ANNOUNCING THE 2025 KRESGE ARTIST FELLOWS AND GILDA AWARD RECIPIENTS!
Kresge Arts in Detroit is pleased to announce the 2025 Kresge Artist Fellows and Gilda Award recipients in Literary Arts and Visual Arts. This is the first cohort of fellows to receive the $50,000 awards.
The 17th cohort of artists consists of 5 Kresge Artist Fellows in Literary Arts and 10 Kresge Artist Fellows in Visual Arts, in addition to 3 Gilda Award recipients in Literary Arts and 7 in Visual Arts. Awards in each category are proportional to the relative number of applications received.
We consistently receive feedback from artists about the transformative impact of these awards—they open doors, create connections, afford time for rest, and offer capacity for artistic growth and exploration. Unrestricted grants underscore the core principle that artists deserve to be respected and valued. We look forward to seeing how this increased monetary investment in individual artists strengthens the arts and culture landscape in Detroit and beyond.
Katie McGowan
Director, Kresge Arts in Detroit
VISUAL ARTS FELLOWS
Taurus Burns, Painting
Donald Calloway, Interdisciplinary Work
Malak Cherri, Painting
Allana Clarke, Interdisciplinary Work
Maya Davis, New Media
Kimberly LaVonne*, Ceramics
Elise Marie Martin, Installation
Ivan Montoya, Painting
April Anue Shipp, Interdisciplinary Work
Slumdog Visionaire, Photography
LITERARY ARTS FELLOWS
Louis Aguilar**, Creative Nonfiction
Beenish Ahmed, Fiction
Anetria Cole*, Playwriting
Marwa Helal, Poetry
Brittany Rogers*, Poetry
*past Gilda Award recipient
**past Kresge Artist Fellow
GILDA AWARDS IN VISUAL ARTS
Akea Brionne, Interdisciplinary Work
Taylor Childs, Fiber
Jimel, Photography
Amara Murphy, Photography
Oshun, Painting
Frisly Soberanis, New Media
Cat Washington, Fiber
GILDA AWARDS IN LITERARY ARTS
Laura Kraftowitz, Creative Nonfiction
Megan Peiser, Creative Nonfiction
Maddox-Julien Slide, Fiction
Gilda Awards are $5,000 prizes for emerging artists, named in honor of beloved Detroit artist and mentor Gilda Snowden (1954–2014). The recipients are selected from the applicants for the Kresge Artist Fellowships. Gilda Awards recognize early-career artists who are gaining momentum; demonstrating exceptional potential through creative risk-taking; and pushing the boundaries of their chosen art form.
Artists were selected through a months-long review process that brought in new panels of local and national arts professionals to reduce bias and provide fresh perspectives. Selection is based on:
- a demonstrated track record of artistic achievement and high-quality work,
- the potential to grow and advance one’s artistic career; and
- the potential to reflect, enhance, or impact communities within metro Detroit.
2025 VISUAL ARTS PANELISTS
Ethan Bach, Experiential artist; Founder and executive creative producer, Alt Ethos
Mariam Ezzat, Sculptor; 2019 Kresge Artist Fellow
Asia Hamilton, Photographer; Curator; Gallerist; Administrator, Columbia College of Arts Chicago
Sharbreon S. Plummer, Ph.D., Curator; Artist-Researcher; Interim artistic director, Threewalls; Consultant, AYA Thought Studio
2025 LITERARY ARTS PANELISTS
Michael Awkward, Ph.D, Gayl A. Jones Professor of Afro-American literature and culture, emeritus, University of Michigan
Jeni De La O, Poet; Creator, The Brown Study; 2021 Kresge Artist Fellow
Michelle Cruz Gonzales, Author; Menopunk; Professor of composition and creative writing, Las Positas College
Josh Malerman, Author; Songwriter; Film director/Producer; Cartoonist
Lev Mirov, Poet; Author; Fabulist; Interdisciplinary Artist; Historian; Doctoral candidate at Antioch University
The 2025 Literary cohort feels like a slow drive through Detroit. Street to street the scenery changes, but mile after mile the feeling is the same: craft without pretension, precision with heart.
Jeni De La O
2025 Literary Arts panelist