AllArtWorks, Still Here: The Artists Who Shape Grand Rapids

AllArtWorks Foundation Presents Still Here: Artists Who Shape Grand Rapids

A community-centered exhibition honoring local masters

Grand Rapids, MI — The AllArtWorks Foundation is proud to announce Still Here: Artists Who Shape Grand Rapids, a new gallery exhibition celebrating a collection of local artists whose work help define the city’s cultural landscape—yet whose stories have too often lived quietly. The exhibition’s opening reception is February 7, 6:00pm.

Drawn entirely from artists with deep roots in Grand Rapids, the exhibition brings painters and cultural change makers into the limelight, honoring not only their artistic contributions but the neighborhoods, communities, and lived experiences that shaped their work. 

Still Here is as much about storytelling as it is about art. Alongside the work, the exhibition invites residents, family members, and community members with firsthand knowledge to share stories, context, and personal histories—creating space for intergenerational connection, conversation, and collective remembrance.

The exhibition features four longtime Grand Rapids artists; Henry Brown, Derrick Hollowell, Lowell Reynolds, and Steven Reynolds. Live music and entertainment provided by DJ Monk.

“This exhibition is about reclaiming shared cultural memory,” said John Fenton, AllArtWorks Foundation Executive Director. “For too long, access to art, recognition, and celebration has been unevenly considered. Honoring these artists—and the communities they come from—is an act of justice.”

By focusing on artists whose legacies originated across Grand Rapids, the project strengthens pride of place, deepens community ties, and fosters a broader understanding of who has shaped the city’s creative identity. The free event invites the public to engage with the city’s artistic lineage.

Still Here: Artists Who Shape Grand Rapids reaffirms a simple truth: understanding who we are—and where we come from—is essential to a healthy, connected community.

Exhibition Details:
AllArtWorks Viewing Studio
333 Cesar E. Chavez Ave. SW
Grand Rapids
Opening Reception: February 7, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
For more information, visit www.allartworks.com or follow @all.art.works on Instagram.

Still Here: Artists Who Shape Grand Rapids has been made possible in part by support from the City of Grand Rapids’ Neighborhood Match Fund.