Ian Matchett
Adjunct Faculty
Director, Swords into Plowshares Peace Center and Gallery
BFA, BA, University of Michigan (2009-2014)
Political and social change, and the role of culture in developing community identity, cohesion, and affiliation. The role of individuals in collectivity and the effort to construct a political subject. Specifically interested in traditions of portraiture and socialist realist artwork globally.
Professional Experience
After studying at the University of Michigan, Ian became the Director and co-founder of the Michigan Student Power Network from 2014-20, and of The Brick and Mortar Collective from 2014-present. Selected as the Director of Swords into Plowshares Peace Center and Gallery in 2021, he has worked to combine political and cultural organizing, while expanding his personal artistic practice. He accepted a role as an adjunct in the Interdisciplinary Dept. at CCS in 2024. His work has shown locally, and nationally.
Significant Publications, Presentations and Exhibitions
Publications
2023 The Detroit Metro Times: “The contradictions of
corporate-sponsored mural art in Detroit” Oct. 2023
2023 The Hampton Institute. “Ambiguity in an art world shaped by capital” Aug. 2023
Exhibitions
2024 Mdw Summit Exhibition, Charlotte Street Foundation; Kansas City, MO
2024 Gala 8, Detroit Artist Market; Detroit Michigan
2024 95th Michigan Contemporary Art Exhibition, Muskegon Museum of Art; Muskegon MI. Director’s Choice
2024 Spring Salon, Detroit Contemporary ; Detroit MI
2023 Hot DAM! Detroit Artist Market ; Detroit MI
2023 Gilda Snowden Memorial Exhibition, The Scarab Club ; Detroit, MI.
2022 Actual Size, Detroit Contemporary ; Detroit MI.
2022 Reverberations: Solidarity with Haiti, The People’s Forum ; New York NY.
2022 93rd Michigan Contemporary Art Exhibition, Muskegon Museum of Art ; Muskegon MI.
2022 Free Safe and Legal Abortion Now, The People’s Forum ; New York NY.
2022 33rd Annual Art & Social Justice Show, Colefax Cultural Center ; South Bend IN.
2022 The Magnificent 7, Detroit Artist Market ; Detroit MI.
2022 41st Michigan Fine Arts Competition, Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center ; Birmingham MI.
2022 Art as Resistance, Swords into Plowshares Peace Center and Gallery ; Detroit MI.
2022 Grosse Pointe News Finer Pointes Art Contest, Grosse Pointe MI. Finalist
2022 Gilda Snowden Memorial Exhibition, The Scarab Club ; Detroit MI
2022 Vital Lines/Líneas Vitales, The People’s Forum ; New York NY.
