City Walls announces artists selected for the new Detroit Artists Apprentice Program (DAAP)

DAAP’s mission is to foster artistic collaboration and growth through a mentor and mentee relationship.

18 emerging artists were selected for mentorship and 6 experienced artists were chosen to be mentors.

Mentees will work with their mentors to complete multiple murals by Summer 2025.

DAAP is funded by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds.

Detroit City Walls, in collaboration with Space Lab Detroit, is excited to announce participants selected for the inaugural Detroit Artists Apprentice Program (DAAP). The goal of this new program is to connect experienced artists with emerging artists to foster connections, increase collaboration and nourish growth in the Detroit art community. Mentors and mentees will work together to produce public artwork in various locations across Detroit. Each mentor and mentee will receive a $10,000 award from American Rescue Plan Act funds.

There are a total of 18 emerging artists selected for mentorship and six experienced artists chosen to be mentors. Mentors and mentees are thoughtfully matched based on shared interests, artistic styles, and experience levels. Each mentor will have a cohort of three emerging artists.

DAAP participants were able to connect with each other and get a check out each other’s previous work at a meet and greet event at Clemente Recreation Center Wednesday December 11.

Here are the DAAP matches:

Mentor: Fel’le

Robin Speth

Chris Pizaña

Dominick Lemonius

Detroit Artists Apprentice Program pic1 — From left to right—Robin Speth, Dominick Lemonius, Fe’le, and Chris Pizaña. Photo by Elonte Davis, City of Detroit.

Mentor: Zach Yarrington

Luis Bloom Collective

Juliana Rabban

Martina Sanroman

Detroit Artists Apprentice Program pic2 — Artist Zach Yarrington speaking with his mentees.

Mentor: Ijania Cortez

Jess Fendo

Kay Abernathy

Rare Bandy

Detroit Artists Apprentice Program pic3 — From left to right— Kay Abernathy, Jess Fendo, Ijania Cortez, and Rare Bandy.

Mentor: Nicole Macdonald

Hadassah Greensky

Jai’el

Mila Lynn

Detroit Artists Apprentice Program pic4 — From Left to Right Jai’el, Hadassah Greensky, Nicole Macdonald, and Mila Lynn.

Mentor: Richard Wilson

Brian Nickson

Marcelo Jourdan

Talese Michelle

Detroit Artists Apprentice Program pic5 — Artist Richard Wilson speaking with his mentees.

Mentor: Grabster

Amadeus Roy

Torrence Jackson

Megan Lui

Detroit Artists Apprentice Program pic6 — From left to right—Grabster, Amadeus Roy, Megan Lui and Torrence Jackson.

Mentees will paint multiple small interior murals individually and as a cohort that will not exceed 120 square feet each. The idea is that the experience of creating smaller murals will help the emerging artists build skills needed to paint larger and more complex murals (in future). Throughout the program, there will be mentorship sessions, meetings with each other as well as City Walls to discuss progress, feedback, and gain insight on how to get projects completed.

“These artists are representing all types of disciplines and styles in the arts and are sure to produce many masterpieces all across the city for people to enjoy,” said Zak Meers, City of Detroit Blight Remediation Lead. “We are beyond excited to embark on what is our first program to paint murals on interior city walls and very much are looking forward to connecting the artists with the public to help strengthen the threads of our shared urban fabric.”

Nearly 300 public art pieces have been created through Detroit City Walls since the program started in 2017.