ARS Exhibition "Detroit Sculptors" opens November 16

ARS Gallery • Arts & Culture Center is excited to announce an upcoming exhibition, DETROIT SCULPTORS. This unique exhibit will showcase selected works by six talented artists, including Foster Willey, who co-curated the show with Anna Russo-Sieber, and his fellow sculptors, Robert Sestok, Ken Thompson, Rob Onnes, Richard Bennet, and Saffell Gardner. Each artist will be exhibiting 3 to 4 sculptures. The show will be on view November 16, 2024 through January 31, 2025. An opening reception with small bites, light refreshments, and live music will be hosted at ARS (147 Fifth St., Benton Harbor, MI 49022) on November 16, 2024, from 4:30-7pm.

Foster Willey is a sculptor and public artist who has maintained his studio in Detroit, MI since 2019, after moving with his wife Valerie from Minneapolis. He is originally from St. Joseph, Michigan and student of Andrews University where he met his mentor, British Sculptor, Allan Collins.

Robert Sestok is a painter and sculptor living and working in Detroit. A mentor to young artists, Sestok established City Sculpture Park (2014-2021), an art park in Detroit's Cass Corridor for public use and enjoyment.

Kenneth Thompson has been making sculpture since 1978 out of a former car dealership now turned studio in Blissfield, Michigan. From this facility, he and his assistants also operate Flatlanders Sculpture Supply & Art Galleries and the Midwest Sculpture Initiative.           

Robert Onnes is an established sculptor from New Zealand working predominantly with steel and copper, exhibiting in many group and solo shows in New Zealand and Michigan. In 2014, with the help of Robert Sestock he opened 333 Midland, an historic factory that he has transformed into art studios and gathering spaces that provide exceptional resources for artists’ work to grow.

Richard Bennet is a sculptor, furniture designer, custom fabricator, and certified journeyman welder. He is the founder and president of RBA (Richard Bennett Associates), which has been in business in the city of Detroit for over 40 years.

Saffell Gardner is a multi-disciplinary artist, art historian, curator, lecturer and educator. Mr. Gardner’s work is in the permanent collection of The Henry Ford Hospital, Blue Cross Blue Shield, DMC, Total Healthcare, The Federal Reserve, Chicago, Renaissance High School and Southeastern High School and Detroit School of the Arts.

ARS founder and director Anna Russo-Sieber states, “I am looking forward to the installation of this exhibition and working with all of these fantastic artists. This is not to be missed!”