Elsa Bruno ’14 knew what she wanted, asked for it, and got it.
Last summer, the confident Scripps College student became the first intern ever hired by well-known Milwaukee artist Reginald Baylor to work at his art gallery and studio. Bruno had seen Baylor’s bold, colorful paintings the previous summer, when she interned at another gallery in Milwaukee, and was impressed. Undeterred by the fact that Baylor was not advertising for help, she went to him directly and asked for a summer internship. Surprisingly, he said yes.
Bruno’s main work was assisting in completing the work Mr. and Mrs. Pitch and Peach America. Essentially,she filled in all the color sections with up to seven layers of acrylic paint.
An art history major, Bruno has continued to explore the world of art and expand her knowledge because of opportunities Scripps offered her. In her junior year, she studied in two European epicenters of art: Florence in the fall and Paris in the spring.
“One of the reasons I chose Scripps is because of the excellent opportunities for study abroad,” she said, “and my supplemental education off campus has added greatly to my knowledge of European art.”
She also credits Scripps’ Italian department with encouraging her to work towards studying in Florence. “I am a foreign language minor, so studying in two different countries where I could learn new languages was thrilling,” she said.
Bruno is using her experience abroad to help conduct research for the curatorial department at the Milwaukee Art Museum, where she is interning this summer. It is an unpaid position made possible for Bruno through the Adams Grant at Scripps. So far, she has extensively researched and analyzed two Madonna and Child compositions currently on view at the museum.
Her year studying abroad pays off in her current work. “I have a depth of knowledge to draw on surrounding the conditions when these pieces were made, which helps me approach my research assignments with an edge.”
This fall, Bruno will continue studying Italian at Scripps, as well as take two courses on museum studies. After graduation, she hopes to continue to work in the museum field.
Whatever job she aims for, it’s a good bet she’ll get it.