The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) recently announced the full list of artists participating in the 13th Annual Ofrendas: Celebrating el Dia de Muertos. The community-focused exhibition features 12 ofrenda altars conceptualized and constructed by various artists from across Michigan, as well as from Los Angeles and Mexico City. The ofrendas will be showcased at select locations on all three floors of the museum from September 27 through November 2, giving visitors a chance to experience this exhibition like never before.
This annual exhibition invites visitors to engage with the rich traditions of Día de Muertos through altars that honor departed loved and others that highlight broader cultural and social themes.
“We are proud to present the 13th annual Ofrendas exhibition in collaboration with our community partners – the Mexican Consulate of Detroit, the Southwest Detroit Business Association and the Mexicantown Community Development Corporation,” said Julie McFarland, Executive Director of Public Affairs & Community Engagement. “This year, we’re offering our community a new way to experience the exhibition. We hope that while exploring the museum to discover each ofrenda, visitors will engage with the richness of our galleries and connect with the art in new and meaningful ways.”
Visitors will find the following ofrendas on display throughout the museum:
- Everlasting Sunshine: Memories of Morgan Parton by Erin Boggs, Margaret Bussineau, and Ellen High (Detroit, MI)
- Dita e Vdekjes by Edona Haziri (Royal Oak, MI)
- Silvia Pinal: Golden Era by The Mexican Consulate (Detroit, MI)
- Mementos: Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother by Ruffy B. Lim (Warren, MI)
- Curious World by Anna van Schapp (Detroit, MI)
- Roots Run Deep by Natalie Rivera (Detroit, MI)
- Sojourners by Nichole Chou Flynn (St. Clair, MI) and Christina Chou Bell (Howell, MI)
- Las Suenitas Perdidas by Lindsay Clinansmith (Pinckney, MI)
- Sailing Together/Navegando Juntos by Maria Famodou (Mexico City, MX)
- Mother’s Garden by Nalicia/Nyla Patterson (Saginaw, MI)
- For my dad, Candido Gallardo, para que nunca te falte amor by Adrianna Gallardo (Redford, MI)
- Where the Air Remembers and the Trees Dream by Alexa Arriaga from Urban Neighborhood Initiatives (Detroit, MI), Rhonda Anderson from Michigan Sierra Club, Salam Beydoun and Theresa Landrum from Clear the Air (Dearborn, MI), Sofia Martinez Barredo from UM-Dearborn (Public Health Society), Antonio Rafael from (Detroit, MI), and Maricela Gutierrez from Industrious Labs (Los Angeles, CA)
The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of family-friendly programs, including the return of popular drop-in workshops such as Sugar Skulls and Paper Flowers in the Artmaking Studio, as well as a special performance by Ballet Folklorico de Detroit. The DIA will also host an artist talk on the final day of the exhibition – additional details to come.
For more information about Ofrendas, please visit dia.org/Ofrendas13
General admission is always free for museum members and residents of Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties.
Friday, October 3
Ofrendas Educator Workshop 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
This evening will include an overview of the 13th annual Ofrendas: Celebrating Día de Muertos exhibition. A representative from the Mexican Consulate will discuss the history and practice of creating an ofrenda altar, and participants will have the opportunity to explore the exhibition with learning resources designed to support student engagement and field trips. A complimentary cocktail bar will be provided.
Museum Hours and Admission
Tuesday‒Thursday: 9 a.m.‒ 4 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m.‒9 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday: 10 a.m.‒5 p.m.
General admission is always free for Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb County residents.
About the Detroit Institute of Arts
The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), which is considered one of the premier art museums in the United States, houses more than 65,000 works of art that offer a multicultural survey of human creativity from ancient times to the 21st century. With a collection that features everything from the first Van Gogh painting to ever enter a U.S. museum (Self-Portrait, 1887) to Diego Rivera’s famous Detroit Industry murals (1932–33), the DIA is renowned for its quality, range, and depth.
The DIA has a clear mission: to provide every visitor with an opportunity to find personal meaning in art, individually, and with each other. Whether you’re an art expert or simply someone who appreciates beauty, the DIA wants you to connect with their collection in a meaningful way. You can find out more about this exceptional museum and its amazing collection by visiting their website at www.DIA.org. And if you want to keep up with their latest news and events, follow them on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram.
