Detroit has long been a city of resilience, innovation, and creativity, and its art scene is no exception. As new voices emerge, they bring fresh perspectives, unique techniques, and a deep connection to the city’s rich history and culture. With so many rising talents making an impact, there’s no shortage of names to watch in the coming year.
To spotlight these up-and-coming artists, Detroitisit reached out to key figures in the local art community, gathering recommendations on those who are shaping the city’s creative landscape. We then asked each artist about their outlook for 2025 and how Detroit influences their work. Their responses were so compelling that we decided to turn this into a two-part series.
In this first installment, we feature five standout artists and share their insights on the year ahead—and the ways in which Detroit continues to shape their artistic journeys.
Ash Arder is a transdisciplinary artist whose research-based approach works to expose, deconstruct, or reconfigure physical and conceptual systems – especially those related to ecology and/or industry. She has held artist residencies at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Alberta, Michigan Central x Newlab in Detroit, University Musical Society in Ann Arbor, Bemis Center for Contemporary Art in Omaha, Recess in Brooklyn, and A Studio in the Woods in New Orleans. Ash is a 2023 Joan Mitchell Fellow, and a two-time awardee of the Knight Foundation’s Arts Challenge grant. She received an MFA from the Cranbrook Academy of Art.
WORK OF ASH ARDER
From your perspective as an artist in Detroit, what are you most looking forward to in 2025?
I love summers in Detroit. I have a gardening practice that has been growing steadily each year. This year I hope to make some necessary structural improvements to the green space I have been cultivating on the east side near my home. I love brainstorming around new creative projects outdoors in the sunshine, surrounded by lush vegetation. I’m also really inspired by all the live music events coming up in 2025.
How does being in Detroit shape your approach/artwork?
Detroit is a city of hustlers, in the best way possible. People have a way of not just making precarious situations work but also making them beautiful. The DIY spirit of the city turns into new genres of art. It inspires so many people globally. Detroit reminds me to stay grounded, to find inspiration in the mundane. I meet so many interesting people daily in Detroit. People want to talk and tell their stories, and I love listening.
Brian Raynard Nickson graduated from Cass Tech in 2005 and briefly attended the College for Creative Studies and Eastern Michigan University before his thirst for artistic expression ran out. After a period of struggle to maintain employment, Brian reignited his artistic passion in 2014. In 2017, he made a bold decision to leave his job at Chrysler, marking the start of his full-time artistic career. He would go on to be named Detroit Metro Times’ Best Visual Artist. His work gained national recognition when his piece “Wine Fine” was featured in the New York Times and the TV series Better Things. His art also appeared in the 2021 film Power N Money.
BRIAN RAYNARD NICKSON
From your perspective as an artist in Detroit, what are you most looking forward to in 2025?
I’m looking forward to contributing more public art in the city, starting with the DAAP hosted by City Walls.
How does being in Detroit shape your approach/artwork?
Like many of us artists born and raised in the city, I enjoy creating work that is influenced by our city’s culture. From Coney Island paintings to subjects wearing Cartier frames, it is in my heart to highlight the city and the people who live here.
Jess Fendo, a senior at the College for Creative Studies, is an emerging artist making a significant impact on Detroit’s vibrant art scene. Majoring in Illustration and Entertainment Arts, Fendo’s work captures the spirit and resilience of Detroit through her dynamic paintings and murals. Her accomplishments include designing the official 2024 Detroit Jazz Festival poster and contributing to projects like the NFL Draft statues. Passionate about giving back, Jess collaborates with nonprofits to uplift young artists and create meaningful, lasting contributions to the local community.
From your perspective as an artist in Detroit, what are you most looking forward to in 2025?
As I prepare to graduate, I’m focused on making 2025 a year of growth, community, and global impact. I’m looking forward to painting five new murals that reflect the spirit of our community this summer. Through the Steen Foundation as well, we are raising funds that support students in Nigeria all the way to Detroit with art supplies. I’m also gearing up for my first artist residency and international art show in Tokyo, Japan!
How does being in Detroit shape your approach/artwork?
Being in Detroit shapes my approach and artwork in profound ways. The city’s resilience, creativity, and rich cultural history constantly inspire me. Detroit has this raw energy that pushes me to create work that feels authentic and meaningful. The community here is also a huge influence. Detroit artists are collaborative and resourceful, and that spirit of support drives me to challenge myself and experiment with new ideas.
Megan Lui is a mixed-media artist based in the Detroit area, creating textured surreal abstracts that explore themes of interconnectedness, resilience, and community. Megan’s art is represented by Kefi Art Gallery in Toronto, Canada, and has been exhibited in the United States and internationally.
From your perspective as an artist in Detroit, what are you most looking forward to in 2025?
I am so excited to be working with City Walls as a Detroit Artist Apprenticeship Program mentee. I am over the moon
MEGAN LUI
that I will be painting and collaborating with the other artists in the program, mentors and mentees. I am excited to see the things we will do and where this will lead.
How does being in Detroit shape your approach/artwork?
Because of Detroit’s diversity, I get to see a lot of different points of view and it ends up changing and evolving the way I think. That ultimately is reflected in what I paint and how I paint. Art is a reflection of the artist: their experiences, thoughts and feelings. My work deals with themes of connection, resilience, and community, which is both what I see in Detroiters and what I hope to inspire.
Amadeus Roy, a Harper Woods, MI native, is an abstract constructionist painter/sculptor. After leaving MSU, he pursued self-directed learning through community knowledge and exploration. His vibrant paintings, built from layered plywood and molding paste, explore the human experience within societal and natural environments. Roy has also created numerous murals across Michigan, including the first public mural in Harper Woods. His work has been exhibited in prominent Detroit galleries, and he has garnered a growing collector base in the US and Japan.
WORK OF AMADEUS ROY
From your perspective as an artist in Detroit, what are you most looking forward to in 2025?
Working towards my debut solo exhibition is what I am most looking forward to this year. The culmination of the first half-decade of my career has led to me having the opportunity to offer something very special in ways of an immersive show that I will be excited to share in the latter half of the year.
How does being in Detroit shape your approach/artwork?
The primary way Detroit has inspired my work has been my strong focus on craftsmanship. Detroiters are very hardworking people and many of us find our way through laborious skills/trades. Coming from this background myself, I put a lot of pride in making work that is not only successful in the traditionally aesthetic-focused values of art but also in making work that will outlive myself through its high quality of construction.
Check back with us next week for another installment of featured artists to watch in 2025.
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