Information for this article was provided by Discover Wauwatosa, proud supporters of Radio Milwaukee. All content was reviewed and edited by Radio Milwaukee staff to ensure its resonance with our audience and mission.
Have you ever watched the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and thought, “This is great, but how about a canvas instead of a court?”
Alternatively, have you ever walked around the Milwaukee Art Museum and thought, “This is great, but could Georgia O’Keefe take Francisco de Zurbarán in a head-to-head matchup?”
First off, the answer to the latter question is yes (O’Keefe’s pull-up jumper is legendary). More importantly, people in both camps have found an outlet for their creatively competitive curiosity in Wauwatosa, which will host the fifth annual Art 64 in the village center June 5 and 6.
The event started back in 2022 as a way to present a typical art show in a very atypical fashion: taking 64 artists from across the country and having them compete in what’s been dubbed “the nation’s largest live bracket-style painting tournament.” So, like the NCAA tournament but with much less trash talking (we assume).
This free, family-friendly affair actually places a fair amount of pressure on its participants. Hundreds of artists apply for a spot in the competition, and the chosen 64 have just 60 minutes to paint a predetermined theme on canvas — with spectators right there to observe their every brushstroke.
But attendees aren’t just there to watch. Their votes decide who advances through each round and ultimately takes home the $20,000 grand prize, plus bragging rights as they join the pantheon of Art 64 champions. Then, when the competition is over, everyone in attendance wins by getting a chance to purchase the paintings from the tournament and even more from the event’s artist market.
Of course, all of this takes place among the shops and restaurants located throughout the village of Wauwatosa, in addition to a few touches just for Art 64. You’ll find food trucks, music stops featuring the “It’s Alive!” summer concert series, a kid’s activity area, a live screen-printing experience from Unfinished Legacy.
For more information about this year’s Art 64, including the full lineup of competing artists, visit the event’s webpage.