Feature image: Jade in her studio. Photo: Aloy Xiong.
By Frank Juárez
Jade Pergl is a recent BFA graduate (2024) from Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. She earned a degree in Fine Art + New Studio Practice with a focus in painting and a minor in writing. My first encounter with her work was in early 2026 on Instagram. I found her work to be meditative and inviting. Like many, when we see a work of art that captures our attention, we find ourselves perusing the artist’s feed to gain a sense of who the artist is and what the work is about, resulting in clicking that follow button.
I often wonder how an artist executes a work of art. Does the artist begin with sketches, reference photos, or work intuitively? For Pergl, her approach is intuitively similar to an abstract expressionist, processing daily responses about life, people, and ideas. As she begins applying gestural lines or broad paint strokes, she is always thinking about the next step and sometimes about the next painting. This allows her mind to remain active whilst building the excitement for the next visit to her studio. Maintaining a rigorous studio practice, managing to go to her studio 3 to 4 times per week, is important to her. This level of discipline is necessary for her continued growth as an artist, watching every painting lead to something more. The idea of being in the moment allows the element of change to surface and unexpectedly impacting her next mark.
Photo: Aloy Xiong.
As I took a closer look at her paintings, I noticed that the substrate she uses is transparent, exposing the stretcher bars. She uses fabric to stretch her canvases, which provides the perfect backdrop for paint, mark making, and airbrush to respond to one another. The airbrush gives a ghostly presence juxtaposed by opaque shapes of color. The use of fabric adds a tenderness to the painting, giving it a sense of fragility, femininity, and vulnerability. The floral motifs subject matter exude a sense of calmness; not depicting a specific type of flowers, but rather a reimagined existence of how she sees the world. Thinking about organic shapes and how they interact and overlap lends itself to endless compositional constructs.
“The tension between surface and structure sits at the heart of my practice. Prompting questions about control, vulnerability, and balance,” says Pergl.
As we near the end of the interview, I wonder how artists today define success. What does success look like through their lens? Pergl shares that success is having a sustainable career, moving slowly and methodically as she continues to define her practice and the direction she wants to explore.
Jade Pergl is a painter who lives and works in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She holds a BFA from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. She has exhibited locally and is part of the 2026 Emerging Artists Program Cohort at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center.
To learn more about Jade Pergl, visit jadepergl.com and connect on Instagram at @jade_pergl.
Jade Perg;e: A Sense of Calmness is published in Issue 41. Purchase a copy here.
Frank Juárez is an award-winning art educator, curator, and arts advocate based in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Known for his commitment to elevating contemporary art and supporting Wisconsin artists, Juárez has spearheaded numerous initiatives, including the Midwest Artist Studios Project and the 365 Artists 365 Days Project. In addition to his roles as publisher of Artdose magazine and editor-in-chief of SchoolArts magazine, Juárez has curated exhibitions and juried art shows throughout the Midwest. His dedication to art education and advocacy has earned him numerous accolades, making him a pivotal figure in Wisconsin’s art community.