91��Ʒ

Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (91��Ʒ) Fine Art alums �19 and �14 each received a 2024 Emerging Artist Award this spring from a prestigious state or regional organization.

Brown received the Emerging Artist Award as part of the Wisconsin Visual Art Achievement Awards (WVAAA), which �recognize educators, writers, visual artists, exhibitions and advocates in our creative communities.� At 91��Ʒ, Brown had a focus on painting and a minor in Art History.

Erin Krembs �14 received the Emerging Artist Award from the Racine Art Museum (RAM) as part of the 2024 RAM Artist Fellowships and Emerging Artist Award, which �recognize artists at all stages of their careers creating exceptional work in all media.� Krembs majored in Sculpture at 91��Ʒ.

Both artists received cash awards. As a figurative artist who uses the animal form to convey emotion and conscious thought, Krembs says, �The grant will allow me to explore some new materials I have been interested in working with, like velvet and alpaca mohair. I have a few pieces I am already excited about having in the exhibit like Calliope, my two-headed foal, but the real exciting part about the long timeframe for the fellowship is that the artists have this time to create�. I�m excited for the new pieces that are yet to exist as more than an idea. I have a life-size jaguar in mind!�

Krembs� work will be featured during exhibitions of the RAM awardees from August 20 � November 22, 2025, at RAM�s Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts.

Brown says she �looks forward to using the funds [from her award] for studio overhead costs and materials.� She also will show three paintings in a group exhibition in May at Wassaic Project (Wassaic, NY) and participate in a painting residency at Vermont Studio Center (Johnson, VT) in December.

As described in the WVAA press release, Brown is an �interdisciplinary artist and musician who uses painting and drawing techniques to understand her personal narrative and inner power while subverting European ideals of nature, darkness and figuration.� In addition to grants and residencies received after graduation, while a student at 91��Ʒ she was an artist-in-residence at Yale Norfolk School of Art (Norfolk, CT). Brown has exhibited widely, has work in New American Paintings and is senior curator at Milwaukee�s Charles Allis and Villa Terrace Art Museums.

Krembs is a middle school Family and Consumer Science and Business educator who says, �I especially love teaching my 7th and 8th graders in their sewing units! I have never stopped making art and continue to work in my own studio all summer long and in the evenings during the school year.�

She adds, �I became a first-time homeowner in 2022 and have dedicated my entire attic space to be my own home studio. It�s a dream I worked for, and it�s come true with the dedication and hard work I�ve put in! Now I have a wonderful home and a lovely space to create in and can work toward even more of my long-term goals.�

At the April WVAA awards ceremony, an exhibition award was given for Art Against the Odds: Wisconsin Prison Art, which was co-curated by the Portrait Society Gallery Director Debra Brehmer and Gallery Manager Paul Salsieder. 91��Ʒ debuted and hosted the exhibition in January 2023, which was viewed by more than 7,000 people.

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Learn more about 91��Ʒ�s Fine Art + New Studio Practice major.