Ceramicist grows career through Ann Arbor Art Fair
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Detroit ceramic artist Genevieve VanZandt. Photo: Sierra Aguilar
For Detroit artist Genevieve VanZandt, the Ann Arbor Art Fair proved she could make a living as a full-time artist.
Why it matters: VanZandt is among dozens of Detroit-area artists at this month's fair — one of the country's largest and among several upcoming fairs across the region.
What they're saying: VanZandt's first Ann Arbor Art Fair was four years ago, after about 15 years of making ceramics. She had quit her job to start her business.
- "I was pretty certain I could make it work, but I wasn't 1,000% sure it was gonna work," she tells Axios.
- She sold some larger sculptural pieces at that first fair and began building her clientele.
- "It was really just like a cool wake-up call."
The intrigue: Another factor behind VanZandt's success has been finding enough affordable space in Detroit to build a home studio around her craft.
- After spending years juggling jobs, shared housing and rented studio space, VanZandt bought a home in the city's east side Cornerstone Village neighborhood.
- She installed a kiln in the basement and now creates both functional pottery and sculptural ceramic pieces.
She credits Detroit's affordability with giving her room to grow, including plans to eventually build a dedicated studio on a vacant lot next to her home.
- "My practice would not be the same without being based here."
Zoom out: VanZandt is one of four Detroit artists exhibiting at the Ann Arbor Art Fair, which spans 30 city blocks, features roughly 1,000 artists and attracts nearly half a million visitors each year.
- Overall, 60 artists are from Wayne (16), Oakland (41) and Macomb (3) counties.
State of play: VanZandt now calls the Ann Arbor Art Fair her best sales event of the year. She sees returning collectors who stop by to check out her newest work.
Zoom in: Her ceramics range from whimsical sculptures inspired by mushrooms, insects and fantasy to functional pottery, with prices spanning from about $15 to roughly $2,000.
- "I like to make my art accessible," she says. "Someone who's in love with the work, but maybe can't get a $2,000 sculpture, is able to get something."