We Are Oaklandish: Mila Moldenhawer, AKA Dadadoodles

Mila Moldenhawer, also known as Dadadoodles, is a visual artist from Berkeley, currently based in Oakland. His work features colorful and abstract shapes, landscapes, and portraits as-well as reimagined everyday objects such as hammers, monstera plants, and vases. Viewers are captivated by the bold colors and smooth shading present in both his small and large-scale pieces. You can see his murals throughout the Bay Area, including locations like Bay Street in Emeryville and the Midway in San Francisco. We are thrilled to collaborate with him and merge his beautiful bright art with our expert screen-printing skills.

What aspects of visual art attract your attention?

In Art, I’m usually attracted to high visual impact, often through high contrast and bold color. I like to create clear, striking statements. My focus currently lies in painting, drawing and airbrushing, but I carry a deep love for tattoos and the art of tattooing. I am always exploring how to reinterpret everyday objects, landscapes and characters in my own stylized and original way.

How has growing up in the bay are shaped you as an artist?

Growing up in Berkeley, I spent a lot of time immersed in the arts and culture of Oakland. From playing at Fairyland as a child, to wandering First Fridays and spending afternoons at the lake and OMCA, absorbing the raw authentic energy Oakland has to offer. This collaboration is a full-circle moment, and a celebration of the spaces I’ve always admired as well as the creative places that raised me

What does it mean to be able to present your work to community?

My first solo show opened in July and is on display until August 2nd, at MothBelly Gallery in San Francisco. The timing has been especially meaningful, to me as the opening coincided with Pride Month. As a trans man from the Bay Area, having the opportunity to present my work during the month of pride in San Francisco means a lot to me. Pride for me is about visibility, truth and the power & joy of self-expression. I am so grateful to the galleries and communities that uplift emerging and home-grown artists and give us space to be seen.

This collaboration with Oaklandish, along with my recent show, expresses my love for art and my community, and the love they have for me. Thank you for being a part of it!

Blog photo courtesy of Brandon Joseph Baker

Shop the collection: DADADOODLES

Read more: We Are Oaklandish

Blog photo courtesy of Brandon Joseph Baker