The Metro: Detroit photographer Bill Rauhauser’s legacy celebrated in new exhibit
Lauren Myers, Tia Graham, The Metro March 27, 2025Angela Wisniewski-Cobbina, owner of Detroit boutique Coup D’état, joined the show to discuss the exhibit, which will feature 23 of Rauhauser’s legendary pieces.

A collage of images taken by late photographer Bill Rauhauser in Detroit (left). The cover of "Bill Rauhauser: 20th Century Photography in Detroit," by Mary Desjarlais (right).
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Bill “the dean of Detroit photography” Rauhauser left a lasting impact on both the photography community and cultural history of Detroit.
He documented Detroit through his lens from the 1940s until his death in 2017, presenting to the world the city he knew and loved. He was able to capture the human experience in the city during rapid change and racial divisions.
Not only was he nationally recognized for his work, he helped uplift a generation of photographers, teaching as a professor at the College for Creative Studies for more than 30 years, and a guest lecturer at Wayne State University and the University of Michigan.
Coup D’état, a boutique store in Detroit’s East English Village neighborhood, will be hosting an exhibit of Rauhauser’s work, titled “Bill Rauhauser: A Retrospective,” beginning at 5 p.m. this Saturday, March 29. The exhibition is a partnership between Coup D’état and Hill Gallery in Birmingham.

Angela Wisniewski-Cobbina, owner of Coup D’état, joined The Metro this week to discuss the exhibit, which will feature 23 of Rauhauser’s pieces that showcase his dedication to capturing raw, authentic moments and everyday life in Detroit.
Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.
More stories from The Metro on Thursday, March 27, 2025.
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Tia Graham is a reporter and Weekend Edition Host for 101.9 WDET. She graduated from Michigan State University where she had the unique privilege of covering former President Barack Obama and his trip to Lansing in 2014.
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