Soul Studio is a supported art studio program with an open studio space and gallery for adults, 18 years or older with special needs in West Bloomfield, Michigan. Through educational programming driven by each artist’s creative impulses, participants are supported in a variety of art media including: painting, drawing, ceramics, weaving, sculpture, woodworking, photography, and digital arts, and are inspired to develop careers as contemporary artists.
Our staff, comprised of professional artists and designers, and trained volunteers allows for individual attention, encourages creative growth while responding to each artist’s unique physical and cognitive conditions. The knowledge of Soul Studio staff help artists gain confidence and independence, experiment with different art media, learn new skills, and develop a sense of community. Each artist’s knowledge is further augmented by field trips such as studio visits, museums and galleries, as well as lectures and films on contemporary art, introducing them to new aesthetic strategies and approaches. The longer each artist participates in the program the more their confidence, independence and sense of purpose grows.
In our gallery, we curate exhibitions and produce products by selecting the artwork that best represents the artist and the studio. We curate 4-5 exhibitions a year in the Soul Gallery, and produce and participate in several exhibitions at outside institutions open to the general public. Exhibiting artwork gives each artist the chance to see the public’s reaction to their creative productions and provides them opportunities to speak about their artistic process to visiting audiences. Artists receive a commission from all sales.
