Art:Forward Gala

Events

Overview

  • Saturday, September 19, 2026

Thank you for your interest in the Milwaukee Art Museum’s Art:Forward Gala. This event has reached full capacity. If you have any questions about it or if you would like to support the gala’s success in another way, please contact Sarah Kolar, Manager of Stewardship and Donor Events, at sarah.kolar@mam.org or 414-224-3259.

The Art:Forward Gala will celebrate 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.

This year’s gala brings together Milwaukee’s cultural, business, philanthropic, and civic leaders to celebrate the vision and drive that brought the Quadracci Pavilion to life—and to champion what comes next. As the Museum’s only annual fundraising event, the Gala fuels the artistic, educational, and community-driven programs that inspire us today and will continue to spark creativity for generations to come.

View highlights from the 2025 event

See photos (opens in new window)

2026 Support

Host committee

  • Laura and Mike Arnow

  • Donna and Donald Baumgartner

  • Anthony and Vicki Cecalupo

  • Ellen and Joe Checota

  • Drs. Kathryn Quadracci Flores and Raja Flores

  • Sandy and Bill Haack

  • James K. Kloppenburg

  • Joan Lubar and John Crouch

  • Sheldon and Marianne Lubar

  • Eileen and Barry Mandel

  • Joel and Caran Quadracci

  • Bud and Sue Selig

  • John Shannon and Jan Serr, GUARDIAN Fine Art Services

  • Mary and Carl Strohmaier

  • Jeff and Gail Yabuki

Art Patrons

  • Brewers Community Foundation

Supporters

  • Baird

  • BMO Commercial Bank

  • 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

  • Northwestern Mutual Foundation

  • Jim and Andrea Schloemer

  • 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

  • CCS Fundraising

  • 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

  • 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

  • Mauree Childress

  • 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

  • Barbara Meyer Elsner Foundation

  • 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

  • Mason Khan

  • Shinji Kaiser

  • Kenneth Kaszubowski, The Sigma Group

  • Grant and Carrie Killoran

  • John and Debra Kissinger

  • Julily Kohler

  • 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

  • David Schertz and Sharee Allain

  • Priyesh Shah

  • 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

  • Kenneth Wiesehuegel and David Kreidler

  • Donald and Kate Wilson

  • Kathy Saito Yuille

  • Anonymous (2)

  • As of September 1, 2026