Kresge Arts in Detroit today announced the 2025 Kresge Artist Fellowships and Gilda Snowden Emerging Artist Awards recipients. Twenty-five artists received the no-strings-attached prize from the program, administered by the College for Creative Studies (CCS) on behalf of The Kresge Foundation.

For the first time, each Kresge Artist Fellow will receive a $50,000 award, up from $40,000 last year, doubling the original $25,000 fellowship established in 2008.

“Each year, the Kresge Artist Fellowships reaffirm a profound truth: that Detroit’s creative community is a force of resilience, vision and transformation,” said Kresge President & CEO Rip Rapson. “This year’s recipients exemplify the depth and breadth of artistry rooted in this city—from poetry that reclaims identity and uplifts voice, to visual work that reframes legacy, place and memory. Together, their contributions move us beyond what is seen and heard, into what must be felt—reminding us that the arts are not simply reflections of Detroit’s vitality, but active architects of its future.”

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.

2025 Visual Arts Fellow

• 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

2025 Literary Arts Fellows

• Louis Aguilar, Creative Nonfiction
• Beenish Ahmed, Fiction
• Anetria Cole, Playwriting
• Marwa Helal, Poetry
• Brittany Rogers, Poetry

Since its founding, Kresge Arts in Detroit has awarded nearly $10 million in unrestricted dollars directly to Wayne, Oakland and Macomb county artists through 17 Kresge Eminent Artist Awards, 317 Kresge Artist Fellowships and 72 Gilda Awards ($5,000 each).

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,” said Katie McGowan, director of Kresge Arts in Detroit. “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.”

Elevating Artists’ Careers

In addition to the monetary prize, Kresge Arts in Detroit connects fellows and Gilda Award recipients to legal and accounting support, promotional opportunities and more. Fellows are also invited to participate in a film series highlighting Detroit artists. The films featuring the 2024 Kresge Artist Fellows premiered on Detroit PBS and are available online.

“The incredible class of 2025 Kresge Fellows and Gilda Award recipients displays the rich diversity of the arts in Detroit,” said Don Tuski, president of the College for Creative Studies. “The College for Creative Studies is proud to honor these artists and their outstanding artistic achievements.”

The Gilda Snowden Emerging Artist Awards

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.

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

A Competitive Selection Process

Artists were selected through a months-long review process involving 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

“I believe this cohort of artists represents how multifaceted excellence can be,” Plummer said. “They are thinking critically about their respective practices and are unafraid to push boundaries within their respective media.”

2025 Literary Arts Panelists

• Michael Awkward, 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,” De La O said. “Street to street the scenery changes, but mile after mile the feeling is the same: craft without pretension, precision with heart.”