CC-BY-NC
Contemplation © 2025 by Myron Charles is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.
To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
24 x 24 inches
Digital Illustration (iPad, Adobe Fresco) Printed on Canvas
In Collaboration with Andrea Hicks, Director of Sustainability Education and Research, UW-Madison
We often take things that keep us alive for granted, the beating of our hearts, the warmth of the sun, the air in our lungs. But what happens when those very things that give us life are taken away? How will we react? How will this shape our future? When faced with change I believe it’s important to ask the difficult questions. One of my favorite things to talk about – and to show in my work – is what happens when we find ourselves in unbelievable situations. Our shared experiences and reactions are important to who we are, which is an idea I use in my work to help people to start asking those difficult questions.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
I am a graphic designer and interdisciplinary artist based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. With a background in print design, and brand creation my work explores the intersection of technology, storytelling, and human experience. Blending bold concepts with subtle visual narratives, I have developed a practice called “Premium Design Department,” where I experiment with digital art, speculative design, and interactive installations. I have showcased my work in collaborative exhibitions, often drawing inspiration from themes of identity, futurism, and societal critique.
Instagram: @premiumdesigndepartment
ABOUT THE WATER PARTNER
Dr. Andrea Hicks is an associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. She is also an affiliate member of the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, Geological Engineering, and Freshwater and Marine Sciences Program. She is the Hanson Family Fellow in Sustainability and a Grainger Institute for Engineering Faculty Scholar.
Her scholarship lies at the intersection of technology and sustainability, in particular focusing on the environmental impacts and sustainability implications of emerging technologies, in order to understand their potential unintended consequences and mitigate if possible before they are widely adopted.
MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH SUPPORT FROM
