‘Til Death We Do Art!, By Torrence Jayy, 2024
The City of Detroit has selected 43 local artists to create murals and art installations in nine neighborhood alleys, part of an ongoing effort to reimagine public spaces through the Arts Alleys Initiative.
The project is a collaboration between the City’s City Walls program and the Office of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship (ACE), with project management by SpaceLab Detroit.
More than 130 artists responded to an open call for submissions, issued by Space Lab Development, Inc. (SpaceLab Detroit) on behalf of the city. After months of review, selection was entrusted not to city officials, but to the residents and stakeholders of the neighborhoods that will host the installations, a move that reinforces the community-first ethos of the program.
“Each alley is unique, and each neighborhood has a voice,” said Rochelle Riley, Detroit’s Director of Arts and Culture.
“This initiative isn’t just about beautifying alleys, it’s about restoring spaces, amplifying local narratives, and giving artists a canvas where their work has an everyday impact.”
Of the 43 selected artists, 34 will produce murals, painting large-scale pieces that span garage doors, building walls, and fences, transforming gray stretches into dynamic visual storytelling. The remaining nine will partner with community members to produce site-specific installations ranging from sculptural works to mosaics, portraiture, and mixed media.
The artwork will reflect the identity and resilience of Detroit’s neighborhoods, from portraits of local heroes and cultural icons to abstract patterns and historical tributes.
OSHUN, By Ijania Cortez, 2024
Artists like Desiree Kelly, known for her expressive portraits of Detroit legends, and Olayami Dabls, founder of the MBAD African Bead Museum, bring an already powerful legacy to the project. Others, like emerging muralist Simone Rosia and multimedia artist Jonathan Sandberg, represent the next wave of talent shaping Detroit’s cultural future.
Community engagement is already underway. Stakeholder meetings, idea exchanges, and collaborative workshops are informing the vision for each alley. In May, paint will begin to hit the walls as muralists bring their designs to life.
The initiative aligns with the city’s broader investment in placemaking and creative infrastructure, aiming not just to beautify but to foster civic pride, promote walkability, and spur economic revitalization through art.
Many of the artists featured in the initiative have works cataloged in the Detroit Mural Map, an interactive tool highlighting the city’s growing collection of public art. The Arts Alleys project will add dozens of new pins to that map, and even more stories to Detroit’s artistic legacy.
The full list of selected artists includes:
Oshun Williams, Ijania Cortez, Nicole MacDonald, Danielle Ward, Mike Ross, Jennifer Maples, David Swartz, Trae Isaac, Rahmaan Barnes, Marlo Broughton, Jesse Kassel, Layton Scarbrough, Shirley Woodson, Jonathan Kimble, Gail Beasley, Tim Smith, Joseph Smith, Donald Calloway, Angel Kelly, Gil Johnson, Andre Trenier, Juliana Sanroman, Tunisia Howard, Sanders Skip Bryant, Fel’le, Desiree Kelly, Munera Kaakouch, Ani Garabedian, Waleed, Vito Valdez, Christine Bossler, Jaz, Simone Rosia, Amadeus Roy, Olayami Dabls, Tony Rave, Tony Whlgn, Jamar Atkinson, Andrea Slomczenski, Cameron Jenkins, DERKZ, Jonathan Sandberg, Phil Seth, Pat Perry.
As the first murals take shape this month, Detroiters can expect more than just a splash of color. They’ll see history, hope, and home reflected back into the community.