Detroit City Guide with Michele Quinn
Welcome back to APAA’s series celebrating the intersection of travel and art around the world. This collection spotlights insider perspectives from our global membership, inviting members to share personal guides to their cities—highlighting favorite restaurants, bars, things to do, and, most importantly, local art.
Next up, APAA advisor Michele Quinn takes us to Detroit—a city that continues to surprise and inspire her. With each visit, she is struck by the depth of its cultural history, the energy of its artists, and the distinctly Detroit spirit of creativity and reinvention. As she spends more time in the city while her daughter goes to Cranbrook Kingswood boarding school, Michele looks forward to discovering more and becoming increasingly connected to its remarkable arts community. Here are the cultural destinations she believes deserve a place on every Detroit itinerary.
Must-See Museums, Galleries, & Exhibitions
Detroit Institute of Art
The Detroit Institute of Art holds more than 65,000 artworks across American, European, Islamic, Ancient, and Contemporary art. Don’t miss the Diego Rivera murals, where you are surrounded floor to ceiling by the most powerful WPA project in the heart of Motor City.
The Shepherd
The Shepherd is an extraordinary cultural arts center helping redefine Detroit’s East Village neighborhood through contemporary art, thoughtful adaptive reuse, and truly meaningful community engagement. Housed in a beautifully transformed century-old church, it brings together exhibitions, performance, education, public spaces, and neighborhood programming—including the Tony Hawk and McArthur Binion–designed It Takes a Village skatepark, made possible through the support of more than 70 artists. It is an inspiring example of how art can become a catalyst for community, connection, and the revitalization of an entire neighborhood. I was lucky enough to visit the last day of Mickalene Thomas’ exhibition and book signing!
Cranbrook Art Museum
Cranbrook Art Museum is an iconic museum featuring unique modern and contemporary art. The museum’s school, Cranbrook School, is the embodiment of an arts community that has had a long, multi-generational impact on the art world. Renowned alumni include Mike Kelley, Nick Cave, McArthur Binion, Duane Hanson, and Olga de Amaral. Artist-in-residence alumni are equally impressive, and Cranbrook’s influence on modern architecture and design is arguably even greater than its influence on fine art. You feel like you are seeing art and architecture come alive on campus.
Library Street Collective
The gallery is the center of the art world in Detroit and is currently showing The River, a solo exhibition of artworks by Heather Day. Library Street Collective is also tucked away inside The Belt, an impressive alley of murals by artists such as Nina Chanel Abney, Rosson Crow, Conrad Egyir, FAILE, Shepard Fairey, Sam Friedman, Tom Fruin, Jammie Holmes, Patrick Martneiz, Jordan Nickel, Cleon Peterson, and Jason REVOK.
Dining
Father Forgive Me
I highly recommend this bar and restaurant housed inside The Shepherd.
1265 Parkview St
Warda Patisserie
Another recommendation inside The Shepherd.
70 W Alexandrine St
Mootz Pizzeria & Bar
Right next to the Belt, this restaurant features amazing pizza.
1230 Library Street
Standby
One of the many great restaurants in The Belt.
225 Gratiot Ave
The Belt
The Belt is a must-see stop in Detroit, an alley that not only houses Library Street Collective and great restaurants, but also features an array of murals by artists such asNina Chanel Abney, Rosson Crow, Conrad Egyir, FAILE, Shepard Fairey, Sam Friedman, Tom Fruin, Jammie Holmes, Patrick Martneiz, Jordan Nickel, Cleon Peterson, and Jason REVOK.
