Herenplaats brings together artists from Rotterdam and Detroit for Industry & Identity

Rotterdam and Detroit are cities that have been deeply shaped by industry, labour and change. One city grew up around its port, the other around the automotive industry. Despite their different histories and cultures, they share a strong ethos of perseverance, resilience and constant innovation. This shared identity forms the basis of ‘Industry & Identity’, an international exchange exhibition organised by Galerie Atelier Herenplaats and Progressive Art Studio Collective in Detroit. The exhibition is taking place simultaneously in Rotterdam and Detroit and brings together artists from both cities. In Rotterdam, the opening will take place on Friday 25 September from 5.00 pm. The exhibition is open to the public free of charge until 5 December.

In this exhibition, artists from Rotterdam and Detroit explore how their cities’ histories continue to shape the present. Through drawings, paintings and mixed media, they depict music, architecture and the people who bring their cities to life. The works show how industrial history remains visible not only in buildings and infrastructure, but also lives on in culture, memories and everyday experiences.

The exchange is a collaboration between Galerie Atelier Herenplaats and the Progressive Art Studio Collective (PASC) in Detroit, Michigan. PASC was founded in 2021 as a progressive art studio programme for Detroit and Wayne County and supports more than 190 artists with intellectual disabilities and/or mental health challenges. Like Herenplaats, PASC offers artists a professional environment in which they can develop their artistic practice and establish a lasting presence within the contemporary art world.

Through ‘Industry & Identity’, both organisations emphasise the importance of international collaboration, artistic exchange and inclusivity within the arts sector. The project offers artists from Rotterdam and Detroit the opportunity to connect their work and perspectives on an international level and to create new forms of engagement and collaboration.