In Search of Humanity

M. Saffell Gardner

On view until July 13th on the first and second floors of Commongrounds

ARTIST STATEMENT

I search for the primitive freshness of where my creativity springs from and how it relates to humanity. As a visionary I look at abstraction as a spiritual stream, which works through me and into my creative practice. I see my work connecting with the past as well as the future.

BIOGRAPHY

M. Saffell Gardner holds BFA and MFA degrees in fine art from Wayne State University. A multidisciplinary artist, art historian, curator, lecturer and educator, he teaches at private colleges and community colleges. Gardner was awarded a Kresge in 2015, Artprize in 2014 and most recently, installed a monumental sculpture “Gateway to Black Eden” at Michigan Legacy Art Park.

Gardner’s artistic footprint extends beyond galleries and museums into the fabric of Detroit’s public spaces. Notable commissions include a painted receptacle for Detroit’s “Pretty City” project, Memorial Blanket, a sculpture for Detroit rePatched, as well as major works adorning the COBO Center and Detroit Public Schools. His pieces have found their place in the esteemed collections of institutions such as The Henry Ford Hospital, Blue Cross Blue Shield, DMC, Total Healthcare, The Federal Reserve Chicago, and various high schools like Renaissance, Southeastern, and Detroit School of the Arts.

His artistic journey has been international, with exhibitions spanning across the United States, Jamaica, Brazil, and Ghana, Africa, showcasing the universal appeal and impact of his work.

saffellart.com