The Madison Public Market is proud to announce the formation of the First Street Art Gallery Jury Committee, a distinguished group of artists, arts administrators, cultural leaders, and community advocates who will help shape one of the Market’s signature cultural experiences.
Located within the Madison Public Market at 202 N. First Street, the First Street Art Gallery will feature rotating exhibitions showcasing the work of artists from throughout the region. The gallery is designed to celebrate the people, cultures, landscapes, and stories that define South Central Wisconsin while creating opportunities for artists and meaningful experiences for visitors.
Committee members will serve as jurors, selecting artwork through regularly scheduled public calls for submissions. The inaugural Call for Art will be announced later this year on the Madison Public Market website.
The First Street Art Gallery builds upon the Madison Public Market Foundation’s commitment to integrating arts and culture into every aspect of the Market experience. Visitors will encounter a dynamic array of permanent artworks throughout the building and surrounding grounds, each created by local artists and selected to inspire conversation, celebrate community, and reflect the diverse voices that make Madison unique.
Support for the Market’s public art program has been made possible through generous contributions from the City of Madison, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District, Madison Community Foundation, and many other partners committed to strengthening our community through the arts.
“The Madison Public Market was envisioned as much more than a place to eat and shop,” said Keisha Harrison, Chief Executive Officer of the Madison Public Market. “It is a place where creativity, culture, entrepreneurship, and community come together every day. The First Street Art Gallery will become an important part of that experience, and we are honored that such an accomplished group of artists and arts leaders has volunteered their time and expertise to help guide its vision. Their collective experience will ensure the gallery becomes a destination that visitors return to again and again.”
First Street Art Gallery Jury Committee
Sujhey Beisser
Sujhey Beisser is the Assistant Vice President, Strategy & Development Officer at Park Bank. As the owner of Five Senses Palate, she is a personal chef and food blogger. She serves on the board of the Madison Public Market Foundation, and previously served on the board of Friends of PBS Wisconsin and Centro Hispano and where she received the Visionary Award for her contributions to the organization’s mission.
Mark Fraire
Mark Fraire has served as Dane County’s Director of Arts and Cultural Affairs since 2014. His work focuses on arts administration, grant development, cultural planning, community development, and expanding access to arts programming throughout Dane County.
Jennifer Graham
Jennifer Graham is Exhibitions and Outreach Coordinator for the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters’ James Watrous Gallery. An accomplished painter, printmaker, and photographer, she holds degrees in Anthropology and Library & Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Rose Menyon Heflin
Rose Menyon Heflin is an artist and award-winning poet whose work is inspired by the natural world. Her poetry and visual art have been featured in numerous publications and exhibitions, and she is widely recognized for connecting environmental themes with artistic expression.
Ann Katz
Ann Katz has served as Executive Director of Create Wisconsin since 1995. A longtime advocate for arts and culture, she has dedicated her career to strengthening communities through creative placemaking, arts education, public policy, and nonprofit leadership.
Monica Mims
Monica Mims is Grassroots Community Engagement Partner at Alliant Energy and a multidisciplinary artist whose work centers on creating meaningful connections between people, ideas, and communities. She currently serves on the board of Operation Fresh Start.
Oscar Mireles
Oscar Mireles is founder of Latinos Organizing for Understanding and Development (LOUD) and served as Madison’s Poet Laureate from 2016 to 2020. A longtime champion of arts accessibility and community engagement, he has served in leadership roles with numerous cultural organizations, including the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Overture Center for the Arts, and Madison Symphony Orchestra.
Erika Monroe-Kane
Erika Monroe-Kane serves as Executive Director of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters, where she leads statewide initiatives connecting people through science, arts, and culture. Throughout her career, she has held leadership positions across nonprofit, government, and cultural organizations dedicated to civic engagement and innovation.
James Shulkin
James Shulkin is a mixed-media sculptor whose work is inspired by American folk art traditions. He serves on the boards of the Madison Public Market Foundation and Artworking, Inc., and has organized the annual Hill Farms Art Walk since 2020.
