Acclaimed Visual Artist Danielle Dean Joins Cranbrook

Cranbrook Academy of Art welcomes new artist-in-residence.

The Cranbrook Academy of Art’s Photography Department is welcoming a new artist-in-residence. Danielle Dean is a critically acclaimed visual artist primarily focused on video, sculpture and, performance. Dean’s work has been featured in exhibitions all over the world. 

Cranbrook selected Dean because her work often examine how issues of race, gender, and age play out in society. What separates Dean is her focus on the material objects and historical narratives that define these issues. 

Ryan Patrick Hooper speaks with Dean about her decision to accept the position and her interest in the Detroit. 

“Back in 2016 I came to the photography department at Cranbrook to do a visiting artist lecture,” says Dean. “I really enjoyed it. I thought it was super great.” 

For Dean, her decision to accept the residency was also fueled by her interest in the city of Detroit. 

“I also was really interested in Detroit itself,” she says. “A lot of my work is based on thinking about our relationship to capitalism through thinking about industry and commerce.” 

Click on the audio player above for the full conversation. 

Author

  • Ryan Patrick Hooper
    Ryan Patrick Hooper is the award-winning host and producer of CultureShift on 101.9 WDET-FM Detroit’s NPR station. Hooper has covered stories for the New York Times, NPR, Detroit Free Press, Hour Detroit, SPIN and Paste magazine.