Art:Forward Gala

Events

Thank you

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Milwaukee Art Museum’s Art:Forward Gala on Saturday, September 19, 2026. The Museum is proud to have celebrated a momentous milestone—25 years of the Quadracci Pavilion at the Milwaukee Art Museum. The soaring icon designed by Santiago Calatrava is both a symbol of our city and a catalyst for creativity, connection, and civic pride.

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, the Museum raised $1.3 million to keep investing in artistic, educational, and community-driven programs that enrich us today and inspire the creative minds of tomorrow.

View highlights from the 2026 event

See photos (opens in new window)

Contact

For questions about the gala or Museum support opportunities, please contact Sarah Kolar, manager of stewardship and donor events, at 414-224-3259 or sarah.kolar@mam.org.

2026 Support

Host committee

  • Laura and Mike Arnow

  • Donna and Donald Baumgartner

  • Anthony and Vicki Cecalupo

  • CG Schmidt logo

  • Ellen and Joe Checota

  • Sandy and Bill Haack

  • JFG logo

  • James K. Kloppenburg

  • Joan Lubar and John Crouch

  • Sheldon and Marianne Lubar

  • Eileen and Barry Mandel

  • Joel and Caran Quadracci

  • Drs. Kathryn Quadracci Flores and Raja Flores

  • Sue and Bud Selig

  • Jan Serr & John Shannon

  • Mary and Carl Strohmaier

  • Jeff and Gail Yabuki

Art Patrons

  • Brewers Community Foundation

  • J Jeffers logo

  • Northwestern Mutual Foundation

Supporters

  • Baird

  • BMO Commercial Bank

  • Clarence Chou

  • Sallie O. Davis

  • Foley & Lardner LLP and Wayne and Kristine Lueders

  • GRAEF

  • Katie Heil

  • Charlie Hoke

  • Johnson Controls

  • Kahler Slater

  • Jane and Tom Lacy

  • Elizabeth Levins and Herbert Zien

  • Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C.

  • Michael Best & Friedrich LLP

  • Milwaukee Art Museum’s Friends of Art

  • Jim and Andrea Schloemer

  • John Shannon and Jan Serr, GUARDIAN Fine Art Services

  • Amalia Todryk and Quarles & Brady LLP

  • Lynde B. Uihlein

  • U.S. Bank

  • Kent and Marcia Velde

  • Sarah and Steve Zimmerman

Leaders

  • Daniel and Linda Bader

  • Anthony and Andrea Bryant

  • Andrea Bryant

  • CCS Fundraising

  • Barbara Meyer Elsner Foundation

  • Matthew Helmerich and Jeffrey Harwell

  • Thomas Hesselbrock and Carl Spatz

  • Raymond and Barbara Krueger

  • Tom and Cynthia LaConte

  • Ali and Halah Maykhan, The Sigma Group

  • Kate and Ken Muth

  • Tony and Beverly Petullo

  • Michael Ryan

  • Kim Sajet and Anthony Meadows

  • Mike and Nichole Unger, JM Brennan

Individual supporters

  • James Adams

  • Dan and Gwen Armbrust

  • Lisa Ashley

  • Paul E. Barkhaus, MD

  • Colleen and Jon Bassindale

  • Wendy and Warren Blumenthal

  • Katherine Bosnic

  • Richard Buchband and Betsy Rosenblum

  • Geralyn Cannon

  • Amy and Patrick Cheever, Snow Kreilich Architects

  • Mauree Childress

  • Clarence Chou

  • Amy and Frederick Croen

  • Dr. Sabina Diehr

  • Drs. Agnes and Daniel Domagala, Major Dental Clinics

  • Mrs. Haydon R. Duffy

  • McKenzie and Jason Edmonds

  • Heather Eiden

  • Laura and John Emory, Jr.

  • Georgia Halvorsen Foley

  • Barbara Fuldner

  • Ellen and Richard Glaisner

  • Dr. Shaheda Govani and Neil DeKarske

  • Alison Graf and Richard Schreiner

  • Brian and Victoria Hagan

  • Hardesty & Hanover

  • Hauser & Wirth

  • Gail Hesselbrock

  • Mike Jones and Peggy Mead

  • Shinji Kaiser

  • Kenneth Kaszubowski, The Sigma Group

  • Mason Khan

  • Grant and Carrie Killoran

  • John and Debra Kissinger

  • Julilly Kohler

  • Abimbola Kolawole and Beth Ridley

  • Sue Krausen

  • Alice Kuramoto

  • Abimbola Kolawole and Beth Ridley

  • Debbi LoCicero, AIA

  • Marquette Associates

  • Coral Mateu-Anderegg and Rex Anderegg

  • Carrie Gillstrom Matteson

  • Anne and Chris Noyes

  • Jill G. Pelisek

  • Shacey Petrovic and Nate Gubin

  • Sande Robinson

  • David Schertz and Sharee Allain

  • Priyesh Shah and Kimberly Stillman

  • Dennis Sheahan

  • Kristin and John Sheehan

  • Pamela and Jeffrey Shovers

  • Christopher and Joana Smocke

  • Sally and Steve Stevens

  • Larresa Taylor

  • Anne and Fred Vogel III

  • Adam and Katie Westermayer

  • Faye Wetzel, FAYE’S

  • Kenneth Wiesehuegel and David Kreidler

  • Kathy Saito Yuille

  • Anonymous (2)

Special thanks to

  • Christopher and Jennifer Abele

  • Ted Brusubardis

  • Burke Candy

  • Events by Design logo

  • Harbor House by Bartolotta

  • Milwaukee Bucks

  • Present Music, David Bloom, Eric Segnitz, David Vartanian

  • Alyssa Quinlan

  • Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers

  • As of September 19, 2026