Bio
Anna Lu Siemsen is a multidisciplinary artist from Milwaukee, WI currently focusing in fashion design, videography, and photography. She graduated from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design in Spring of 2021 with a BFA in New Studio Practice. Through her work she attempts to combine aspects of both her Chinese heritage and American childhood. Siemsen's artwork is an exploration of the Mid-Western landscape, family history, and the nostalgia of cherished photographs and heirlooms.
CV
Education
Fall 2013 - Spring 2017: Rufus King International Baccalaureate High School - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Fall 2017 - Fall 2019, Fall 2020 - Spring 2021: Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Spring 2020: Otis College of Art and Design - Los Angeles, California (AICAD Exchange Program)
Experience
August 2014 - August 2017: Redline Milwaukee Teen Residency Program - Milwaukee, WI
August - December 2019: Teacher’s Assistant for Embroidery Workshop at St. Joan’s Antida High School
through the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design - Milwaukee, WI
August 2021 - February 2022: Visitor Services Associate at the Charles Allis & Villa Terrace Museums -
Milwaukee, WI
June 2021 - June 2022: Artist Residency with Plum Blossom Initiative/Bridgework Project 07 & Var West Gallery - Milwaukee, WI
http://cargocollective.com/plumblossominitiative/Bridge-Work-07
Awards
2017: Honorable Mentions in screen printing at the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
2017: International Baccalaureate Diploma Candidate at Rufus King High School
2017: International Baccalaureate Fine Arts Cord Recipient at Rufus King High School
Fall 2017 - Fall 2019, Fall 2020: Dean’s List at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
Spring 2020: Dean’s List at the Otis College of Art & Design
Spring 2021: 6th Annual Grilled Cheese Grant: First Place Winner in Fashion Design & Photography
Spring 2021: Cum Laude Honors Student at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
Galleries
2016: “Escapism” Gallery at the Milwaukee High School of the Arts
2016: Redline Milwaukee Teen Resident Gallery at 10th Street Gallery
2017: Art Sale at “Community Sing” event for The Coffee House
2017: Redline Milwaukee Teen Resident Annual Show at Redline Milwaukee
2017: Rufus King Senior Art Show at the Charles Allis Art Museum
2017: International Baccalaureate Senior Art Show at Rufus King International Baccalaureate High School
2018: Student & Alumni Holiday Fair at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design
2019: New Genre Collaboration Performance at the Lynden Sculpture Garden
2019: New Genre Collaboration Group Exhibition at the Mobile Design Box
2019: “Singularity & Multiplicity: Ritual,” Gallery at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design
2020: “Washington Heights Artists Front Yard Pop-up Sale,” Washington Heights neighborhood, Milwaukee, WI
2020: “Meeting in Between Pillars” Fall 2020 MIAD NSP Senior show at Between Two Galleries & Form Gallery
2021: "2021 MIAD Senior Exhibition" at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
https://seniorexhibition.miad.edu/2021/artists/anna-siemsen/
https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=hHVjtAf499U&back=1
2021: "2021 Juried Senior Exhibition" at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
2021: "Harmony / Dissonance" at Var Gallery with Bridgework 07 & Plum Blossom Initiative
https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=2HkJNJtGB6k
2021: Var Gallery Artists Collective Exhibition
https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=6Fq73ANjxLK
2022: Bridgework 07 Regional Show at UW-Oshkosh's Allen Priebe Gallery
2022: The 2021 Grilled Cheese Grant Finalist Show: "A Love Letter to the Heartland"
at the Walker's Point Center for the Arts
http://wpca-milwaukee.org/2022/05/gcg2021finalists/
2022: "Family Portraits" at the Grey Area at Hawthorn Contemporary
Publications
2017: "Cognita Natura Fieldbook" for the Urban Ecology Center
2018: “Appalachian Elegy” for Studio Principles: Printmaking
2020: Junior Show Postcard Box at the Otis College of Art & Design
2021: “Sponge Magazine: Issue #1 - Spring 2021” Magazine (Co-Founder)
2021: "Take A Stroll and Enjoy the Art of the 2021 Grilled Cheese Grant Finalists" for 88.9 Radio Milwaukee
2021: "Fine Arts Senior Creates Clothing Collection Inspired by Her Chinese Culture and Identity" for the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
2021:"Sponge Magazine: Issue #2 - Childhood Nostalgia" Magazine (Co-Founder)
2021: "Meet Three Local Artists Clashing the Worlds of Harmony and Dissonance in an Exhibit"
2022: Moody Magazine Issue #15
https://moodythezine.square.site/product/moody-issue-15/19?cp=true&sa=true&sbp=false&q=false
2022: SABER Magazine: "In Focus" Artist Feature
https://www.sabermagazine.com/culture-wr/infocus-anna-siemsen