Community Art Lovers Fall 2026 Penny Stamp Speaker Series

Fall  2026 Penny Stamp Speaker Series

Fall 2026 Penny Stamps Speaker Series Opening on September 17th, the Penny Stamps Series returns with a full roster of guests for the Fall 2026 season. Unless otherwise noted, join us for live, in-person events at the Michigan Theater in downtown Ann Arbor on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. Holly Bass Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. Artist Holly Bass explores how American ideals are staged, preserved, and passed down across generations. Discussing her exhibition We Hold These Truths, she considers American history, public memory, and art’s role in shaping narratives. More → Olayami Dabls Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. Special event at Rackham Auditorium Detroit artist Olayami Dabls explores art, identity, and community through sculpture, storytelling, and material culture. In conversation with Nichole Christian, he reflects on African American perspectives, healing, and legacy. More → Cosmo Whyte Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. Interdisciplinary artist Cosmo Whyte explores Black spatiality, resistance, memory, and identity through drawing, installation, photography, and sculpture. His practice connects intimate archives and personal experience to broader histories. More→ Vijay Gupta Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. Violinist and curator Vijay Gupta explores the human condition through music, from concert halls to shelters, jails, and hospitals. As founder of Street Symphony, he uses live performance to ask who music is for and what it can make possible. More → Amy Franceschini / Futurefarmers Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. Artist and designer Amy Franceschini creates relational objects that invite encounter, exchange, and inquiry. Through Futurefarmers, she examines tensions between humans and nature, using art and design to imagine change in the places we live. More → Aanikoobijigan Monday, October 12, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. Special event at the Michigan Theater Aanikoobijigan follows MACPRA’s work to return Indigenous Ancestors and funerary objects held in settler colonial institutions. The film examines repatriation, Indigenous histories, and the fight to bring Ancestors home. More → Shane Ward Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. Designer Shane Ward explores footwear, sneaker culture, and possibility through design. His Metamorphosis series pairs iconic sneaker silhouettes with cherry blossoms and butterflies, reflecting on trends, cultural legacy, and creative possibility. More → Holly Herndon Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. Artist Holly Herndon works across music, machine learning, and protocol development, creating artworks from technical systems. Her practice examines AI, artists’ rights, and consent through tools and protocols for a changing digital world. More → James Baxter Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. James Baxter is an award-winning character animator whose work includes beloved characters Belle, Rafiki, and Spirit. A veteran of Disney, DreamWorks, and Netflix Animation, he has shaped iconic performances across hand-drawn and computer animation and mentored artists throughout the industry. More → Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. Artist and game designer Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley uses animation, sound, performance, and video games to retell and archive the stories of Black Trans people. Their immersive works challenge assumptions and envision more inclusive digital futures. More → Voices of Dissent Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. Directed by Anthony Arnove, Voices of Dissentbrings U.S. history to life through readings and live music, featuring David Strathairn, Allison Moorer, and Thornetta Davis. Drawing on archives and everyday voices, connecting history to democracy. More → Jorge Pérez Thursday, November 19, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. Collector Jorge M. Pérez discusses contemporary art, collecting, and public access with curator José Carlos Diaz. Founder of El Espacio 23, Pérez reflects on artists, philanthropy, and art’s role in shaping communities. More → Follow the Penny Stamps Speaker Series on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitterfor additional info. Series Presenting Partners: Detroit PBS, UM Arts Initiative, All Arts, and PBS Books

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