2026 State of the Art Prize, Michigan
2026 State of the Art Prize, Michigan
Ash Arder
Ash Arder
Ash Arder is a transdisciplinary artist working to expose, deconstruct or reconfigure physical and conceptual systems related to ecology and industry. Ash transforms physical and virtual environments to examine and complicate dynamics of power between humans, machines and the natural world.
Installation, Photography, Sound Art, Visual Arts
2026
About Ash Arder
Detroit, MI
Ash Arder (she/they) is a transdisciplinary artist whose research-based approach works to expose, deconstruct or reconfigure physical and conceptual systems – especially those related to ecology and industry. Ash manipulates physical and virtual environments to explore materials, mark making, mechanical portraiture and sound design as tools for complicating dynamics of power between humans, machines and the lands they occupy. She has held artist residencies at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Alberta (2024), Michigan Central x Newlab in Detroit (2024), University Musical Society in Ann Arbor (2021-22), Bemis Center for Contemporary Art in Omaha (2021), Recess in Brooklyn (2019), and A Studio in the Woods in New Orleans (2017-18). Recent exhibitions include a solo show at the Cranbrook Art Museum (2023-24), and group shows at NXTHVN (2024), California African American Museum (2024), Swiss Institute (2024), and Amant (2023). Ash is a 2023 Joan Mitchell Fellow, and a two-time awardee of the Knight Foundation’s Arts Challenge grant. She received an MFA from the Cranbrook Academy of Art. Ash lives and works in Waawiyaatanong (Detroit, Michigan) about an hour south of her hometown of Muscatawing (Flint).
Ash Arder (she/they) is a transdisciplinary artist whose research-based approach works to expose, deconstruct or reconfigure physical and conceptual systems – especially those related to ecology and industry. Ash manipulates physical and virtual environments to explore materials, mark making, mechanical portraiture and sound design as tools for complicating dynamics of power between humans, machines and the lands they occupy. She has held artist residencies at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Alberta (2024), Michigan Central x Newlab in Detroit (2024), University Musical Society in Ann Arbor (2021-22), Bemis Center for Contemporary Art in Omaha (2021), Recess in Brooklyn (2019), and A Studio in the Woods in New Orleans (2017-18). Recent exhibitions include a solo show at the Cranbrook Art Museum (2023-24), and group shows at NXTHVN (2024), California African American Museum (2024), Swiss Institute (2024), and Amant (2023). Ash is a 2023 Joan Mitchell Fellow, and a two-time awardee of the Knight Foundation’s Arts Challenge grant. She received an MFA from the Cranbrook Academy of Art. Ash lives and works in Waawiyaatanong (Detroit, Michigan) about an hour south of her hometown of Muscatawing (Flint).