Grand Rapids Art Museum Presents Large-scale Exterior Installations by Two Michigan Artists for ArtPrize 2025, Offers $5 Museum Admission Sept. 18 — Oct. 4

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Sept. 17, 2025 — The Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) is thrilled to showcase the work of two Michigan-based artists during ArtPrize 2025. Now on view, Elijah Haswell: Operation G.R.A.M. and Luis Fernandez: La Voz de Mi Gente (The Voice of My People) are large-scale installations located along the Museum’s Monroe Center exterior and front entrance.

In celebration of ArtPrize, the Museum will offer $5 general admission Sept. 18 through Oct. 4, 2025. During this period, guests are invited to explore GRAM’s indoor exhibitions at a reduced admission rate, including the popular exhibition David Hockney: Perspective Should Be Reversed, Prints from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation.

“ArtPrize returns to the Grand Rapids Art Museum this year with dynamic outdoor installations by Elijah Haswell and Luis Fernandez,” commented Dean and Helga Toriello Curator of Collections and Exhibitions Jennifer Wcisel. ​“From Elijah’s captivating, whimsical illustrations to the powerful stories of cultural resilience and pride in Luis’ photography, we look forward to the meaningful connections and conversations these entries create in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids. Stop by and explore these works before heading inside the Museum to enjoy three floors of art and $5 admission.”

Elijah Haswell: Operation G.R.A.M. (Aug. 5, 2025 – April 26, 2026)
Elijah Haswell: Operation G.R.A.M. is an immersive, large-scale illustration that transforms the Museum’s Monroe Center façade into a joyful, ever-unfolding world of discovery. Haswell’s signature wimmelbild illustrations — dense landscapes teeming with intricate details and hidden narratives — invite the public to enter a visually rich experience that rewards curiosity and connection.

Haswell worked closely with GRAM to incorporate references specific to Grand Rapids, including local architecture, community events, and characters that reflect the diversity of our city. Haswell’s illustration includes 425 works of art from GRAM’s collection and 285 meandering characters causing chaos at every turn.

Luis Fernandez: La Voz de Mi Gente (The Voice of My People) (Sept. 17– Oct. 5, 2025)
In La Voz de Mi Gente, artist Luis Fernandez returns to his Puerto Rican roots to explore identity, resilience, and the enduring power of cultural expression. Through vivid portraits and documentary storytelling, Fernandez spotlights the work of 12 Puerto Rican artists, dancers, and creators. This project began as a journey home and became a broader reflection on what it means to belong. Capturing the joy and hardship of life on the island — from vibrant traditions to the impact of systemic neglect — La Voz de Mi Gente weaves together personal and collective narratives.

While deeply grounded in Puerto Rican experience, the project offers a universal invitation: to reflect on our own cultural identities, and the communities that shape us. Installed in front of the Museum, Fernandez’s large-scale photographs are mounted on freestanding panels, encouraging the public to walk through and engage with them.

About the Grand Rapids Art Museum  
Connecting people through art, creativity, and design. Established in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, the Museum is internationally known for its distinguished design and status as the world’s first LEED® Gold certified art museum. Founded in 1910 as the Grand Rapids Art Association, GRAM has grown to include 6,700 works of art, including American and European 19^th and 20^th-century painting and sculpture and more than 3,000 works on paper. Embracing the city’s legacy as a leading center of design and manufacturing, GRAM has a growing collection in the area of design and modern craft.

For museum hours and admission fees, call 616.831.1000 or visit artmuseumgr.org.

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