$20,000 prize to be awarded in nation’s largest live, bracket-style painting competition

WAUWATOSA, Wisc. (Wednesday, April 16, 2025) – Discover Wauwatosa will host ART 64® presented by North Shore Bank in The Village of Wauwatosa on Friday, June 6 and Saturday, June 7. This is the fourth year of the one-of-a-kind, bracket-style live painting tournament with a $20,000 grand prize. It’s the largest juried live painting tournament in Wisconsin, featuring 64 artists that were selected from a pool of 400 applicants coming from 37 states and 16 countries. For the first year, international artists are set to travel to Wauwatosa from Spain and Mexico to compete.

Members of the public are invited to watch the paintings come to life during the competition and can vote for their favorite paintings online. The artist in each pairing with the most votes advances to the next round. The third (and final) round features 16 artists competing for the grand prize. Paintings created at the event will be available for purchase through an online silent auction.

New this year, ART 64 will also host an artist market during the event on Saturday, June 7, with additional works by the participating artists available for purchase.

Over 11,000 people visited The Village of Wauwatosa during the event in 2024, nearly quadruple the amount of the 3,000 visitors that attended the original 2022 event. There were 9,415 votes cast last year, as well as more than 100 paintings sold.

“ART 64 is a one-of-a-kind experience, offering visitors not only the opportunity to watch art being created but also the chance to interact with the artists, while the competition component takes this public art experience to a whole new level,” says Beth Gleesing, Tourism Specialist at Discover Wauwatosa. “The Village of Wauwatosa offers the perfect backdrop for the event where guests can explore great local dining, shopping and entertainment.”

The free, family-friendly event will take place in The Village of Wauwatosa on Friday, June 6 between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. and on Saturday, June 7 between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (with the Tosa Farmers Market happening a short walk away Saturday morning). Food and musical entertainment will be available on the streets holding the tournament, as well as a dedicated North Shore Bank-sponsored kids’ area. Local businesses will add to the festive ambiance with unique experiences. Limited edition ART 64 merchandise will be available for purchase during the event. To accommodate the event, Harwood Avenue, State Street, and Underwood Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic. DJ Dori Zori from 88Nine Radio Milwaukee will emcee the event.

Guests are encouraged to support local businesses in the event area before, during, and after the tournament, including at ART 64 major sponsors Frank & Larry’s Buckatabon Tavern & Supper Club and Hollander Grand Café.

“ART 64 brings a special kind of magic to the heart of The Village of Wauwatosa each summer, and we’re excited to be back sponsoring another great year,” says Eric Wagner, founder and CEO of Lowlands Group. “As one of the premier events in the Milwaukee area, it’s a celebration of art, music, and local hospitality that Café Hollander and Buckatabon are proud to support.”

Last year, the winner of the $20,000 grand prize was Chicago-based artist Tyrone Acierto.

“As the winner of the ART 64 painting contest, I can confidently say it was one of the most rewarding and inspiring experiences of my career. The live painting format challenged me to push my creative boundaries, while the support and energy of the community fueled my work,” says Acierto.

For more information about ART 64 and to RSVP for event updates, please visit: discoverart64.com.

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.