OUR STORY
Luna Creative Collaborations wouldn't be what it is today without the collective LUNA (Latinas Unidas en Las Artes) which all started in 2017 after an honest conversation between co-founders Katie Avila Loughmiller and Gabriela Riveros. Concerned about the lack of Latine representation they were seeing in Milwaukee arts organizations, they decided to carve out space in this city’s art scene.
Together they began to build a group of artists that grew into a collective with over 30 members. From there, the collective curated a multitude of exhibitions, community events, held workshops, created public art, and elevated the platform for Latine artists in throughout Milwaukee. In 2019, after being selected as a Brew City Match recipient, the collective turned into an official LLC and opened a temporary location on Cesar Chavez Drive. This opportunity helped launch and excel many of the LUNA artists' individual careers and it also transformed how the business operated to maintain a sustainable future.
Like many businesses, the COVID-19 pandemic brought change. While Luna Creative Collaborations remains Latina-owned and led, and continues to center and support Latino artists, it has also been important from the beginning to uplift businesses and creatives of color more broadly. As the organization grew, expanding its mission to support all artists of color was a natural evolution.
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Today, Luna Creative Collaborations continues to work on commissioned projects including curatorial work, public art initiatives, workshops, and more!
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FOUNDERS of LunA (The Collective)
KATIE AVILA LOUGHMILLER
Katie Avila Loughmiller is a Colombian-American interdisciplinary social practice artist working primarily in theatre, film and community art projects. Her own artistic practice explores her own cultural complexity and female identity. Katie was raised in Boston making homes in NYC and LA before landing in Milwaukee in 2016. She holds a BA from New York University and an MFA from Otis College of Art & Design in Art & Public Practice. Katie remains the Owner and Creative Director of Luna Creative Collaborations.
GABRIELA RIVEROS
Gabriela Riveros is a Paraguayan-American illustrator and DJ whose work revolves around multi-cultural identities, history, and mythology. Storytelling is an integral part of Riveros' work. Storytelling is an integral part of Riveros’ work and she is often inspired by her Latine heritage and the magic woven into our histories. She was born and raised in Milwaukee and graduated from MIAD in 2016 with a BFA in Illustration. She is currently a full-time art director for Kohl’s, as well as a freelance illustrator and DJ with her crew.
COLLECTIVE HIGHLIGHTS
When LUNA was a collective, it was big part of Milwaukee's art scene highlighting Latinx artists in the area. Here are a list of LUNA's exhibitions, events and accomplishments that happened during the collective years:
EXHIBITIONS
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Hyphenated Americas at Latino Arts March-June 2021
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Dia de Los Muertos Ofrenda at Latino Arts, October-November 2020
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Leaders that We Love Virtual Exhibition August 17-20, 2020 (during the DNC)
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#TEAMLUNAMKE at Hangout MKE Cafe & Lounge, November 2019-January 2020
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Superstitions at LUNA Pop-Up Store & Studio, October-December 2019
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Hoops at Urban Ecology Menomonee Valley, September-November 2019
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Sol at Genesis MKE, July-August 2019
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LUNA at Leenhouts Gallery in First Unitarian Society, May-June 2019
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Debut LUNA Exhibition at Muse 33, July-August 2018
EVENTS + ACCOMPLISHMENTS
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Commissioned by former County Executive Chris Abele to design and install a mural for the Milwaukee County Courthouse in March 2020.
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LUNA artists were selected to vend and showcase work at MAM After Dark: Miami Nights in January 2020.
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One of the 12 diverse businesses selected for the Pop-UP MKE program in Fall 2019.
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Finalists and Third Place Winner of the Clarke Square Small Business Contest in 2019.
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Sponsors of Frida Fest MKE at Farmhouse Paint and Sip in. July 2019.
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Invited guests at the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), which is a program of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, Office of International Visitors in July 2019.
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Created a temporary mural for Lopez Bakery as a part of Temporary (Re)Surfacing on Historic Mitchell Street in May 2019.
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Featured artists Milwaukee Art Museum Kohl’s Art Generation Family Sundays: Wisconsin Artists Program, Home: Celebrating Our Refugee Communities at Lynden Sculpture Garden, Riverwest 24, FemFest 2019, Silver City International Festival and Ciclovia MKE (May 2019-September 2019).
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LUNA artists were selected to showcase work at the 2019 LULAC Convention and Exposition.
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LUNA donated work to the Milwaukee Women's Art Library, created by curator Ashley Janke, currently housed at the Charles Allis Museum.
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We've been panelists and guest speakers at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, the Milwaukee Women's Art Library, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Startup Milwaukee Week.
