SaveArtSpace has partnered with Michele Pred to bring more public art to Milwaukee, WI during the Republican National Convention, starting June 24, 2024.

Curated by Michele Pred, this billboard art exhibition featuring five billboards in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, coinciding with the Republican National Convention, which is scheduled for July 15th to 18th. The billboards will be installed prior to the convention on June 24th and remain until July 22nd, a few days after its close.

The overarching theme of the exhibit is the “preservation of democracy.” Autocracy and the reactionary, racist ideas that go with it are on the march in the US and across the globe. They are given voice almost daily by the leader of the Republican Party and his minions, even as the majority of Americans oppose their policies. To stop this surge of fear and hate, we must make sure that our system does not devolve further. Only then can we continue the fight for an expanded democracy. Inviting persuadable voters to this conversation on one of the largest media stages of the year is a huge opportunity to do just that.

The selection process will focus not only on the artistic merits of the work but also on the clarity of the message and its potential to influence moderately conservative voters to support candidates and issues that expand reproductive rights. To this end, incorporating text is encouraged but not required.

We invite artists of all ages and talents to submit their artwork between March 18 and May 13, 2024. This is an opportunity to have your work placed on billboard ad space in Milwaukee, WI. Three artists will be chosen from the open call, they will join Michele Pred, and Lena Wolff on billboards throughout Milwaukee, WI.

Open call for art ends May 13, 2024. There is a $10 donation per image submission to participate, each donation is tax deductible and goes to producing the public art. Selected artists will be announced after May 27, 2024. Public art will be installed June 24, 2024 in New York City.

Curator

Michele Pred is a Swedish-American conceptual artist whose practice includes sculpture, assemblage, and performance. Her work uncovers the cultural and political meaning behind everyday objects, with a concentration on feminist themes such as equal pay and reproductive rights. Pred has been represented by the Nancy Hoffman Gallery in New York since 2004. She has organized Feminist Art Parades in numerous cities, including Chicago, New York, Miami, Washington DC, San Francisco, and Stockholm. Pred has exhibited both nationally and internationally at the V&A Museum in London, The Berkeley Art Museum (BAMPFA) in Berkeley, CA; Neuberger Museum, White Plains, NY; Bild Museet and Kulturhuset in Sweden; University of Westminster, London; and at the University of Technology, Sydney, Australia. 

Pred is currently co-curating an exhibition at UTA Gallery in Los Angeles titled In Pursuit of Freedom. In 2022, she curated a nationwide billboard exhibition titled Vote for Abortion Rights, which featured ten artists.

Connect with Michele on Instagram at @michelepred.

Participating Organizations

Founded in 2015, SaveArtSpace is a non-profit organization that works to create an urban gallery experience, launching exhibitions that address intersectional themes and foster a progressive message of social change. By placing culture over commercialism, SaveArtSpace aims to empower artists from all walks of life and inspire a new generation of young creatives and activists.