New Art Adorns Farmington Hills City Hall for 2026-2027 Public Art Program Featuring Works from Over 60 Artists

 

Farmington Hills City Hall has a new look in the new year, with nearly 80 works on display as part of the City’s 2026-2027 Public Art Program. The installation officially opens with a free public reception from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 16 at Farmington Hills City Hall, located at 31555 W. Eleven Mile Road at the corner of Orchard Lake Road. Members of the public will have the opportunity to meet and mingle with the artists while enjoying light refreshments. The art will remain on display at City Hall until late 2027.

 

“The City of Farmington Hills is a destination for the arts,” said Special Services Department Director Ellen Schnackel. “As one of the only cities in Michigan with a dedicated Cultural Arts Division, the City works to uplift artists from Farmington Hills and beyond, with a goal of making the arts accessible to all.”

 

The 2026-2027 installation, which features 77 works from 66 artists from Farmington Hills, Farmington and surrounding communities, is the eighth installment of the City’s Public Art Program. The program was started in 2010 to enhance the newly renovated Farmington Hills City Hall and to offer employees, residents, and visitors a chance to interact with a wide range of art.

 

The 2026-2027 installment features an eclectic mix of works in a variety of media, including painting, quilting, metal sculpture, photography and more, with an array of subjects from landscapes to portraits and abstract works. There will be several solo and group shows in the Rotating Exhibits Gallery, near City Council Chambers in City Hall, throughout the 2026-2027 Public Art Program. Artists featured in the Public Art Program generously loan their works to the City for the two-year program duration for public benefit. Additionally, most of the works in the Public Art Program are for sale directly from the artist.

 

“I frequently hear from people that the emphasis on art in the City of Farmington Hills adds to their quality of life,” said Rachel Timlin, cultural arts supervisor for the City of Farmington Hills Special Services Department. “Art creates an enjoyable atmosphere in municipal buildings, encourages understanding amongst community members and gives individuals a way to express themselves. It’s always exciting to see students in the City’s visual arts classes, camps and workshops go on to have their pieces selected for display in the Public Art Program.”

 

Public art in City Hall holds significant importance as it embodies the cultural, historical and societal values of the community. It also creates a visually stimulating environment that encourages engagement and fosters a sense of identity and belonging among community members. Public art can also stimulate productive dialogue, incite critical thinking and evoke emotion, contributing to a robust and dynamic civic atmosphere. Moreover, it lends aesthetic appeal to public spaces, making City Hall a more inviting and inclusive place for all. Public art can also aid significantly in wayfinding, offering a visual marker to assist visitors in navigating the building.

 

The public is invited to view the art throughout late 2027 whenever City Hall is open, typically Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., as well as select evenings during City Council and other public meetings. The 2026-2027 Public Art Program opening reception will be held on Friday, Jan. 16 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Farmington Hills City Hall. Attendees will have the chance to meet many of the artists, enjoy light refreshments and live music. Those interested in purchasing any of the artwork at City Hall or The Hawk Community Center should call 248-699-6709. Exhibiting artists retain 100% of the sale of their artwork.

 

The City of Farmington Hills has the largest dedicated municipal Cultural Arts Division in the State of Michigan. The Division coordinates arts programming for the community, including classes, events, and activities in visual and performing arts, and year-round performances at The Hawk Theatre, to expose the community to the arts. The Cultural Arts Division coordinates ART on the GRAND, an annual juried fine art fair, that the City of Farmington Hills hosts in collaboration with the Farmington Downtown Development Authority. The City’s Cultural Arts Division also works to empower makers of all ages and abilities in The Hawk Makerspace, an immersive facility that allows makers to access a variety of state-of-the art tools and equipment, as well as a creative community with a wealth of resources and knowledge, to grow a new hobby or skill, from sewing to woodworking and more.

 

Artists with works featured in the 2026-2027 Public Art Program include:

Richard Adams, Pamela Alexander, Cheryl Barill, Jiyoung Bennett, Betsy Besl, Robbie Best, Karri Bloemer, Cheryl Boc-Chidester, Kathleen Boettcher, Amy Bowes, Catheryn Cheal, Jason Chmura, Thomas Church, Kenneth Claes, Ann Cleary, Nancy Coumoundouros, Pamela Day, Shadia Derbyshire, Peter Dunn, Ernest Fackler, Catherine Ferman, Kathy Fish Gilbert, Ellen Franklin, Anda Gheorghiu, Cheryl Haithco, Kseniya Hauptmann, Eloise Hirlemann, Ann Ivory, Suzanne Joelson, Aimee Kahaian, Andrew Kocab, Mary Kondraciuk, David Korelitz, Samah Kthar, Lesley Kutinsky, Debbie Lamson, Linda Larsen, Robert Levine, Debbie Lim, Alessandra Lipman, Alannah Logan, Jennifer Maples, Nora Mason, Pat McLamore, Heather Murray, John Nagridge, Kelly O’Neill, Madhu Oberoi, Catherine Peet, Sukanya Ramakrishna, Dean Rogers, Gwendolyn Roth, Cathy Rozenberg, Cayla Samano, Chuck Schroeder, Mark William Shewbridge, Linda Shewbridge, Marci Snyder, Faris Solomon, Rose Starke, Joan Sterling, Ellen Stern, Chris Szelap, Leonid Tikh, Anna Trostinskaia, Susan Warner and Tiffany Zlatich-Tuttle.