Exhibitions

“If the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center isn’t on your radar as a place that mounts great shows, it should be.” – Michael Hodges, Detroit News Fine Arts Writer

Artists interested in exhibiting @ the BBAC: click here for more information.

The general public is invited to come to the BBAC to see our exhibits.

GALLERY HOURS: Mon-Thurs 10a-5p, Fri-Sat 10a-4p

NOTE: If you are interested in purchasing any of the exhibited art, you can do so at the BBAC during gallery hours or phone 248.644.0866.

Exhibitions supported by Bank of Ann Arbor / Birmingham

CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR EXHIBITIONS FROM 2023.

2024 Exhibitions

SEPTEMBER 27-OCTOBER 31 2024

MICHIGAN CERAMICS 2024: BIENNIAL EXHIBITION & COMPETITION

Juror: George Rodriguez

“The MCAA has fostered such a beautiful clay community, and I am grateful and honored to have the opportunity to jury this exhibition. It has been energizing to see the amazing, creative talent across the state of Michigan. First, I would like to thank the MCAA and its partners for the hospitality they’ve shown me across this diverse state. Summer of 2024 was my first-time visiting Michigan, and since then, I have returned 4 times with more visits planned in the future. I have felt so welcomed and will continue to keep this community support with me. It was a not an easy task narrowing down such a deep pool of phenomenal work. I am grateful to all the applicants for allowing me to look at their submissions and curate a show that presents a wide breath of involvement in the ceramic arts. Artist self selected their application category. Those five categories are: Enthusiast, Student, Educator, Emerging, and Established. I know that these categories are never set, and I believe that as artist we sometimes move between how we see ourselves based on life circumstances. I want to applaud everyone for putting yourself and your work out into the world. I tried to curate a show that spans different techniques and practices in clay ranging from figurative, utilitarian, installation and process driven. What has come together is a beautiful showing of the immense and diverse talent of Michigan ceramics. There are works reflecting on personal narratives, objects that brighten our day-to-day experiences, and pieces that look into the future of our field. Wherever your works lands, thank you for your contribution in making such a powerful show. Congratulations to all the participating artists and thank you to everyone that submitted work for consideration.” ~ George Rodriguez

Juror George Rodriguez Conducts Walkthrough of Michigan Ceramics 2024 Exhibition

The show features work submitted by MCAA members and Michigan-related ceramicists.

Bob Valle

Curt LaCross

Mary Lamson Burke

Mickayela Posada

Susan O’Connor

Bernadine Rais: Souvenirs, a Series by Bernadine Rias

“I started drawing and painting roughly 9 years ago. I initially focused on traditional subjects such as portraits and human anatomy. During the Summer of 2020 I spent a considerable time outside gardening and walking through nearby neighborhoods, this ultimately led into my journey of painting nocturnal scenes. I find inspiration from small details such as watching the sunset in between houses, looking for new blooms, that specific blue hue dusk brings, or watching ducks swim. Once it was fully dark I would drive around my hometown of Toledo, Ohio looking for more inspiration. I like challenging myself to find scenes that convey the depth of emotion and contemplation only nighttime can bring. I strive to bring forth a sense of familiarity and comfort to those who view my art. Ultimately, my goal as an artist is to create something anyone can relate to. I hope that when people see my work they can see themselves through the reflections I’ve created and receive reassurance that they are not alone.” ~ Bernadine Rais

Reflecting in Viridian Green by Bernadine Rais

Summer’s End by Bernadine Rais

Laundromat by Bernadine Rais

Mid-May Hue by Bernadine Rais

Students from the Ceramics & Metals Department

Ring of Fire by Jodi Galperin

Egg on Face by Evan Deneau

Left: Garden by Jeanne M Coyle

Right: Pod by Kari Deneau

Deco by Lilly Marinelli

Past Exhibitions

FEBRUARY 2-FEBRUARY 29 2024 CURRENT STUDENT WORKS SHOW / LYNN GALBREATH, JUROR

Lynn Galbreath is a recipient of the Creative Artists’ Grant from the Arts Foundation of Michigan and the Michigan Individual Artist Grant from Michigan Council For The Arts. Galbreath has exhibited her work in over 12 solo/two-person and over 100 group exhibitions. Galbreath is the author of the Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design program at Oakland University, Rochester, MI, where her tenure included two decades of fine art and graphic design instruction and acting Graphic Design Program Director. Prior to her tenure at OU, Lynn was the owner and director of Galbreath Rumsey Design and the Senior Art Director at Walton, Kleene & Jensen, an international creative writing firm.

(The End of) The Long Road Home by Doug McElroy

Click here to view the complete list of artists in the exhibit.

MARCH 8-APRIL 18 2024

Roscoe Hall II: Eidetic Recipes

“Focus is telling stories of the land and the people left behind within the Black Belt of the American South. The idea that it is now almost an eidetic memory. To improve the composition of this region this body of work is a narrative of how and who maintains it. A mass exodus of people seeking education and fairness only later to return with an eidetic point of view. Reference points that invoked so much fear through progression that the celebrations of those who migrated were shared through recipes of religion, food, and heritage. etc…. This is a story that can be told of every region but my focus is within agriculture and the people of the Southeastern states.” ~Roscoe Hall II

A Kitchen In Demopolis by Roscoe Hall II

Leroy Wright by Roscoe Hall II

Pit God #1 by Roscoe Hall II

Now Ain’t It by Roscoe Hall II

Its Obvious by Roscoe Hall II

Trinity by Roscoe Hall II

1 out of 14 by Roscoe Hall II

Heather A. Kelly: Roar

“This body of work was born out of my experience finding my voice as a woman and artist. I was informed by Feminist art theory and my personal experiences. I draw inspiration for the figures in my work from 1950’s sewing pattern covers. The figures are purposefully small within the larger textured canvas and appear headless and faceless to help the viewer connect with my experience of feeling the pressure to “perform” as a woman in society, in order to feel seen and heard.” ~Heather A. Kelly

Golden by Heather Kelly

Black Magic by Heather Kelly

Go Glam by Heather A. Kelly

Untamed by Heather A. Kelly

That’s Bananas by Heather A. Kelly

Boom by Heather A. Kelly

Robert Beras: Visions

“Working daily as a professional digital retouching artist, in the Detroit area, I lie every day. I make products and models look perfect. I combine images to essentially fool the public through photography and I get paid to do it. After decades of working in this field, I know how easy it is to manipulate the truth through an image. In my own photography, I challenged myself to stay true to only light, shadow, and composition, and I steered clear of any digital trickery. That is, until my “Dream Series”. In 2013 I started combining my images in a way that would set the stage for a dream and invite the viewer to participate. Fusing my passion for minimalist photography and my skill as a retoucher, I’m able to tell a story through this new series that I’ve not been able to tell before.” ~ Robert Beras

Dream 21 by Robert Beras

Dream 40 by Robert Beras

Dream 15 by Robert Beras

Dream 46 by Robert Beras

Dream 38 by Robert Beras

Students of Dan Keller

APRIL 26-MAY 30 2024

John McLaughlin: Paper Trail

Silk and Nylon by John McLaughlin

Water Stain by John McLaughlin

The Spy by John McLaughlin

Sunroom by John McLaughlin

Laura Makar: Lover of the Light

Laura Makar was born in Buffalo, NY and grew up in Toledo, OH. She earned her BFA, Bowling Green State University, OH, in 2009 and her MFA at Wayne State University (WSU) in 2014. Laura is a paper artist working abstracting through hand-cutting processes. Using organized spontaneity, while analyzing repetition and process, she creates works that illustrate metaphysical realities.

She was awarded the 2013 Thomas C. Rumble Graduate Fellowship, WSU, received an award for her artwork at the 2015 MFAC Exhibition, Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, and received an exhibition award for her artwork in Terrain: 2018 Biennial All Media Exhibition, Detroit Artists Market. Laura has shown her work locally and nationally. Her works have been featured in solo exhibitions at Whitdel Arts, Detroit, MI; ROY G BIV Gallery, Columbus, OH; Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, OH; and Rotunda Gallery, University of Michigan North Campus Research Complex, Ann Arbor MI.

Since 2015, Laura has served as the Gallery Manager at the Elaine L. Jacob Gallery and Art Department Gallery, WSU, and currently teaches at Oakland University, Rochester, MI.

Harmony by Laura Makar

Excelsis by Laura Makar

Michael Brzozowski: Urban Waters

Belle Eaux by Michael Brzozowski

Driker Trl by Michael Brzozowski

Detroit River by Michael Brzozowski

Belle Isle Beach by Michael Brzozowski

Students of Andrea Tama

JUNE 14-AUGUST 15 2024 43RD MICHIGAN FINE ARTS COMPETITION

Took a Turn by Colleen O’Rourke

Juror: Danette Dufilho

Danette Dufilho is Director and Project Room curator at Conduit Gallery in the Dallas Design District. She began working at Conduit Gallery in 2000 while studying Art and Art History at the University of North Texas in Denton. She took over the role as Project Room curator in 2003 and in that role, works with emerging and unrepresented artists, some of whom are exhibiting their artwork for the first time.

“Thank you to the organizers and everyone at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center for inviting me to become familiar with the wealth of talent in your five-state region. Entering a jury process with almost 600 submissions was bound to be a mixed bag but I was immediately delighted to discover so much of the artwork was born of talent and serious consideration to an artistic practice. Most of the works had very smart compositional and color choices and the variety of materials and mediums made the visual experience of “looking” quite engaging. It’s my hope that the viewers and visitors to the exhibition have the same experience. So many of the works I really wish I could see in person and hopefully in the future, our art paths will cross again.” ~ Danette Dufilho