Board Members

David Barnett, an artist, collector, and appraiser has been passionate about art from the early age of five. David’s career as an art dealer began at age nineteen when, as a fine arts student, he sponsored an exhibition of work by fellow student artists.  In 1966, he opened his first gallery in a converted basement apartment at Wisconsin Avenue and 21st Street. In 1985 David moved his gallery from Wisconsin Avenue into the Old Button Mansion on State Street and has been active ever since. David’s talents for recognizing undervalued artists and for meeting the needs of art lovers, art collectors and artists have created a vibrant, flourishing gallery and collection of over 6,000 works of art.

David was born and raised in Wisconsin. He has been painting in watercolors, acrylics, and oil pastels.  

    Julia was appointed as the first woman president of the Greater Milwaukee Committee in December 2002. The GMC convenes and collaborates with other organizations and groups in the community on an issue-by-issue basis and leads by initiating projects and implementing strategies. The GMC membership is comprised of 200 CEOs and leaders in various sectors including business, labor, academic, philanthropy and nonprofit. She retired from the GMC in 2022. Julia was a founding member of the Water Council. Before coming to the GMC, Julia was president of the YWCA of Greater Milwaukee for 16 years. She currently serves on the boards of Milwaukee Film and is Treasurer of the City as Living Laboratory National Board in New York City, New York. She co-chairs the Watermarks Advisory Committee in Milwaukee, and the B-Line Park on the Beerline Trail Connecting Communities capital campaign. She was recently appointed to the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewage District Commission. In February, 2024, Julia became the Executive Director of Lily Pad Gallery West. Julia maintains an active art practice through Julia Taylor Watercolor LLC. She teaches watercolor lessons and exhibits frequently.

Yonder Nightingale is a fervent advocate for the arts, boasting a rich background spanning digital and traditional realms, including user experience and interface design, graphic design, painting, drawing, and art restoration. Embracing the profound influence of creativity, he has devoted his career to nurturing artistic expression and cultural enrichment, always prioritizing user needs and accessibility in his designs.

During his tenure as a UX designer at Microsoft, Yonder has showcased exemplary leadership and foresight through his contributions to projects like Microsoft's AI Copilot. With extensive involvement in global initiatives across Finance, Store & Sales, and Learn platforms, he brings a distinctive perspective honed by over a decade of art and design education. His unwavering belief in art's capacity to inspire, educate, and instigate social change underscores his professional ethos. Beyond his professional commitments, Yonder is deeply invested in community engagement, having volunteered in various art programs since high school. As such, his dedication to giving back to his community remains steadfast.

Joining the board of directors at Artist Resource Transnational is a profound honor for Yonder, who eagerly anticipates leveraging his expertise and fervor to advance the organization's mission of preserving artists' legacies. He is enthusiastic about collaborating with fellow board members to propel Artist Resource Transnational's impact within the community, ensuring its enduring relevance and efficacy.

    Milwaukee is home. I was born and raised here, and even though my career took me to other places, I always came back. Simply put, I love this city and I love its people. You’ve no doubt heard the expression “climbing the ladder” in regard to professional achievement. I think Milwaukee Magazine described my career path accurately when they said I’ve run a “vocational obstacle course.”

I worked my way through college at a number of jobs: factory worker, highway construction worker and even stint as a private detective. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a degree in Russian, I went on to do graduate work in Journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I was a newspaper reporter and editor, press secretary to a Wisconsin governor, Assistant Chancellor at UWM and Chief of Staff to a Milwaukee mayor. In 1991, I settled into what has perhaps been the most exciting chapter of my professional career – launching my own communications firm. Founding Mueller Communications seemed almost predestined. Everything I learned and all the people I met along the way helped me start and grow this company.

My favorite things about this dynamic company are the people who work here and the challenging, problem-solving assignments we get from our clients. We are truly never bored. I try to give back however I can. I am a member of numerous boards and volunteer groups around the city, including The Greater Milwaukee Committee, Milwaukee Press Club, MKE United, Bay View Lions Club, Save the Soldiers Home Fundraising Committee and more.  I have also served on the board of the Milwaukee Urban League, Jewish Family Services, COA and Girl Scouts of America. Outside of the office, I love traveling with my children, antique collecting, riding motorcycles, going on Milwaukee Jewish Federation mission trips and doing lots of reading.