Hot DAM! is our annual juried exhibition celebrating contemporary artists from Detroit. Featuring a wide variety of media, the exhibition highlights the depth and diversity of the region’s creative talent. Beginning as an open call to DAM members, the final selection of works was juried by artist and educator Gil Ashby. This year’s presentation includes work by more than 40 local artists working in a wide range of mediums such as painting, sculpture, fiber, mixed media, and beyond.
Participating Artists: Nina Ashraf, John C Barker, Julie Bedore, Robert Beras, Boisali Biswas, Joyce Brienza, Doug Cannell, George Covintree, Andrew Dall'Olmo, Ellen Doyle, Adrienne Dunkerley, Colorful Fire, Anne Furnaris, Laura Gabriel, Carla Harden, Talese Michelle, Jonathan Harris, Deborah Hecht, Cristina Joya, Esther Kirshenbaum, Sara Krawczak, Jeremy Lassila, Melissa Leaym-Fernandez, Allison Lund, Michael McNeil, James Morris, John Albert Murphy, Terri O'Brien, Erik Olson, Marcia Polenberg, Gyona Rice, Tavyon Richardson, Ron Rutherford, Julianna Sanroman, Jacqueline Hoats Shields, Gabrielle Slocum, Mandisa Smith, Claudia St. Peter, Tessa Stein, Steven Tapper, Earl Williams, Mark Zapico
Gil Ashby is a visual artist and educator whose work explores Black humanity, cultural preservation, and the rhythms of African American music. Beginning in 1968, he committed to portraying “Brown heroes” absent from mainstream narratives. Working primarily in drawing and mixed media, he creates allegorical compositions that express resilience, ritual, and lived experience. Influenced by narrative traditions and abstraction, his art bridges personal and collective histories. Ashby sees his practice as an act of preservation and resistance, using layered imagery and symbolism to spark reflection, affirm identity, and contribute to an evolving understanding of the Black experience.