_Art Basel’s new film explores Detroit’s cultural legacy and the launch of Detroit Salon, the city’s landmark global art platform_
Detroit is a city of makers, music, and movements – a place where innovation has shaped global culture. From the sounds of Motown to the power of the automotive industry, its history is one of reinvention.
‘The foundation of my voice and vision is the city of Detroit,’ says Detroit-born curator Juana Williams in the film. ‘Detroit has always been filled with people who make things happen.’ That spirit is carried forward through major institutions like the Detroit Institute of Arts, neighborhood collectives, and the artist-led projects that continue to transform the city’s landscape.
The film introduces the people shaping Detroit’s cultural present and future: curator Juana Williams; artist Scott Hocking, reflecting on the city’s creative possibilities; civic leader Denis Archer Jr., situating Detroit Salon in the legacy of Paradise Valley; Olayami Dabls, founder of the African Bead Museum; and painter and muralist Sydney James, founder of Blkout Walls.
Created in partnership with Detroit Salon, the city’s landmark contemporary art platform. Detroit Salon was developed by the women-led nonprofit Salonnière. The initiative connects local artists with international audiences through exhibitions, partnerships, and inbound programming. Following its presentations in Paris – spanning the Palais de Tokyo, the Detroit Salon space in the Grand Palais, and the Hôtel de Talleyrand – the initiative continues to expand Detroit’s global presence, celebrating the city’s creative excellence and cultural resilience. In 2028, Detroit Salon will launch as a city-wide contemporary art show, continuing biannually.
Production
Director and Producer: Danielle Eliska
Cinematographer: Sarah Griffith
Camera Assistant: Frodet Elia
Gaffer: Mila Puccini
Best Boy: Brandon Fecteau
Sound Engineer: Nick Sapounas
Edit, Color, Sound Edit: Daniel Giles
Art Basel
Senior Editor: Alicia Reuter
Video Commissioner: Jeanne-Salomé Rochat
Salonnière
Founder, Julie Egan
Artistic Director and Chief Curator, Juana Williams
Director Communications Strategy, Andi Harris
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