Have you been flipping for the influx of public art around Milwaukee lately? Then you should thank Gabe Yeager. No, he didn’t paint all of the buildings, bridges and utility boxes personally. But he’s made himself Milwaukee’s mural matchmaker, connecting local artists with businesses that want fresh paint.
Before he started as an intern in 2014, MKE Downtown hadn’t commissioned a new mural since the 1980s. Now, thanks to Yeager’s vision, the organization is behind many of the biggest public art installations across town, and he’s created his own position as director of public space initiatives.
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“His work is game-changing,” says Beth Weirick, the MKE Downtown CEO. “Gabe is the go-to person for best practices on public art installation and community connectivity around the country.”
Despite these kind words from his boss, it takes some figurative teeth-pulling to get Yeager to take credit for his impact on the city. He’s an extremely humble guy. But this humble guy is the reason why renowned international artists are putting up work in Milwaukee’s parks like the bear sculptures Massimals MKE in 2021, HYBYCOZO’s Lightfield this past winter and the bubble art installation Evanescent this summer. After some prodding, Yeager reluctantly admits, “Nearly every public art project Downtown in the last five years has gone in one way, shape or form through my inbox and through our organization.”
He’s also the reason why thousands of people are flocking to a Downtown office building (600 E. Wisconsin Ave.) to take photos with a 54-foot mural of Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo by local artist Mauricio Ramirez. “The Giannis mural was such a lightning in a bottle type of project,” Yeager says. He attended the tribute game in 2022 when Antetokounmpo was honored as the highest-scoring player in Bucks history. “It was emotional because you could see how the city had this pride for Giannis, and I turned to the friend I was with and I said, ‘I think we have to do a Giannis mural and we have to do it quick.’” On a Friday night from Fiserv Forum, he was already sending texts and emails to make it happen.
But it’s local artists who appreciate him the most. Milwaukee photographer and videographer Samer Ghani notes that Yeager goes out of his way to connect local artists with businesses interested in public art. And Kenosha-based muralist Jaime Brown credits Yeager with not just recommending her for projects (like her 2nd Street Skywalk Mural), but also making Milwaukee an art destination.
“He is really fighting to keep the arts a main part of what makes Downtown Milwaukee so much fun,” Brown says. “The city of Milwaukee is most definitely lucky to have him.”
For a map of all the public art in Milwaukee, go to milwaukeedowntown.com.
