Wayne State University College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts

As an integral part of Wayne State University's legacy, the arts nurture aspiring artists, scholars, and creative professionals. And the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts complements this mission, with the Wayne State University Art Collection and Galleries' dedication to presenting exceptional contemporary art while amplifying diverse voices through innovative exhibitions and thoughtful acquisitions.

“Through these and other exhibitions, controversial art has served as a catalyst for public dialogue, encouraging critical thought and challenging the status quo,” said Grace Serra, senior director of the University Art Collection and Galleries.

Serra leads the Art Across Campus tour, which takes place June 27 this year, exploring UAC works that spark discussion and debate around artistic intent, ownership, politics, and social change.

Wayne State University’s Art Across Campus tour explores works that spark discussion, debate As an integral part of Wayne State University's legacy, the arts nurture aspiring artists, scholars, and creative professionals.

The Wayne State University is seeking a full-time, non-tenure-track Assistant Professor of Teaching in Instrumental Music Education for a one-year position in the Department of Music, beginning in August 2026.

🔗 Apply: https://tr.ee/H3FgfUADKE
📅 Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled!


Wayne State University College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts

Central to Wayne State University's academic traditions, a 51-inch ceremonial staff made from ebony, bronze, and steel stands at the intersection of artistic achievement, institutional history, and civic identity.

Appearing at WSU commencement ceremonies and annual convocations, The Academic Mace (1984) by metalsmith Phillip Fike serves as a symbol of scholarship, leadership, and the enduring ideals of higher education.

“He created a work that continues to embody the institution’s values,” said Grace Serra, senior director of the Wayne State University Art Collection and Galleries. “Simultaneously, he demonstrated the transformative potential of metalsmithing as both artistic practice and cultural expression.”

And its next social engagement takes place during the Michigan Metals: Lasting Legacy / Inspired Response exhibition, held June 8-29 at the College for Creative Studies' Art Center Building Gallery.

The Academic Mace’s inclusion in the exhibition coincides with WSU hosting the 2026 Society of North American Goldsmiths Conference. Held on campus June 10-13, the conference’s theme centers on Labor & Legacy, examining jewelry and metalwork as practices shaped by skilled labor and intergenerational knowledge.

Read the full story at the link in the comments below.

Join Wayne State University College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts and the Wayne State community on June 27 for Art Across Campus 2026! Grace Serra, Senior Director, University Art Collection and University Galleries, will guide the tour and discussion, visiting three campus venues featuring controversial art from the University Art Collection.

Learn more and register today: https://bit.ly/4ulhA2I

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT!

Ryan Herberholz
MFA '18

TRANSIENT NARRATIVES
Ideation Orange
420 W. 9 Mile Rd. Hazel Park, MI
Opening Reception: Friday June 5th 7-10pm
Exhibition Dates: June 5th - June 30th
Featuring Melissa A. Day and Ryan Herberholz.

TRANSIENT NARRATIVES

Transience describes both the activity of human beings and physical processes. On long enough timescales a building, a city, a single life, or the existence of a species on a planet in a solar system could be considered features of a transient universe. These works attempt to narrate the ineffable. While two differing approaches to landscape are evident in this exhibition they both explore the ways in which human beings interact with their environment and each other. These paintings contain evidence of activity and remnants of communication that divulge the fact that the only constant we can count on is change.

Ryan Herberholz is a painter who creates otherworldly landscapes and sculptural objects. He draws inspiration from frequent trips into the Michigan wilderness as well as from locations in Detroit’s North End neighborhood where he lives and works. Ryan received MFA from Wayne State University in 2018 and his BFA from the Stamps School at the University of Michigan in 2012. He has completed several community murals in Detroit and frequently exhibits work in the city and the surrounding region.

For more information:
https://www.galleryatio.com/events-exhibitions1


Wayne State University

Alicia Nails, Teaching Professor and Director of the Journalism Institute for Media Diversity (), received a Lifetime Achievement Award on May 20 from the Society of Professional Journalists.

In her acceptance speech, Nails reflected on being the third generation in her family to achieve such outstanding professional success. She credited this to her long-standing relationship with the National Association of Black Journalists (), who honored her as the 2018 Educator of the Year, the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and 23 years of teaching students.

Congratulations, Alicia!! 🎉

At Wayne State, AI’s reach extends beyond science labs into design Wayne State University is using AI not only in STEM education but to teach creative skills such as industrial design.