An Art Lover’s Guide to Detroit

Detroit has been many things over the centuries. From French outpost to birthplace of the automobile, from bankrupt urban wasteland to an emerging hipster mecca, the city refuses any one moniker.

With its urban sprawl and mix of high and low, Detroit has bred an arts scene like no other. Whether it be the significant collection at the Detroit Institute of Arts or the street murals at Eastern Market, Detroit has plenty to offer art lovers of all stripes.

Here’s a guide to navigating the evolving scene of the inimitable Motor City.

The Classics

The Detroit Institute of Arts

With its impressive collections of American Art, African Art, Contemporary works and more, the Detroit Institute of Arts is one of the country’s most important museums. Unlike other encyclopedic institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the DIA boasts both a world-class collection and a manageable size. As a former intern, I can confidently say it is the best museum I have ever had the pleasure of visiting.

Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry mural at the DIA

The Motown Museum

Hittsville USA! Motown music and Detroit are almost synonyms at this point - you can’t have one without the other. Located in the original house where Berry Gordy first launched the legendary music label, the Motown Museum is a must-see for music lovers and history buffs alike.

Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit

Like many aspects of Detroit, the city’s Museum of Contemporary Art is unconventional. It isn’t a collecting institution, which means its exhibitions are constantly rotating, and nothing is on permanent display. The building itself is intentionally unfinished and the art is often experimental and unexpected. Still, it has a come-one, come all energy that is hard to beat.

the BELT alleyway in downtown Detroit

Taking it to the Streets

Eastern Market

While street art can be found throughout most of the city, the highest concentration of murals is in the Eastern Market neighborhood. Grab a Mo-Go bike and ride through the area, where new murals are added each fall through the Murals in the Market initiative.

The Heidelberg Project

scenes from The Heidelberg Project

Started in 1986 by Detroit native Tyree Guyton, The Heidelberg Project is an urban renewal project that looks to turn blight into art. Guyton has turned trash into treasure by creating works from found objects and repurposing abandoned homes into monumental sculptures. Since its humble beginnings 35 years ago, Heidelberg has become an international sensation and a testament to the power of art.

The BELT

The BELT is an art-filled alley between Broadway and Library Street. While it may be small and unsuspecting, it features art by heavyweights like JR and Faile as well as murals and installations by lesser-known, local artists.

8 Mile Wall

Originally built to separate a white development from a neighboring black community, the 8 Mile Wall is a painful reminder of our country’s history of racism. Now, it stands as a form of protest and reclamation, featuring colorful murals that chart important moments in the Civil Rights movement and celebrate African-American culture.

For more street art, check out this post from Curbed Detroit.

The Quirky and Curious

John K. King Rare & Used Books

I have never seen so many books in my life. I’m not sure any library could compare to John K. King Rare & Used Books. The store, which is really more of a warehouse, claims to have 1,000,000 books in stock. They carry every genre imaginable and I could have spent days making my way through the stacks. Instead, I settled for the art section, which I think I could live in if given the chance.

African Bead Museum

Part store, part sculpture garden, part museum, the African Bead Museum is an homage to African material culture. With its colorful mosaic facade and its impressive collection of African cultural artifacts, the museum is not just a worthwhile educational experience, but also a feast for the eyes.

Hamtramck Disneyland

No, I’m not talking about Orlando or Anaheim. This is Hamtramck, a neighborhood next to Detroit’s North End, and it has a Disneyland all its own. Created by Dmytro Szylak, a Ukranian immigrant who worked at the General Motors plant for 30 years, Hamtramck Disneyland is a loud, colorful art installation full of hand-crafted assemblages.