10/02/2026
We are excited to introduce the third of four artists featured in our upcoming show Common Ground!
Ilya Gurevich is a Milwaukee based wood artist whose work reflects a multicultural life shaped by immigration, assimilating in Midwest, growing up millennial, and general life experiences. Born in Minsk, ex- Soviet republic of Belarus, he immigrated to Milwaukee as a teenager, discovering creativity in high school art classes where punk aesthetics and DIY culture first sparked his passion for making. Early jobs in building maintenance and remodeling taught him the satisfaction of working with own hands, power tools and different materials—skills that closely intervened with his future engineering career and creative outlets.
Artist's Statement:
My work is driven by a mission to use reclaimed materials and personal narrative to challenge the invisible divisions that separate people. Through wood art and photography, I explore the shared human experiences that transcend borders, politics, and timelines. Century old lath—salvaged from Milwaukee homes and marked by time, labor, and history—became my primary medium. Old materials, that most would consider dumpster junk, are repurposed into some sort of sentiment obtaining another chance at life as art.
Growing up in Belarus and building a life in the Midwest shaped my understanding of cultural contrast, displacement, and belonging. These experiences and traveling have revealed how easily stereotypes and propaganda distort our perception of one another. My mission is to counter that distortion. Each piece is an attempt to highlight the emotional common ground we all share—nostalgia, struggle, humor, loss, resilience, music, history and common cultural nuances—regardless of where we come from or what we believe.
The works evolved from cool looking geometric shapes into pieces that carry personal sentiment, cultural memory, and reflections on identity. I create to open a window into my own story, not for self focus, but to offer viewers a place to recognize their own connection. When someone connects with a piece, it becomes a reminder that our lives, though shaped by different circumstances, often echo one another.
