Marissa Jezak
October 12, 2026
Young Creatives Exhibition installation view
Behind an industrial facade, in the heart of Detroit’s Milwaukee Junction district, something sweet is brewing. Recently on view inside the historic Boyer Campbell building, the Young Creatives Exhibition showcased an eclectic display of work by twelve Detroit-based artists, and over twenty students between the ages of 4 and 15. Curated by BULK Space’s Jes Allie, the artworks are the result of a one hour workshop—after exploring the surrounding area with DIA docents, students from the Boys & Girls Club paired up with teaching artists to observe quick demos of the artist’s creative methods, and used them as loose guides to produce their own accompanying pieces. The venture took place as part of the DIA’s Inside|Out program, with generous sponsorship from Detroit Design District—who provided the space, materials, and truly made the whole event possible, as part of their ongoing commitment to invest in youth arts in the city.
student work (instructed by Stevie Baka)
A broad spectrum of media and technique is visible throughout the show. Addie Langford’s Gray series is represented in a mesmerizing collage—upon turning the corner, the opposite side of the wall reveals student works that emulate the artist’s use of meticulously layered papers, and abundant staple sutures. Across the gallery, Cyrah Dardas’ natural dye paintings are complemented by the raw moments of play exposed through the student works—the product of pure non-intentional expression, a magic only possible when there’s no formula—just people gathered together, getting their hands dirty. Curator Jes Allie hopes that the show can help break down barriers around the accessibility of fine art, demystifying the notion that value can only exist within the museum. The message: art can be made anywhere by anyone. Artists don’t need institutional seals of approval, or validation to begin making art, they just need to be shown the basic tools, and made aware of their resources—it’s the same DIY ethos that runs deep through Detroit’s culture as a whole.
student work (instructed by Gabby Kurschat)
Gabby Kurschat, Untitled
The theme continues in a striking display of small, found object sculptures—fashioned from materials sourced at Arts & Scraps, an eastside organization that sells art supplies and facilitates youth workshops. Similarly, in the collaged paper works by Maya Davis’ group, as well as Randi Bachman’s ceramic bead necklaces, it’s clear to see how the artists seamlessly incorporate their own styles into their teaching methods, translating the processes into something playful while elevating the voices of the young artists.
student work (instructed by Maya Davis)
student work (instructed by Randi Bachman)
Details of the historical building add to the ambiance of the exhibition, like hanging chandeliers, and most notably, the large chute previously used for sending car parts down from the upper floors during the height of the automotive manufacturing boom. The current exhibition is not the first to take place in the Boyer Campbell building, and certainly will not be the last. Future plans include using the space to continue facilitating arts education and curatorial practices, keeping the building filled with the works of local and international artists, and responding to a gap by asking the questions: what does Detroit need? What do artists need?
student work (instructed by Cyrah Dardas)
In addition to the ongoing curatorial programming, the building will soon be home to the Detroit Independent Study Program, led by Michael Stone-Richards and Addie Langford. The project encompasses an intensive experience where participants will be given studio space, and the opportunity to engage in seminars as well as independent study, turning away from dated ideas of the critique toward a more active dialogue, where the artist’s voice is a central component driving the discussion around their work. The multidisciplinary structure of the Detroit ISP will promote collaboration across artforms, helping to grow networks in Detroit and beyond, and contributing to international dialogues surrounding contemporary art and pedagogy.
Young Creatives Exhibition installation view
The Young Creatives Exhibition was on view from September 13th through September 26, and included the following participants:
Teaching Artists: Randi Bachman, Stevie Baka, Brittanie Bondie, Cyrah Dardas, Maya Davis, Gabriela Gibson, Olivia Holt, Gabby Kurschat, Addie Langford, Nick Pizana, Kat Del Toro
Student Artists: Alaiya, Amari, Anton, Arnell, Aurelia, Cory, David, Da’yonna, Demiyah, Dennie, Dennis, H.M., Jacob, Julien, Kataliya, Ke’yonna, Leonel, Lucia, Malia, Mariana, Mikaela, Nivea, Persia, Sha’leyah
Special thanks to Jes Allie, Bria Bergman, Amelia Patt-Zamir, Addie Langford, and Michael Stone-Richards.