Ann Arbor Art Center

Spring & Summer Art Camps Open for Registration
2024-01-26 07:00 (America/Detroit) | MI
Registration for Spring and Summer Youth Art Camps opens for ALL on Friday, January 26 at 7am!

To prepare for registration, please visit our SNEAK PEEK page. From a walk-through of our new registration system to updated policies and more, we’ve got you covered!

READ MORE ABOUT OUR ART CAMPS

Unbound: Narratives of our Constructed Environments Opening Reception
2024-02-02 18:00 - 20:00 | A2AC Gallery, 117 W Liberty, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Join us for the Opening Reception of the A2AC Gallery’s Unbound: Narratives of our Constructed Environments exhibition. Featuring select artists and DJ Loamsy.

LEARN MORE ABOUT UNBOUND

The Walls Won't Hold Opening Reception
2024-02-02 18:00 - 20:00 | A2AC (Ann Arbor Art Center), 117 W Liberty, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Join us for the Opening Reception of The Walls Won’t Hold–Ceramic and Mixed Media work by Jenneva Kayser in the A2AC Spotlight Gallery.

The pieces in the show are in response to climate change from the emotional and vulnerable place of living in a city shaped by the human forces of economics and violence and the natural forces of fire and flood.

This event is in conjunction with the Opening Reception of the A2AC Gallery’s Unbound: Narratives of Our Constructed Environments exhibition.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS EXHIBITION

A2AC Shop Valentine's Pop-Up
2024-02-10 12:00 - 18:00 | A2AC (Ann Arbor Art Center), 117 W Liberty, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Whether searching for the perfect gift for your special someone or simply treating yourself to a day of sensory delights, join us for a unique and delightful experience featuring local vendors who will bring locally baked goods, bio-active terrariums, and floral artworks. Don’t miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in a world of romance, beauty, and sweetness at our one-of-a-kind celebration of love!

Featuring:

Clarkes Terrariums

Ellen’s Fine Goods

Niche Hitch Floral

ALSO HAPPENING DURING THIS POP-UP:

LEARN MORE

A2AC Shop Valentine's Pop-Up: Sarah Nisbett/Drawn on the Way - Live Illustration/Portrait Event
2024-02-10 12:00 - 18:00 | MI
Have a portrait of you, your family, or your friends made right on the spot with live illustrator Sarah Nisbett!

Sarah from Drawn On The Way will be at the shop from 12-6 PM for a Live Portrait Pop Up Event. Sarah is known for her expressive and minimal live illustrations, which she makes right on the spot! In just a few minutes, she’ll create a portrait of you, your loved ones – or even your pup, and you’ll walk away with the perfect gift or a bespoke work of art to keep forever.

$65 for a single sitter or $125 for a duo

Sessions run about 20 minutes

Email Sarah at hi@drawnontheway.com to book your appointment now! Pre-booking is strongly encouraged to guarantee a spot. Walk-ins will be taken as pre-booked appointments allow.

A self-taught artist, Sarah learned how to draw by drawing strangers on the New York City subway. Sarah will be available to sign copies of her book Drawn On The Way: A Guide To Capturing the Moment Through Live Sketching, which brings to life her mission to use drawing to help people find the extraordinary in the everyday and to see themselves and others as works of art. Come get a portrait made, watch the fun, or grab a copy of her book and turn your world into a work of art! You will also have the opportunity to learn about her live wedding illustration business, Drawn On Your Day!

ABOUT DRAWN ON THE WAY

ABOUT DRAWN ON YOUR DAY

Spring Art Classes Open for Members
2024-02-14 07:00 | MI
Spring into art with our newest batch of art classes. Become a member and register for classes before the general public, ensuring you get the courses you want! Existing members, watch your email for instructions on accessing all 2024 Spring Art Classes.

2024 Spring Art Classes Opens for Members on Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 7am.

Open for ALL on Friday, Feb. 16 at 7am.

BECOME A MEMBER

Spring Art Classes Open for ALL
2024-02-16 07:00 | MI
Spring into Art: Explore, Create, and Flourish in one of our upcoming art classes!

2024 Spring Art Classes opens early for A2AC Members on Wednesday, February 14 at 7am.

SEE ALL UPCOMING CLASSES

BECOME A MEMBER

Curator/Artist Conversation
2024-02-24 11:00 - 12:30 | A2AC Gallery, 117 W Liberty, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Join us in the A2AC Gallery for our first Artist and Curator Conversation of the 2024 exhibition season! Learn how A2AC Gallery artists Jason DeMarte, Jeff Schofield, Melissa Webb, and Spotlight Gallery artist Jenneva Kayser approach the concept and daily reminder of human impacts on our environments.

LEARN MORE ABOUT UNBOUND

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WALLS WON’T HOLD

Sherina Rodriguez Sharpe presents Genesis
2024-03-03 15:00 - 17:00 | Ann Arbor District Library, 343 S 5th Ave, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48104, United States
“Genesis” is a theatrical performance by Kresge Theater Fellow Sherina Rodriguez Sharpe, telling a story of decolonization through six Filipina mothers across her ancestral line.

In describing this performance, Sharpe says: “This work is presented as a mirror ritual. Each mirror is an altar to one of my ancestors, activating their power. In the mirrors, the viewer is called to experience five Divine Mothers and hear their stories. Each mirror overflows, brimming with wisdom and ancestral messages. My calling: to embody their genius and liberate our ancestral line. I invite you to join me in this freedom process. Each story is accompanied by a decolonization ritual. By the end of the night, you’ll meet your inner Road Opener, Warrior, Magician, Lover, and King and access the inner power necessary to become the hero of your own decolonization journey.”

Featured artists include: Sherina Rodriguez Sharpe, Shashu Amen-Ra, Veronique Eason, TETRA, and Chace Morris.

This performance is presented as a part of the A2AC Gallery’s exhibition We are here because you were there co-presented by

LEARN MORE ABOUT WE ARE HERE BECAUSE YOU WERE THERE

Film Screening of "Who Killed Vincent Chin?" & Q/A at the AADL
2024-03-08 17:00 - 19:00 | Ann Arbor District Library, 343 S 5th Ave, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48104, United States
On a hot summer night in Detroit in 1982, Ronald Ebens, an autoworker, killed Vincent Chin, a young Chinese American draftsman with a baseball bat. Although he confessed, he never spent a day in jail. This gripping Academy Award-nominated film relentlessly probes the implications of the murder, for the families of those involved, and for the American justice system. Who Killed Vincent Chin? was recently restored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and also added to the National Film Registry.

This screening features a Q&A with the film’s executive producer, Juanita Anderson, who will be in conversation with Chien-An Yuan in the AADL Downtown Lobby.

This event is in partnership with the Ann Arbor Film Festival as part of Laura Gibson’s exhibition “Dope Women in Media: Honoring Women in Film in Metro Detroit” at the A2AC.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SCREENING

ABOUT DOPE WOMEN IN MEDIA EXHIBITION

A2AC Social
2024-03-15 17:00 - 22:15 | A2AC (Ann Arbor Art Center), 117 W Liberty, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
UPDATE: The 2024 A2AC Social is now SOLD OUT!

Grab your friends and escape the cold at the Ann Arbor Art Center on Friday, March 15, 2024, for our second annual A2AC Social: A Night at the Studios!

Four art experiences commissioned from local artists, custom cocktails created by our friends at the Ann Arbor Distilling Company, and delicious small plates come together for an immersive night out.

SESSIONS TIMES:

SESSION 1: 5 PM – 7:15 PM – SOLD OUT

SESSION 2: 8 PM – 10:15 PM – SOLD OUT

LEARN MORE ABOUT A2AC SOCIAL

Holding: Honoring the Ceramic Cup Opening Reception
2024-03-22 18:00 - 20:00 | MI
Join us for the Opening Reception of the A2AC Spotlight Gallery exhibition, Holding: Honoring the Ceramic Cup. Featuring pieces from 49 Michigan artists at various stages in their careers.

This event coincides with the opening of the 62nd Ann Arbor Film Festival’s Off the Screen exhibition, Dope Women in Media: Honoring the Women of Film in Metro Detroit.

ABOUT HOLDING: HONORING THE CERAMIC CUP

Dope Women in Media: Honoring the Women of Film in Metro Detroit Opening Reception
2024-03-22 18:00 - 20:00 | MI
Join us for the Opening Reception of the A2AC Gallery exhibition, Dope Women in Media: Honoring the Women of Film in Metro Detroit, part of the 62nd Ann Arbor Film Festival’s Off the Screen series.

This event coincides with the opening of the A2AC Spotlight Gallery’s exhibition, Holding: Honoring the Ceramic Cup, featuring pieces from 52 Michigan artists at various stages in their careers.

ABOUT DOPE WOMEN IN MEDIA

Free Legal Seminar for Artists
2024-03-24 13:00 - 15:00 | A2AC (Ann Arbor Art Center), 117 W Liberty, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Join the A2AC for a free legal seminar for artists covering:

• Copyright Law Basics

• Infringement

• Fair Use

• The Copyright Claims Board (the new “small claims” administrative court for copyright infringement claims)

Doors open at 12:30pm. Seating is limited.

AAFF Bagels and Coffee Social Hour
2024-03-28 10:00 - 11:30 | UofM Campus’ North QuadSpace, 105 S State St, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48104, United States
Join the A2AC Gallery’s exhibiting artists from Dope Women in Film alongside the Detroit Narrative Agency (DNA) for an informal Q & A: Sponsored by Detroit Narrative Agency (DNA).

A part of the 62nd Ann Arbor Film Festival’s Off the Screen series connected to the A2AC Gallery’s Dope Women in Media: Honoring the Women of Film in Metro Detroit.

ABOUT THE ANN ARBOR FILM FESTIVAL

ABOUT DOPE WOMEN IN MEDIA

AAFF Off the Screen Reception & Panel Discussion
2024-03-28 15:00 - 17:00 | A2AC (Ann Arbor Art Center), 117 W Liberty, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Join us during the 62nd Ann Arbor Film Festival for a special viewing of Dope Women in Media alongside the artists, guest curator Laura Gibson, and other film festival attendees.

This event features a panel discussion with the gallery artists and a land acknowledgment in Studio 201 at 3:30pm.

ABOUT THE ANN ARBOR FILM FESTIVAL

ABOUT DOPE WOMEN IN MEDIA

Artini Tickets On Sale for Members/Past Attendees
2024-04-03 07:00 | MI
The A2AC is excited to welcome you back downtown for Artini 2024. That’s right–our annual cocktail crawl fundraiser is BACK on Friday, June 21! Once again, many of the finest downtown bars and restaurants in downtown Ann Arbor will create the city’s most artful martini.

Members and Past Attendees–keep your eyes out for an email on April 3 with an exclusive ticket link before tickets go on sale for all on Friday, April 5.

BECOME A MEMBER HERE

LEARN MORE ABOUT ARTINI 2014

Artini Tickets On Sale for ALL
2024-04-05 07:00 | MI
The A2AC is excited to welcome you back downtown for Artini 2024. That’s right–our annual cocktail crawl fundraiser is BACK on Friday, June 21! Once again, many of the finest downtown bars and restaurants in downtown Ann Arbor will create the city’s most artful martini.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ARTINI 2014

Fellowship: The 2024 Instructor Show Opening Reception
2024-04-19 17:00 - 21:00 | A2AC (Ann Arbor Art Center), 117 W Liberty, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Join us for the opening of Fellowship: The 2024 Instructor Show, investigating the theme of relationships: between people, nature, our bodies, and the passing of time. Work includes 2D, ceramics, and mixed media sculpture created by dedicated instructors who teach classes and workshops at the A2AC.

LEARN MORE ABOUT FELLOWSHIP

Person, Practice: Solo Show by Meg Gizzi Opening Reception
2024-05-10 18:00 - 20:00 | A2AC (Ann Arbor Art Center), 117 W Liberty, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Join us for the opening reception of Meg Gizzi’s solo show, Person, Practice which combines ceramic objects and actions to craft external, physical metaphors that explore the internal, metaphysical landscape of selfhood.

ABOUT MEG GIZZI

Meg Gizzi is a ceramicist and educator born and raised in Michigan. She currently resides in Ann Arbor, working and teaching across Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor. Meg received her Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and Design with a concentration in ceramics from the University of Michigan Stamps School of Art and Design. She then completed the Post-Baccalaureate Ceramics program at Michigan State University, during which she began her career as a ceramics teacher at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center. Currently, she teaches at the All Seasons Senior Living Facility, Yourist Studio Gallery, and is a lecturer teaching Introduction to Ceramics at Eastern Michigan University and Beginning and Advanced Ceramics at the University of Michigan Residential College. In addition to her career as an educator, Meg is a working artist, striving to produce ceramic objects with meaning and purpose. Her work has been featured in student shows at the University of Michigan Stamps Gallery, Residential College Gallery, and Stamps Senior Show, the national juried show untitled 2.0 at the Athens Arts Gallery in Athens, Indiana, and the 100th Annual All-Media Exhibition at the Ann Arbor Art Center. Most recently, she debuted her first solo show, Ways of Being, at BARICKUDA GALLERY at trustArt Studios in Ann Arbor, MI.

Link

Instagram

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

A2AC Shop Letter-Writing Drop-In Workshop with Hearty Greetings
2024-05-11 12:00 - 18:00 | A2AC (Ann Arbor Art Center), 117 W Liberty, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Take a moment to explore the lost art of letter writing! Participants will have the opportunity to sit down with beautiful letterpress printed stationery sheets adorned with historic type cast graphics, and write a letter to a loved one using a selection of vintage typewriters. Once you have recorded your perfect sentiment, you can close your envelope for your letter using a wax seal. Bring the family and record your thoughts to your loved ones in style with this fun interactive workshop!

No registration is involved as this is a drop-in workshop.

ABOUT HEARTY GREETINGS

Hearty Greetings is a one-woman-owned business focused on:

Letterpress stationery, invitations, and cards.

Handcrafted books, journals, and albums.

Handmade prints and works of art.

Owner Laura Beyer has had an affinity for books since childhood, so amassing vintage printing equipment only makes sense as an adult😅. In an increasingly digital age, she has always been a sucker for snail mail, maintaining pen pal correspondence over the decades 💌.

Laura’s work has been collected by colleges and universities, private collections as well the Detroit Institute of Art. She has 20+ years of printmaking experience in academic and professional studios and set up her own art studio in 2012.

Website

Instagram

A2AC Shop Spring Pop-Up
2024-05-11 12:00 - 18:00 | A2AC (Ann Arbor Art Center), 117 W Liberty, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
As the warmth of spring blossoms around us, immerse yourself in a delightful celebration of the season at our enchanting pop-up event! We’re thrilled to showcase the talents of three extraordinary local artisans, who will bring hand-made charming decorations, delectable treats, and indulgent self-care products.

FEATURING

BUBBLE BABES SOAP

Hello! We are the Bubble Babes and are so excited that you’re here. Our names are Noonie and Sylvia, and we are a duo that started our journey into cold process soap making in 2019. We craft our products in Ann Arbor, MI (Go Blue!). After much experimenting (and more experimenting), we decided to share it with the world in 2020 and put our products up for sale online. Our team is proud to be woman-owned, diverse, inclusive, and empowering!

Website

Facebook

Instagram

ELLEN’S FINE GOODS

Hi! I’m Ellie.

I grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and made my way through many careers before realizing that I wanted to work in a kitchen.

I received my BFA in Photography from the Stamps School of Art and Design in 2003, and a few years later moved out to Brooklyn with my sister to pursue a career in photography.

In New York, I worked for an amazing photographer named Sheila Metzner who played a crucial role in my development as an artist.

In 2011 I moved back to Ann Arbor, and started working for the Ann Arbor Film Festival.

I have always worked in restaurants, and I taught myself how to cook, bake and decorate along the way. It wasn’t until I was in my 30’s that I realized this was my creative outlet all along.

In 2016 I left my job at the AAFF and enrolled in the Culinary Arts program at Schoolcraft College. During my time at Schoolcraft I worked for some amazing instructors, who helped me refine my skills and pushed me to become the chef I am today.

Website

Facebook

Instagram

LILAC AND BLUSH

hi, i’m nora, the owner and artisan of lilac and blush.

i am forever inspired by color and texture- i am endlessly entertained by the gradations of a sunset and i love wandering through the pages of a design magazine- so it brings me great joy to assemble flowers and bouquets with a creative spirit, an eye for aesthetics, and attention to detail.

with scissors, glue, and a rainbow of italian crepe paper, i transform paper to petal as i handcraft each piece of the flower and build each blossom. i handcut, sculpt, and carefully place all of the petals, sepals, and leaves- i love the mix of creativity and precision of paper flowers as well as the magic when form and charm are born from a simple piece of paper and a dose of handiwork.

lilac and blush was born in 2020 during early corona when i was able to devote more time to the business itself after several years of diving into the art of creating paper flowers. lilac and blush are colors that i featured in an early collection and in an early bouquet in which i felt the beautiful and intuitive journey of colors and blooms come alive.when i’m not making paper flowers you can find me dreaming of new orleans, searching for moments of kindness and connection, watching cheers, wandering trails and shorelines, waiting for opening day of baseball, listening to mt joy and lord huron, learning tarot, or forever starting a new book.

it has been a pleasure to bring lilac and blush to life and to bring a little beauty to the world through paper and flowers. thank you for stopping by- enjoy exploring!

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Summer Art Classes Open for Members
2024-05-15 07:00 | MI
Summer Art Classes open for A2AC Members on Wednesday, May 15, at 7am. Load up your summer with art before the term opens for all on Friday, May 17, at 7am, and make sure you score the class you’ve been waiting for.

BECOME A MEMBER

Summer Art Classes Open for ALL
2024-05-17 07:00 | MI
A2AC Summer Art Classes open for all on Friday, May 17, at 7am. Find the perfect summer class for you today!

Teen Art Camps Open for Registration
2024-05-17 07:00 | MI
Teen Art Camps are coming soon! Registration for four weeks of teen summer camps opens on Friday, May 17, at 7am,* with a sneak peek dropping on Monday, May 13.

• Features 4 different weeks and topics to choose from

• Full-day art camps, 9am-4pm, Monday through Friday

• Develop and strengthen artistic skills in an area of focus

• Led by talented, experienced artists and educators

• For ages 13-17

*Reminder: There is no early registration for members for camp programs.

ABOUT OUR ART CAMPS

A2AC Murals Walking Tour
2024-05-31 18:30 - 19:30 | MI
Join us for our A2AC Murals and Alleyways Tour where we guide you through downtown Ann Arbor to see and speak about many of the vibrant artworks in the urban landscape! The tour will include an overview of the A2AC Art in Public Program and lead the group to an array of mural and alleyway installations within a ¼ mile of each other. For each project seen, you will learn about the artist, the context and content of the project, and how specific works transformed from ideas to physical creation. Depending on the tour date, the tour may also highlight newly completed or in-progress projects! The tour will end back at the Art Center and attendees can continue to enjoy downtown Ann Arbor by exploring local shops, museums, and restaurants!

CANCELED: A2AC Author Series presents ZAFTIG: An Interdisciplinary Author Event
2024-06-01 15:00 - 17:00 | A2AC Gallery, 117 W Liberty, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
CANCELED DUE TO SICKNESS:

The A2AC Author Series in partnership with AADL’s 5th Ave. Press presents the book launch of ZAFTIG by Molly Pershin Raynor.

From 3-4pm, there will be a reception with drinks and small bites featuring a gallery viewing of art and writing by Molly and 6 other Southeast Michigan writers, including Carlina Duan, Kristen DeLeon-Hamilton, Onna Solomon, Ciatta Tucker, Ash Arder, and Michelle Yang.

From 4-5pm, Molly will read an excerpt from ZAFTIG with live music by Josef Deas and will be joined by guest poets: MARS Marshall, Venus Pasha, Carlina Duan, Brittany Rogers, Onna Solomon, Kush Thompson, Maria Theochrakis, and Ain’t Afraid (Sakinah & Zakiyyah Rahman).

The release includes a weekend-long multimedia exhibit exploring ZAFTIG’s themes of cultural reclamation, immigration, food, ancestors, and gender.

With support from

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

ABOUT FIFTH AVENUE PRESS

Drawing Worlds: The Art of Comics and Beyond Opening Reception
2024-06-14 18:00 - 20:00 | A2AC Gallery, 117 W Liberty, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Join us for the Drawing Worlds‘ opening reception. Find the AADL’s Summer Game Code for this event, create your own button, and participate in one of the community comic art projects found in the gallery. This is a family-friendly event.

Some artists will be in attendance.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

Counted/Uncounted: So You Know Us: Paloma Núñez-Regueiro Opening Reception
2024-06-14 18:00 - 20:00 | MI
Join us for the opening reception of Paloma Núñez-Regueiro’s solo show.

The Opening is in conjunction with the A2AC Gallery reception for Drawing Worlds: The Art of Comics and Beyond.

The artist will be in attendance.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS EXHIBITION

Artini 2024
2024-06-21 18:00 - 22:00 | MI
The A2AC is excited to welcome you back downtown for Artini 2024. That’s right–our annual cocktail crawl fundraiser is BACK on Friday, June 21! Once again, many of the finest downtown bars and restaurants in downtown Ann Arbor will create the city’s most artful martini.

Click below to learn which participating bars/restaurants we’ll be working with and more about what you can expect the night of June 21.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ARTINI

PURCHASE TICKETS
