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Milwaukee Arts Board Mildred L. Harpole Artists of the Year Past Recipients

The Milwaukee Arts Board has recognized Artists of The Year since 1995. Two Milwaukee artists are co-winners of the annual Mildred L. Harpole Artist of the Year award.

 

  • Amal Azzam - 30th Annual - 2025

  • Aaron Boyd - 30th Annual - 2025

  • Fatima Laster - 29th Annual - 2024

  • Justin Goodrum - 29th Annual - 2024

  • Ben Tyjeski - 28th Annual - 2023

  • Paul Druecke - 28th Annual - 2023

  • Ck Ledesma - 27th Annual - 2022

  • Nirmal Raja - 27th Annual - 2022

  • Klassik (Kellen Abston) - 26th Annual - 2021

  • Anne Kingsbury - 26th Annual - 2021

  • Ras’ Ammar Nsoroma – 25th Annual - 2020

  • Rosy Petri – 25th Annual – 2020

  • Ray Jivoff – 24th Annual – 2019

  • Rosemary Ollison – 24th Annual – 2019

  • Tia Richardson - 23rd Annual - 2018

  • Scott Steward - 23rd Annual - 2018

  • Chris and Jane Flieller - 22nd Annual - 2017

  • Sheri Williams Pannell - 22nd Annual - 2017

  • Dasha Kelly - 21st Annual - 2016

  • Della Wells - 21st Annual - 2016

  • Dale Gutzman - 20th Annual - 2015

  • John Riepenhoff - 20th Annual - 2015

  • Barbara Leigh - 19th Annual - 2014

  • Evelyn Patricia Terry - 19th Annual - 2014

  • Reginald Baylor - 18th Annual - 2013

  • Bill Theisen - 18th Annual - 2013

 

  • Antler - 17th Annual - 2012

  • Roy Staab - 17th Annual - 2012

  • Richard Taylor - 16th Annual - 2011

  • Debra Loewen - 16th Annual - 2011

2010 - Changed from "year" to "annual to reflect skip in month the award is held

  • John Ruebartsch - 2009

  • Yevgeniya Kaganovich - 2009

  • Dinorah Marquez - 2008

  • C. Michael Wright - 2008

  • Lee Erickson - 2007

  • Ruth Schudson - 2007 & Monty Davis (posthumously) - 2007

  • Sarah Price - 2006

  • Jason Yi - 2006

  • Marie Kohler - 2005

  • Ray Chi - 2005

  • JoAnna Poehlmann - 2004

  • Raoul Deal - 2004

  • Berkeley Fudge - 2003

  • Mark Bucher - 2003

  • Kevin Stalheim - 2002

  • Marina Lee Meyer - 2001

  • Ferne Yangyeitie Caulker - 2000

  • James & Rose Pickering - 1999

  • Reynaldo Hernandez - 1998

  • Jill Sebastian - 1997

  • Terese Agnew - 1996

  • John Schneider - 1995

 

30th Annual Mildred L. Harpole Artists of the Year Amal Azzam (left) and Aaron Boyd (right) with 14th Annual Friends of the Arts Nakeysha Roberts-Washington (center left) and Symphony Swan-Zawadi (center right) with Mayor Cavalier Johnson (center) in the City Hall Rotunda.

29th Annual Mildred L. Harpole Artists of the Year Justin Goodrum (left) and Fatima Laster (center right) with 13th Annual Friends of the Arts Jessica Meuninck-Ganger (center left) and Jacobo Lovo (right) with Mayor Cavalier Johnson (center) at the City Hall Rotunda.

28th Annual Mildred L. Harpole Artists of the Year Paul Druecke (left) and Ben Tyjeski (center) with 12th Annual Friend of the Arts Jenelle Elder-Green (center) and Mayor Cavalier Johnson (right) at the City Hall Rotunda.

    

27th Annual Mildred L. Harpole Artists of the Year Nirmal Raja (left) and Ck Ledesma (right) with Mayor Cavalier Johnson (center) at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.

26th Annual Mildred L. Harpole Artist of the Year Klassik (Kellon Abston) with former Mayor Tom Barret (left), former Alderman Nik Kovac (second from left) and Alderman Michael Murphy (right) at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.

26th Annual Mildred L. Harpole Artist of the Year Anne Kingsbuty with former Mayor Tom Barret (left), former Alderman Nik Kovac (second from left) and Alderman Michael Murphy (right) at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.

2017 Artists of the Year Jane and Chris Flieller

22nd Annual Artists of the Year Jane Flieller (second from left) and Chris Flieller (second from right) with (left to right) Ald. Michael Murphy, MAB Member David Flores, Ald. Nik Kovac and former Mayor Tom Barrett at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.

Sheri Williams Pannell, 2017 Artist of the Year

22nd Annual Artist of the Year Sheri Williams Pannell (center) with (left-right) former Mayor Tom Barrett, Ald. Nik Kovac, Reuben Harpole, Ald. Michael Murphy and MAB Member Mildred Harpole at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.

2016 Milwaukee Arts Board Artists of the Year are Dasha Kelly (center right) and Della Wells (center left) with MAB members Vedale Hill and Xela Garcia.

21st Annual Artists of the Year Della Wells (center left) and Dasha Kelly (center right) with MAB members Vedale Hill and Xela Garcia.

2015 Artists of the Year

20th Annual Artists of the Year John Riepenhoff (left) and Dale Dutzman (right) with former Mayor Tom Barrett and Council President Michael Murphy, Milwaukee Arts Board Chair.  Also pictured are arts board members Emilia Layden and David Flores, who submitted the nominations.




19th Annual Artists of the Year Barbara Leigh (left) and Evelyn Patricia Terry (right) with former Mayor Tom Barrett and Milwaukee Arts Board Chair Ald. Michael Murphy

The Milwaukee Arts Board honored the two recipients of its 2011 Outstanding Artists of the Year award on March 13, 2012 with a reception held at Next Act Theatre.
Pictured from left are former Mayor Barrett, MAB member Anne Kingsbury, artist Roy Staab, Ald. Murphy with Maggie, poet Antler and MAB member Polly Morris. (Photo credit: MAB member Tina Klose)

 

The Milwaukee Arts Board honored the two recipients of its 2010 Outstanding Artists of the Year award on March 8, 2011 with a reception held in the Rare Books Room of the Central Library.


Pictured from left are Ald. Kovac, Ald. Murphy (chair of the Arts Board), artist Richard Taylor, Wild Space Artistic Director Debra Loewen and former Mayor Barrett. (Photo credit: MAB member Tina Klose)

 

The Milwaukee Arts Board honored the two recipients of its 2009 Outstanding Artists of the Year award on March 29, 2010 with a reception held at the Grand Avenue Club. MAB Artists of the Year
Pictured from left are MAB member Sandra McSweeney, Ald. Kovac, photographer John Ruebartsch, metalsmith artist Yevgeniya Kaganovich, Ald. Murphy, and MAB member Josie Osborne. (Photo credit: MAB member Tina Klose)