Since working for NNS, I’ve covered different types of stories. But what I have been drawn to most is reporting on the artists and creators of color who craft, celebrate and illuminate the pulse of their communities.
Milwaukee’s Culture Makers is a visual series that follows artists, musicians, chefs, designers and other types of creatives at work, capturing not only what they create but why they create.
In this ongoing series, we will introduce you to new and longtime artists of color whose extraordinary creativity and community pride is shaping Milwaukee.
Meet some of Milwaukee’s Culture Makers
Ernesto “Neto” Atkinson: Opened in 2024 by Atkinson, The Catacombs of Neto Art Museum was designed as a space for conversation and connection but not silence.
RedNationBoyz: The Nahwahquaw brothers formed the drum group to connect local Indigenous boys, ranging in age from 10 to 20, to their roots.
Tia Richardson: For more than two decades, Richardson has helped residents transform not just walls but how they see themselves and their communities through collaborative murals.
My ask from you
I’m looking to hear directly from our readers:
- Who are the cultural makers of color in Milwaukee you believe deserve to be seen and celebrated?
- How is their creativity shaping the city of Milwaukee and its residents in meaningful ways?
Email me your nominations, including how their work has impacted you, to help us recognize and uplift the people creating culture and connection across our neighborhoods.
It’s been an honor to help tell their stories and I look forward to sharing many more.
To read more articles about Milwaukee’s Culture Makers, click here.
Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.
