Stamps School of Art & Design

Come make something memorable with us at Top of the Park!

Join The Book Arts Studio at the University of Michigan Library, Stamps Gallery, and The Arts Initiative for a hands-on evening of creativity inspired by Marianetta Porter: Breath, Fragment, Return.

Explore the University Library's fascinating collection of historic wood type, design and print your own unique work of art, and participate in a variety of print-based activities at The Annex at Top of the Park Festival.

Whether you're a seasoned maker or simply curious to try something new, this is your chance to engage with the exhibition in a whole new way, through ink, type, and creative experimentation.

🎨 Free and open to all experience levels
🖨️ Create your own printed keepsake
📚 Discover the beauty and history of wood type
✨ Connect with art beyond the gallery walls

🗓️ Saturday, June 27, 2026
⏰ 5 – 8 PM
📍 Top of the Park: 915 E. Washington St, Ann Arbor, MI

What happens when art, science, and curiosity come together?

This winter, students in ARTDES 364: Making Science Visible transformed close observation into creative inquiry during a semester-long collaboration with Matthaei Botanical Gardens. After selecting a plant in the Conservatory, students developed research questions inspired by their observational drawings and translated their discoveries into interactive interpretation panels designed to engage and educate visitors.

🌿 Work generated in the class is on view now at Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum.
📍 1800 N. Dixboro Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105

On May 21, the U-M Board of Regents approved the promotion of two Stamps faculty members: Anne Mondro to full professor and Deepa Butoliya to associate professor with tenure. We couldn't be more excited for this recognition of the scholarly excellence, interdisciplinary research, and community engagement that Anne and Deepa bring to Stamps and the University of Michigan.

👏 Please join us in congratulating Anne and Deepa, and learn more about their research, creative practice, and accomplishments at the links in our bio!

📖 https://stamps.umich.edu/news/anne-mondro-promoted-to-full-professor

📖 https://stamps.umich.edu/news/deepa-butoliyas-promotion-and-tenure-approved-by-u-m-regents

Could this be your next big opportunity?

Envision: The Michigan Artist Initiative is seeking Michigan artists whose work reflects excellence, experimentation, and a commitment to advancing contemporary art. We can't wait to see what you're creating.

Three finalists will be selected to exhibit at Stamps Gallery, receive a $2,000 artist fee and production stipend, and gain visibility through a nationally recognized jury process. One artist will receive the 2027 Envision Award and a $5,000 cash prize.

✨ 2027 Envision Award and a $5,000 cash prize
✨Artists working in all media are encouraged to apply.
✨DEADLINE TO APPLY: Aug 2, 2026
✨ Learn more at stamps.umich.edu/envision27

The artists and designers who make up the Stamps Class of 2026 are tackling topics such as identity, cultural memory, gender, environmental stewardship, grief, and belonging through painting, performance, fashion, installation, photography, graphic design, and more.

✨ Learn more about this year's undergraduates and their thesis work.
https://stamps.umich.edu/news/inside-the-creative-practices-of-the-stamps-class-of-2026

The semester may have come to a close, but the conversations between design, community, and collaboration are still unfolding.

Students in Poster Design recently presented their final projects to partners at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, bringing together research, visual storytelling, and contemporary poster design. Taught by Stamps Professor Franc Nunoo-Quarcoo, the course challenges students to approach poster design through idea-driven problem solving, exploring how words and images work together to communicate with clarity, intention, and impact.

This semester, students collaborated with MBGNA Director Anthony Kolenic to design posters promoting events at Matthaei and the Arb, gaining hands-on experience working with a real client while navigating audience, context, and feedback. Final presentations highlighted the evolution of each concept, as students refined their work through critique and strengthened their visual voice.

"Watching the students synthesize the work and mission of MBGNA into beautiful poster sets was impressive. Whimsical, eye-catching, creative, colorful; each poster set is singular, but each communicates something core to MBGNA's values. Together, they help tell the story of who we are- so much more than just a place. It was a pleasure to work with Franc, who clearly cares deeply about his students and encouraged their work in all stages of the creative process."-Katie Seguin

Faculty member Emilia Yang was featured in, Futurismos Latinos, a group exhibition at Artivistas Gallery in Paris. Bringing together artists exploring contemporary Latin American imaginaries and forward-looking cultural narratives, the exhibition highlights practices that shape how we understand both past and future.

Through her work, Yang examines how artistic practice and community-led archives can shape collective memory and contribute to future-making across Nicaragua and Central America. As part of the exhibition programming, she presented a talk on May 23 titled Art and Community Archives for the Future in Nicaragua and Central America.

Learn more about the exhibition here: https://www.artivistas.fr/d-tails-et-inscription/conference-arte-y-archivos-comunitarios-para-el-futuro-en-nicaragua-y-centroamerica

The semester may be over, but we're still looking back on the amazing projects Stamps students created in class this winter.

In Anne Mondro’s Intro to Metals & Jewelry, students begin their journey learning the foundational techniques of metalsmithing, from sawing, soldering, and stone setting to forming and finishing, before transforming raw materials into contemporary jewelry, sculptural objects, and experimental designs.

Throughout the semester, students explore how metal can communicate ideas through form, scale, and craftsmanship while developing confidence through experimentation, problem-solving, and material exploration. Their projects reflect not only technical growth but also the evolution of personal concepts and creative voices shaped by jewelry traditions across cultures and time periods.

ARTDES 252 STUDENTS:
Levi Benson
Dominic Cassar
Lilah Chow
Heather D'Alecy
Ella Graeb
Maya Hernandez
Ananya Jain
Lillian Joelson
Genevieve Jones
Caitlyn McConville
Farah Rothe van Deventer
Hannah Ruffin
Sadie Smith
Aranza Stanton
Amaya Vega-Fernandez
Zhixian Xiong