Here at Metro Times , we are always giving Black artists and galleries their flowers no matter the time of year. But it’s Black History Month and the Black art community in Detroit is more lit than usual with the return of Sacred Spaces.
Sacred Spaces is a self-guided tour of Black-owned galleries and art spaces with nearly 70 Black artists participating in over 10 month-long exhibits.
The intiative debuted in 2023 spearheaded by Irwin House Gallery and Norwest Gallery of Art in partnership with Detroit’s Office of Arts, Culture & Entrepreneurship. While Detroit ACE is not involved this year, the event has spread to around 20 art spaces randing from traditional galleries like The Carr Center to retail spaces like Brix Wine.
Irwin House Director Misha McGlown says Detroit’s vast number of Black art spaces is rare compared to other cities like New York.
“I’m in New York. I’m back and forth between here and Harlem. You don’t see this many Black art spaces anywhere,” she says. “I could count maybe four in New York, so we really have something special and powerful that I hope we’ll continue to build on.”