OH YA?
OH YA! Maybe it’s the ‘Sconnie in us, but whatever it is, we say it ALL the time. OH YA was also the focus of the first mural Brian and Ray collaborated on, back in 2019. When it came time to choose a name for our partnership, it seemed obvious. We loved how short and sweet the phrase was..and it was so US. And just like that, OhYa Studio was born.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Our origin story started back in 2018. Brian had been working with the Madison Bubbler, a creative hub at the Madison Public Library since 2014. In the fall of 2018, he happened to attend a Bubbler Happy Hour event, welcoming the newest artists-in-residence to Team Bubbler - one of which was Emily. Emily overheard Brian talking about the big mural he was painting over at Hilldale Mall, and her ears perked. Why? Because Emily was about to start her biggest mural-to-date - at the UW Memorial Union. They started talking murals, and a friendship was born. Fast-forward a few months, and at another Bubbler Happy Hour event, Ray was in attendance. He was helping The Bubbler paint their signage at Mural Alley…and who did he happen to get in conversation with? Brian and Emily. Ray, who had an extensive background in sign painting, was interested in trying his hand in the mural world. The friendship grew.
Soon thereafter, we started helping each other with our solo projects. These labor trades eventually led to the realization that we worked together really well. By the fall of 2019, we moved into our first studio at The Bodgery - a shared makerspace at the old Oscar Mayer factory. Pooling our resources, equipment and supplies meant we could do so much more. Sharing a studio was awesome - but we couldn’t help but consider how much stronger we could be as a team. With a combined 40+ years of professional experience, and backgrounds in graphic design, sign painting, sculpture, illustration, and calligraphy, we knew we would be able to offer our future clients an incredible service.
Ray Mawst
Graduating with a BFA in Visual Communication from UW-Milwaukee in 2013, Ray has worked professionally as a package designer and production artist, started his own lettering and design business in 2015, and eventually began sign painting in 2017. Ray has been focusing on custom lettering and graphic design for 7 years, and has helped create work for national advertising campaigns, vintage sign restoration, and branding projects. His attention to detail and design experience is what will help us guide your project from concept to completion.
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Brian Kehoe
Brian graduated with a BFA in Studio Art (sculpture and print making) from St. Olaf College in 2007. Additionally he was selected by the St. Olaf Art Department faculty to return for a one year post grad fellowship where he focused his study on large-scale installation. He has experience in construction, metal casting and stone fabrication, and from 2011-2013 taught a painting class where he leveraged his knowledge of large-scale project work to scaling up designs to mural size. Brian started his own freelance mural design company in 2017 before co-founding OhYa Studio in 2020.
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IN THE PRESS…
Signs of the Times Magazine 03/20/21 Edition : “Paint Perfection : The Right Paint Makes the Messaging Pop” - cover feature and interview with Ray
Wisconsin State Journal 11/06/20 Edition : Painting Pink - featuring the Flamingo Swirls mural
The New York Times - Election 2020 - 11/05/20 Edition : Photo of the #VoteItOverWith mural
Middleton-Cross Plains Times-Tribune 10/29/20 Edition : Mural to Welcome Middleton Visitors - featuring the Love Your Neighbor mural
Madison Magazine (June 2020) - “This Too Shall Pass” cover feature and interview with Ray
WKOW-27 - Madison news feature : Popular Positive Murals Around Town - May 23, 2020 - featuring the Strictly Discs “I Wish You Love” mural
NBC-15 - Madison news feature : Hope Murals Brighten Community - May 18, 2020 - featuring the “Hold On To Hope” mural
Wisconsin State Journal 1/17/19 Edition: The Art of Student Life - featuring the UW-Memorial Union stairwell mural
Wisconsin State Journal 11/02/18 Edition: Madison Mural - featuring the #608skylinemural at the Hilldale Shopping Center