Milwaukee, WI, United States
Nicolas Lampert is a Milwaukee-based interdisciplinary artist and author whose work focuses on themes of social justice and ecology. His artwork is in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art and the Milwaukee Art Museum, among others. Collectively, he works with three groups: the Justseeds Artists’ Cooperative - a worker-owned printmaking cooperative of thirty artists in North America that formed in 2007, ReciproCity – a mobile experimental cultural center that focuses on urban agricultural projects and community activism in Milwaukee and beyond, and Climate Prints - a website/activist infrastructure project that shares downloadable graphics on Climate Justice and puts this work directly into movements. Lampert has collaborated as an artist on past activist campaigns with TAMMS Year Ten, Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW), Voces de la Frontera, the Chicago chapter of the Rain Forest Action Network, and 350.org. His first book A People’s Art History of the United States: 250 Years of Activist Art and Artists Working in Social Justice Movements was published by The New Press in 2013 and is part of the People’s History Series edited by Howard Zinn. Lampert is a full-time faculty member (academic staff appointment) in the Department of Art and Design at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a joint appointment in Printmaking and Writing and Critical Thinking.
Other Media
Check out this video by Joe Brusky. It features an interview with Jasmene Miranda – an Oakland public school – during the OEA (Oakland Education Association) art build from January…
There is power in a union. There is power in the solidarity between teachers, students, and parents, and there is power in an art build. From January 18th to 20th…
There is power in a union. There is power in solidarity. And there is power in art. Last weekend these themes were on full display during a three-day art build…
This past week my daughter and I visited fellow Justseeds artist Chip Thomas on the Navajo Reservation. We traveled there for multiple reasons: to spend time with Chip, to see…
A week ago, five of us from Milwaukee traveled up to Minneapolis to work on a two-day art build during the NEA (National Education Association) Conference on Racial and Social…
Chip Thomas inspires. Powerful short documentary video on Chip Thomas (Jetsonorama) that was produced by KQED Arts. Street Artist Reflects Native American Dignity at a Monumental Scale When images of…
Building Art to Keep Families Together from MTEA Union on Vimeo. Joe Brusky of MTEA and the Overpass Light Brigade made a time lapse video of the recent Voces de…
In 2012, I created an exhibition of prints and baseball jerseys in collaboration with Paul Kjelland that honored the Milwaukee Commandos, who among many things, helped protect the Civil Rights…
There is power in a union. There is power in art. A few weeks ago, five hundred-plus people – teachers, students, union organizers, artists, and allies – came together in…
A critical view on monuments and whose history is presented and whose is omitted is crucial in the aftermath of Charlotteville. Here is a link to a PDF of an…
Here is a recent article by Virginia Small on ReciproCity – a Milwaukee-based project that combines art, community engagement, and urban farming and is best known for turning three-empty city…
Voces de la Frontera has organized the annual May Day march for the past decade in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This year is no different. In this time of crisis Voces de…
Check out this powerful video by Showtime about last weeks Milwaukee Public Schools board meeting where the board voted 8-0 to make MPS a sanctuary school district. The video highlights…
Art builds bring people together and create stronger coalitions. A few weeks ago over 150 people – artists, public school teachers, union organizers, activists, allies, and community members came together…
Dallas-based printmaker Viktor Ortix traveled to Standing Rock in September and then in early November where he stayed at the Oceti Sakowin camp for six weeks. He spent the majority…
There are many ways to support the Water Protectors at Standing Rock. This is one that relates specifically to art. Months ago an art tent was constructed that is open…
Justseeds extended community: Brooklyn artist and activist Rachel Schragis (who was one of the main arts organizer for the People’s Climate March) is seeking funding support for an inspiring project…
Update from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This past month has been busy with work outside the realm of printmaking and graphics. Instead it has involved circular saws, cordless drills, and dirt. This…
This past May Day in Milwaukee thousands marched through downtown calling for justice for immigrant, worker, and student rights. It was a day of celebration and protest – one that…
Here is a recap of the Art Build that took place in Milwaukee from April 16th-20th. The event was organized by myself and Susan Simensky Bietila and revolved around a…