Born in Stockholm in 2012, Milo Elgh (he/him) moved to Colorado at age six to be closer to family. Although he was first given a paintbrush and canvas as a toddler, Milo taught himself to draw from videos while isolated at home with his mom during the COVID pandemic.

His life has included moving between cultures and environments—growing up in Sweden, then around a Longmont brewpub, and at times experiencing houselessness. Using found and gifted materials, Milo translates experiences of identity, nightlife, and shifting environments into illustrations, paintings, and sculptures. He is currently a Visual Arts major at Denver School of the Arts, and his work has received Scholastic Art regional Gold and Silver Keys. Black Futures at the Dairy Arts Center marks his public gallery debut.

Elgh finds joy in expressing ideas, emotions, and stories, even when the process of making art feels frustrating and difficult. He describes creating as simultaneously fun and “the worst feeling ever,” feeling compelled toward certain subjects and mediums. His inspiration comes from music, people he encounters, daily observations, personal life stories, and exploration of identity and relationships.

He is influenced by artists he finds online, friends and classmates, and professional artists such as Dominique Moody and Sadie Barnette. Elgh compares the creative process to pregnancy—amazing, yet accompanied by nausea and pain—ultimately resulting in a “baby” that carries his genes.