Artist Statement

Webster’s Dictionary defines a blueprint as: “a photographic print in white on a bright blue ground or blue on a white ground used especially for copying maps, mechanical drawings, and architects' plans … as in serving as a model or providing guidance.”

Detroit is the Blueprint is a photographic installation that serves as an on-going, multigenerational archive of Detroit creatives. This body of work consists of portraits of studio artists, collectors, gallerists, and writers inside of their creative spaces. Each subject has impacted the history and culture of Detroit’s art community, and serves as a model and provides guidance for future generations of creators.

Visual Artist, Gallerist, & Educator

Bri Hayes is a multidisciplinary artist that believes the medium is not always the message. Whether she is drawing, painting, collaging, writing poetry, or taking photos her artwork always explores themes of community, identity, or social justice. Hayes aims to collect personal narratives from American history, specifically Detroit’s history, and create a visual archive. Art and culture are always at the forefront of her mind as she seeks inspiration from her life as a creative in Detroit’s Cass Corridor. In addition to working as an artist, Bri Hayes is the director of detroit contemporary and a K–12 art educator.