Visiting Artists and Critics | Cranbrook Academy of Art

otodojo at a performance featuring a projection-mapping piece made in collaboration with the 4D Design department. Photo: Ena Kantardžić

Lawrence Azerrad and Richelle Gribble, Visiting Artists to 4D Design and Architecture programs presenting an Academy-wide lecture.

Visiting Artists & Critics

The visiting artist program is vital to enriching artistic and intellectual discourse at the Academy. Each department invites a range of artists, designers, architects, critics, writers, curators, and other professionals of national and international stature to visit their programs.

Staying for various periods of time, visiting artists lecture and critique, bringing a diversity of opinions, experiences, and thoughts. The number of visitors varies by department, most studios host between four and eight guests a year.

View Past Lectures

Mikael Jorgensen lead, keyboardist from the band Wilco, improvisation and creative process workshop at Milles Studio and Greek Theatre at Cranbrook Academy of Art, 2022. Photo: Deo Owensby

Mikael Jorgensen lead, keyboardist from the band Wilco, improvisation and creative process workshop at Milles Studio and Greek Theatre at Cranbrook Academy of Art, 2022. Photos: Deo Owensby

Visiting Artists Program

Tailored Student Interactions

Visiting artists work closely with their host departments, Artist-in-Residence, and the Director of Academic Programs so each visit is tailored to the cohort and visitor.

At Cranbrook, departments are small and generally made up of less than twenty students (including first and second-year students). The intimate nature of our community means students spend more time with visiting artists and make deeper connections that can last a lifetime.

In-person visits can last anywhere from one day or one week or more and can include private studio visits, group critiques, public lectures, workshops, local travel, and shared meals. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Academy hosted many virtual visits with thinkers from across the globe. While this model continues to offer new ways of working and collaborating, we have returned to in-person visits whenever possible.

Public visiting artist lectures are listed on Cranbrook Academy of Art’s event calendar. Please join us.

Academy Events Calendar

Lucy McRae, Visiting Artist to Architecture program. Photo: Brian Kovach

Lucy McRae (left), Visiting Artist to Architecture program. Photo: Brian Kovach

Adam Shirley, Visiting Artist to Metalsmihing Department for Aluminum Pouring Workshop.

Maria Phillips, Visiting Artist to Metalsmithing department

Visiting Artists Program

Developing Your Professional Practice

The Academy also offers a Professional Practices program that is open to all students and designed to offer real-world skills and knowledge to use to ensure a student’s success time at Cranbrook and after graduation.

The program offers a range of workshops ranging from grants and residencies to applying for academic jobs, not-for-profit management, and more. We also highlight technical skills to learn about packing and shipping artwork and engaging with galleries and curators.

The programs are developed and implemented by Academy staff, alumni, and visitors. We also offer a peer-to-peer learning series where students share skills and resources with their colleagues. While the series offers a set of fixed sessions throughout the year, the program also responds to current student needs with pop-up sessions when interest or opportunity arises.

Cranbrook Academy of Art Library Exterior

Photo: PD Rearick

Visiting Artists Program

Gilbert Visiting Artists

Thanks to a generous donation from the Gilbert Family Foundation, in 2023 Cranbrook Academy of Art will launch the Gilbert Visiting Artists Program. Designed to amplify the work of visiting artists of color, the program is intended to support artists from diverse backgrounds who will work on campus for extended periods of time.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Academy and receiving updates, please sign up for our newsletters.

Visiting Artists & Critics

As part of their activities, most visiting artists present a public lecture in Cranbrook Art Museum’s deSalle Auditorium.

View upcoming lectures

Visiting Artists & Critics

Visiting Artists Program

Visiting Artists Program

Tailored Student Interactions

Visiting Artists Program

Visiting Artists Program

Developing Your Professional Practice

Visiting Artists Program

Visiting Artists Program

Gilbert Visiting Artists

As part of their activities, most visiting artists present a public lecture in Cranbrook Art Museum’s deSalle Auditorium.

Select Past Visiting Artists

Select Past Visiting Artists

Amos Timi Oyedeji

Multi-disciplinary Design Technologist

Madeline Schwartzman

Filmmaker, Architect, Curator

Torkwase Dyson

Interdisciplinary Artist

Lucy McRae

Sci-Fi Artist and Body Architect

Max Lamb

Designer

Masamichi Udagawa and Sigi Moeslinger

Principles at Antenna Design

Hein Koh

Artist

Martine Syms

Conceptual Entrepreneur

Paula Wilson

Mixed Media Artist

Nicole Killian

Designer, Artist, Feminist Critic

Ed Fella

Designer

Tomorrow Lab

Hardware Product Innovation Studio

Guadalupe Maravilla

Multidisciplinary Artist

Nat Chard

Architect, Professor of Experimental Architecture at Bartlett, University College London

Jerry Saltz

Art Critic

Gina Beavers

Artist

Harry Dodge

Artist

Edgar Arceneaux

Artist

Saya Woofalk

Artist

Caroline Kipp

Curator, Artist, Historian

Glenn Adamson

Curator, Writer, Historian