoor installations to Bronzeville, expanding opportunities for diverse audiences to engage with contemporary art by artists of African descent
