UW–Madison’s Michael Velliquette, an assistant professor in the School of Education’s Art Department, is featured in the Summer 2025 issue of On Wisconsin magazine.
The article, headlined “Paper Magic,” traces Velliquette’s artistic journey and creative process, spotlighting his use of everyday materials — including paper, scissors, rulers, and glue — to create immersive, room-sized installations, vivid collages, and intricately layered sculptures.
Velliquette earned his BFA at Florida State University, the article shares, where he focused on performance and installation work. As a student, he built elaborate set pieces from affordable materials like cardboard, fabric, and paint.
“My BFA was such a rich, wonderful experience,” Velliquette recalls. “I went into college not even thinking that art was an option, and I left so passionate and clear about what I wanted my life to be.”
He later pursued graduate studies at UW–Madison, where he continued to focus on performance and installation. After coming out as gay, his work began to center more on queer identity.
“I was creating characters in otherworldly environments that suggest the figure is on some sort of journey of discovery, although you never quite knew who it was or where it was going,” he recalls.
Over time, Velliquette fully embraced paper as his primary medium, crafting vibrant, highly detailed constructions. “No flat surfaces and not one spot unembellished, even in the spaces invisible to the viewer,” writes essayist Wendy Atwell in a 2020 catalog of his work. She notes that each piece can take 300 to 500 hours to complete and incorporate as many as 5,000 pieces of paper — which he rolls, stacks, and glues together, using a variety of techniques.
At UW–Madison Velliquette teaches foundational courses such as Drawing Fundamentals, 2-D Design, and 3-D Design. He also spearheaded a popular art class for non-majors which now enrolls close to 500 students each year in 30 sections.
“Michael is a great teacher, but he’s also been one of the leaders in our department in thinking about teaching,” says fellow UW–Madison art faculty member Michael Peterson. “He’s been central to reworking our foundations curriculum. Our teaching is immensely stronger for his efforts.”
According to the article, Velliquette is now working on a series of “bright gold reliefs” that combine layered textures with playful, iconic imagery.
“Ultimately,” Velliquette says, “my work is about creating an experience that’s uplifting, to elevate a sense of happiness and kindness in the mind of the viewer.”
Learn more about Velliquette’s work and journey in the full On Wisconsin feature.