December 2025 Creative Session NYC

November 2025 Studio Saturday MKE

316  N  Milwaukee St #280, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Milwaukee Emerging Artist Spring Retrospective

Join us in our new location at Mitchell Street Arts (MiSA) for an evening of professional photoshoots, food, music, & socializing! Featuring special guest professional photographers: Nick Collura & CJ Foeckler.

October Creative Session MKE

April 2026 Studio Saturday NYC

May 2026 Creative Session MKE

May Open Studio Saturday in NYC

January 2026 Studio Saturday MKE

Art Start invites you to our community ofrenda to remember and celebrate the lives of our loved ones passed! Join us as as we honor Dia de los Muertos and the Mexican folk art traditions tied to it.

October Creative Session Milwaukee

"Every Person a Story': A Step-by-Step Zine-Making Workshop with Jade McDonnough 

April Creative Session NYC

Objects of Our Affection

April Creative Session MKE

June Open Studio Saturday in NYC

10 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, New York 11217

New York City Emerging Artist Spring Retrospective

Transparent Conductors: On Audience, Media, Community, and Authenticity

February Creative Session NYC

MKE College Tour: UW-Milwaukee: Peck School of the Arts

January 2026 Creative Session MKE

NYC Kickback & Create

Gallery

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"An art program is helping Milwaukee teens see themselves in their own light, rather than the narratives that surround them." - 

Kings, Designers, Freedom Fighters: Students of Color Reimagine their Future

NYC November Creative Session with Nkosi Nkululeko

November 2025 Creative Session NYC

Cut Through the Noise: Build  Your Brand, Pitch Your Music & Get Paid

March Creative Session NYC

December 2025 Studio Saturday MKE

"Milwaukee, WI – With 30 years of award-winning creative youth programs under its belt, Art Start is pleased to present the 8th iteration of its annual SEE ME BECAUSE multimedia exhibition at the Harbor View Plaza, the first waterfront public park in Milwaukee’s South Side district" - 

Announcing the Art Start Portrait Project “See Me Because” Milwaukee Exhibition

March Creative Session MKE

"A new exhibition entitled "See Me Because" showing the final portraits is now on display at the Starrett-Lehigh Building in Chelsea through June 26." 

"See Me Because" Portrait Exhibition Opens in Chelsea

We're Hiring: Director of Development

April Open Studio Saturday in NYC

Call for Artists: The Artist Statement

June Creative Session MKE

Upcoming Grant Opportunities and Professional Development for
Artists and Creatives! 

Academic Advising Newsletter July 2024

November Creative Session MKE

March Saturday Studio NYC

January 2026 Creative Session NYC

December Creative Session MKE

December 2025 Creative Session MKE

Summer 2026 Creative Career Internship in Milwaukee

MKE Closing Reception: Ripples on Identity & Community

This scholarship is designed to help NYC public and charter school seniors graduating in 2026 pay for post-secondary education.

NYC College Scholarship Opportunity

Gallery Hopping with Art Start

May 2026 Studio Saturday MKE

May Creative Session NYC

Clay Hand-Building Basics Through Bust-Making

February Creative Session MKE

See Me Because, Vol. 16 Exhibition and Book Release

February 2026 Studio Saturday MKE

From Passion to Product: Marketing a Career in the Music Industry

November Creative Session NYC

Sewing with Machines 101 with Khadijah Danielian

September Creative Session NYC

526 West 26th Street,
Suite 10A, New York, NY 10001

Summer 2026 Creative Career Internship in New York City

316 N. Milwaukee St., Suite #280, Milwaukee, WI 53202

See Me Because, Vol. 14 Youth Opening & Art Start MKE Reunion

Call for Youth Art: Advocacy Zine

September Studio Saturday MKE

2026 TCS New York City Marathon

You're invited to Art Start's See Me Because, Vol. 15 Exhibition and Book Release. 

See Me Because, Vol. 15 Exhibition and Book Release

March 2026 Studio Saturday MKE

February 2026 Creative Session NYC

Art and Community Organizing with A.B.L.E.

August Creative Session NYC

July Creative Session MKE

September Creative Session MKE

November 2025 Studio Saturday NYC

Summer 2025 Creative Career Internship in New York City

A Message from the Board of Directors and Co-Executive Directors of Art Start. 

Leadership Transition:

November Creative Session

November 2025 Creative Session MKE

May Studio Saturday MKE

August Studio Saturday MKE

Carve Your Darkness: Prompted Arts Making

October 2025 Creative Session NYC

Loud & Clear: Sharpening the Lyric Tongue with Imani Davis 

"Art Start brings creative opportunities to young people where they are, so they can explore their own potential and inherent talents while establishing a sense of consistency and safety with caring and supportive teaching artists and mentors." - 

Meeting with NGO Art Start

October 2025 Creative Session MKE

526 W 26th St., Suite 10B, New York, NY 10001

Join us in celebrating the personal, professional, and creative achievements of the 2024 Art Start Emerging Artist Residents in New York City

2024 NYC EAR SPRING RETROSPECTIVE

Join us for the Opening Reception June 14th 6-8pm, Sotheby's New York

A multimedia exhibition portraying the complex narratives of underrepresented youth, asking the world to see them as they choose to be seen.

Featuring works produced during the Art Start Emerging Artist Cohort from September 2022 - May 2023 in New York City and Milwaukee and works from the See Me Because Archives

In collaboration with Zackery Maxwell Stertz, Ken Pao, Heidi Gutman, Sara Stathas, CJ Foeckler, Nick Collura, Tann Services, Corner Studio, Pixelbox Studio, Anthony Giacomino, Jim McDonald, DCOY Studios, Gloss, Adriana Andaluz, Rebekah Calo, Jennifer Kessler, Maegan Rebecca, Emma Strachman, and Charles Zambrano.

Production Partners

Featured Photographers

Presenting Partner

See Me Because, Volume 11 New York

The second annual Art Saves Lives Benefit Concert brings together members of the Art Start community to share in an evening of music to celebrate both emerging and professional New York City performing artists, while raising much needed funding for Art Start programs. This year’s headliner is Rodrigo Amarante, joined by Spacecade7s, DJ Ayanna Heaven, Retro Starkey, and Miranda Joan!

The second annual Art Saves Lives Benefit Concert brings together members of the Art Start community to share in an evening of music!

Art Saves Lives Music Benefit

316 N Milwaukee Street #280, Milwaukee, WI 53202

This year’s Retrospective will feature the work of the 2025-2026 Emerging Artist Residents through a gallery exhibition, film screenings, and an artist panel—celebrating their creative, personal, and professional growth over seven months of workshops, mentorship, and individual art practice.
Come celebrate their journeys and achievements with us!


Art Start Studios in the Landmark Building: 316 N. Milwaukee St., Ste. 280 Milwaukee, WI 53202

The Emerging Artist Residency is made possible by our generous sponsors.
Thank you for your support!



This program is supported in part by a grant from the Milwaukee Arts Board and the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin.

Art Start’s 2025-2026 Emerging Artist Residents are proud to present Art Start's Annual Spring Retrospective during Spring Gallery Night MKE. 

2026 Annual Spring Retrospective: MKE

NYC - 526 W 26th St., Suite 10B, New York, NY 10001

MKE - 710 W Historic Mitchell St, Milwaukee, WI 53204 @ Mitchell Street Arts

In both New York City and Milwaukee we hold Monthly Creative Sessions as part of our Creative Connections program. Sessions can range in topics and activities, including photography, canvas stretching, creative writing, music, and more! Check back monthly to see what the upcoming session will be on.

Monthly Creative Sessions

Join Art Start for the opening weekend of The Artist Statement exhibition during 

 in the Third Ward. The Artist Statement is a multimedia exhibition showcasing the personal and creative identities of Milwaukee youth artists; their unique, dynamic, and evolving artist statements come to life beyond the page through original artworks and photographic portraits. Gallery hours are free and open to the public.

Location: Art Start Studios, 316 N Milwaukee St. #280, Milwaukee, WI 53202

This project is produced in collaboration with 

MIAD Department of Youth and Community Programs,

 presented in partnership with The Estée Lauder Companies' 

, and supported in part by a grant from the 

 with funds from the State of Wisconsin.

Artist Collaborators

Special Thanks to Our Partners

The Artist Statement 2025

710 W. Historic Mitchell St., Milwaukee, WI 53204

Join us in celebrating the personal, professional, and creative achievements of the 2024 Art Start Emerging Artist Residents in Milwaukee, WI.

2024 MKE EAR SPRING RETROSPECTIVE

Time

Location

Curated By

With Photographers

The Art Start Portrait Project is a multimedia exhibition and platform for Art Start youth to portray the complex narratives about their identities, asking the world to see them as they choose to be seen.

In spite of the pandemic, the 2020 project saw Art Start participants from Milwaukee and New York City. The portraits were exhibited in our first digital exhibition as well as an outdoor and gallery exhibitions.

Locations

With Partners

With Sponsors

"People would describe me as fun, loving, and happy. I walk into a room and it automatically smiles." - D'von, 2020 Art Start participant

The Art Start Portrait Project 2020

The 2019 project saw 10 Art Start participants In this volume displayed across 3 exhibitions. This iteration saw the beginning of installation learning where participants in the project learned to professionally curate and install a gallery exhibition.

 Terrell Frazier, Maurice Ivy-Dowell, Justice de los Santos, David Castillo, Dom Portis

: Maegan Rebecca, Emma Strachman, Kim White, Adriana Andaluz

"I want my portrait to show me in a group of people - a community that I created and became real because I believed in them. I believe in the impossible." - Antonio, 2019 Art Start participant

The Art Start Portrait Project 2019

The PEAK Initiative at Tiefenthaler Park: 2480 W Cherry St, Milwaukee, WI 53205


The SEE ME BECAUSE - The Art Start Portrait Project, Vol. 11 outdoor exhibition presents Art Start youth's self-determined voices and visions of how they wish to be seen, exhibited and activated in proud partnership with The Kellogg PEAK Initiative, that activates Milwaukee's Tiefenthaler Park with summer camps and community activities all year long.



Collaborating artists and professionals who helped bring the
2023 SEE ME BECAUSE exhibition to life include:


Nick Collura, CJ Foeckler, Heidi Gutman, Ken Pao, Sara Stathas, Zachary Maxwell Stertz, and media support by Palante Visuals.


The SEE ME BECAUSE: The Art Start Portrait Project Volume 11 is sponsored by 

MKE Rec in Partnership with the Arts & Humanities

New York City Department of Cultural Affairs

See Me Because, Volume 11 Milwaukee

The 2018 Art Start Portrait Project saw youth from Milwaukee and New York City participating and was exhibiting in 3 gallery locations across the country.

: Adriana Andaluz, Kim Goodwin, Maegan Rebecca, Emma Strachman

: DCOY Studios, Anthony Giacomino, Jim McDonald

"I want people to see me as a good person who, if somebody needs to talk to about anything or anything, they can just come up to me and talk to me." - Rene, 2018 Art Start participant

The Art Start Portrait Project 2018

The Art Start Family Portrait Project is a multimedia project and platform for the powerful stories, voices, and images of New York City families experiencing homelessness. Through portraits and story-telling, families invite the world to 

The 2018 project captured 30 families across 3 boroughs of New York City.

 Lucy Bidle, Mariama Noguera Devers, Danielle Quintanilla, Cynthia Ceilan, Mariam Aryai-Rivera, Cathia Ochoa, Stella Michael

: Adriana Andaluz, Yomarky Alvarez, Madeline Kawalek, Jenny Marin, Delina Median, Kim White

"The photo tells that we still have a lot to accomplish. We are on a mission. We are
growing." - The Glenn Family

The Art Start Family Portrait Project 2018

is an exhibition and platform for young people from historically underrepresented communities to portray the complex narratives of their identities, asking the world to see them as they choose to be seen. 

's visual storytelling with a 85+ public art exhibitions in all 5 boroughs of NYC, walking tours, panels, workshops, and IRL & online public programming throughout May! 

📣 Opening Weekend May 16 & 17, 2026 in Brooklyn Bridge Park 

📍 85+ exhibitions across all 5 boroughs + IRL & online public programming 

 Thanks to Lead Marquee Partner VSCO and Marquee Partners: Brooklyn Bridge Park, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, Leica Camera, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, PhotoWings, New York State Council on the Arts, NYC Media & Entertainment, Two Trees Management Co., and DUMBO, Brooklyn.

 project is being exhibited in Brooklyn Bridge Park at 

Photoville Festival 2026

The 2017 project saw 10 Art Start participants In this volume, you will find the stories Cynthia Ceilan has crafted from interviews with the young people who participate in Art Start programs.

: Emma Strachman, Juliet Gaiser, Kim White, Alex LaMarsh, Marissa Masella, Adriana Andaluz

: Michelle Garcia, Nathan Martin, JP Herrera, Travis Joseph, Joshua Elan, Victor Prieto, Malaie Bonhomme

“Poetry gives me a chance to make my story alive.” -Shavonne, 2017 Art Start participant

The Art Start Portrait Project 2017

The 2015 project captured 16 Art Start families experiencing homelessness and who participate in Art Start's Creative Collectives Program. This iteration also introduced the support of Columbia Univeristy INCITE's Oral History Department.

 Denise Cermanski, Danny Coeyman, Terrell Frazier, Hannah Immerman, Nella Mupier, Mariama Noguera-Devers, Judith Sackoff, Julia Warren

: Paige Campbell, Alex LaMarsh, Emma Strachman, Adriana Andaluz

“This is who we are. We love each other. I’m strong, she’s strong. She’s my rock. I’m her rock." The Heyward Family

The Art Start Family Portrait Project 2015

SEE ME BECAUSE, The Art Start Portrait Project, Volume 16

This iteration of the project centers youth whose lives have been affected by incarceration and the justice system, featuring their artwork, portraits and personal narratives. During the project, Art Start collaborated with youth participants to create space and offer support for self expression and identity exploration with a colelctive goal of reducing the stigma associated with  justice-involvement through their own creative self-dtermination. 


You're invited to Art Start's See Me Because, Vol. 16 Exhibition and Book Release. Join us for an evening of conversation about the project, refreshments, and a copy of the book for you to take with you.

526 w 26th St, Suite 10AB, New York, NY 10001


See Me Because, Volume 16 New York

SEE ME BECAUSE, The Art Start Portrait Project, Volume 14

A multimedia exhibition featuring the portraits and stories of creative self-determination by young Milwaukee creatives and local professional photographers. In this latest edition of the Art Start Portrait Project, featured artists join a living archive of hundreds of youth and young adults who, as complex people in pursuit of self-discovery, have asked the world to see them as they choose to be seen.


Join us for our Opening Reception on October 18 during Gallery Night in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward.