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MSU Broad Director Marc-Olivier Wahler on Zaha Hadid Building, Michigan Stories Exhibition, and Detroit Art Scene

exhibition · 2026-05-05

Marc-Olivier Wahler, who runs the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University, shared how the museum acts as a bridge between the university and its local community. He mentioned exciting future plans, including an upcoming exhibition called 'Michigan Stories: Mike Kelley and Jim Shaw.' This museum, which opened its doors five years ago and was crafted by architect Zaha Hadid, spans 46,000 square feet. Wahler emphasized the importance of free admission and student engagement, highlighted by their monthly Student Coffee Hour. Recently, they received $1 million from MSU Federal Credit Union for two new galleries. The museum’s collection features works ranging from ancient Greece to contemporary art, and 'Michigan Stories' is set to launch on November 18, 2017, running until February 25, 2018, showcasing local artists like Kelley and Shaw. The opening will include a performance by Shaw and Cary Loren from Destroy All Monsters. Wahler also praised Detroit's vibrant art scene, which is heavily influenced by music and street culture, giving it a unique character compared to cities like New York and Los Angeles.

Key facts

  • MSU Broad Museum designed by Zaha Hadid opened five years ago.
  • Museum received $1 million from MSU Federal Credit Union for expansion beyond Grand River.
  • Exhibition 'Michigan Stories: Mike Kelley and Jim Shaw' runs November 18, 2017 to February 25, 2018.
  • Some works shown for first time, including Kelley's 'Harems' series and Shaw's high school drawings.
  • Performance by Jim Shaw and Cary Loren at opening.
  • Museum has free admission and hosts monthly Student Coffee Hour.
  • Collection spans from ancient Greek to contemporary art.
  • New student-curated gallery 'The Vault' features rotating works from collection.

Entities

Artists

  • Marc-Olivier Wahler
  • Zaha Hadid
  • Mike Kelley
  • Jim Shaw
  • Cary Loren
  • Niagara
  • Iggy Pop

Institutions

  • Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University (MSU Broad)
  • Michigan State University
  • Kresge Art Museum
  • MSU Federal Credit Union
  • Destroy All Monsters
  • Galleria Civica di Modena
  • Stooges
  • Motown
  • White Panther Party
  • Artribune

Locations

  • East Lansing
  • Michigan
  • Detroit
  • New York
  • Los Angeles
  • United States
  • Italy
  • Modena

Sources