"sponge magazine was created by a collective of three female-identifying artists in milwaukee, wisconsin. our goal is to uplift the voices of women, non-binary, LGBTQIA+ & BIPOC creators through a digital and printed zine that demonstrates the diversity and talent that these voices have to offer. through art, we strive to create a space where these voices can safely exist in a system that does not promise the same."
-helena baka, carter gruber & anna siemsen,
founders of sponge magazine
* we acknowledge that we reside on the indigenous land of the chippewa or ojibwe, potawatomi, peoria, ho-chunk nation, kiikaapoo, and menomonee tribes, and any other indigenous tribes not mentioned that resided here in the past, present and future. we pay our respects to them and their ancestors. *
~ click here to find out what indigenous land you are living on ~
helena baka (she/her) is an albanian-american woman artist from chicago, illinois living in milwaukee, wisconsin. her work consists of colorful, abstract sculptures and paintings of portraits and mythological creatures inspired by her albanian culture and her overall identity as a woman. much of her work deals with memory, cultural diaspora, and the feminine body and experience. you can find more of her work on her instagram, @artbug666 and her website, helenabaka.com.
carter gruber (she/her) is a wisconsin-born artist who currently resides in milwaukee, wisconsin. her work utilizes several different materials and mediums to investigate the emotional residue resulting from various human connections. she finds inspiration in her own personal life experiences, which has ranged anywhere from brief encounters with strangers to break-ups from long-term lovers. check out @cartergruber.art on instagram or cartergruber.com to keep up with her work!
anna siemsen (she/her) is a chinese-american artist from milwaukee, wisconsin. she is currently studying at the milwaukee institute of art and design with a focus in fashion design and videography. anna's work focuses around chinese culture and history, as well as cultural diaspora and family. many of her pieces focus on studying aspects of her culture and bringing them into a modern context. much of her inspiration comes from books, poetry, family photographs and home videos. you can find more of her work on her instagram, @annalusstudio and her website, annalusiemsen.com.