Artist Craig Merchant currently works and resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Michigan. Artworks explore the relationship between nature and humanity, taking on a variety of forms. His focus is on outdoor public art installations, however he also creates mixed-media and 2D works. He has displayed work in the United States Embassy in Botswana, Africa and at various galleries throughout the state of Michigan and around the world.
About Craig Merchant
ARTPRIZE - GRAND RAPIDS, MI
2012 – "Seahorse" @ 50 Monroe
2013 – "Abandoned City Buzz" @ The Harris Building
2014 – "Beauty in Brokenness" @ The BOB
2015 – "Movement" @ Grand Rapids Public Museum
5th Place Time-Based Art
2016 – "Strength in Numbers" @ The Waters Building
2017 – "Safe House" @ Grand Rapids Public Museum
Top 25 Installation
2018 – "Drifting" The BOB
Top 25 Time-Based Art
2021 – "Adolescent Echo" @ Grand Rapids Public Museum
Top 25 Overall Finalist
2022 – "Manufactured Meadow" @ Gerald R. Ford Federal Building US Courthouse
2023 - "Underwater Wonder" @ DeVos Place Convention Center
Seed Grant Recipient
2024 - "Fireflies: Seeking Calm in Chaos" @ Ford Presidential Museum
Motu Viget Grant Recipient
EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS
Gnome Homes - Seidman Park (North Country National Trail) and Ada Park - Ada, MI - 2024
Ampersand Project - Coming Soon!
Sturgeon - Grand Rapids Blue Bridge, Outdoor public installation - Grant Recipient - Grand Rapids, MI; July 2043 - Oct 2024
Icicle Lanterns - Outdoor public installation - World of Winter 2024 - Grant Recipient
Bubbles - Wall hanging - United States Embassy - Botswanna, Africa.
Cypress Forest - Grand Rapids Blue Bridge, Outdoor public installation - Grant Recipient - Grand Rapids, MI; July 2023 - Oct 2023
Sounds of Spring - Outdoor public installation - World of Winter 2023 - Grant Recipient - Sixth Street Park, Grand Rapids, MI
Connections - Permanent public installation - Briggs Park: 324 Knapp St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505. June 2022
Adolescent Echo - Krasl Art Center Biennial Sculpture Invitational; St Joseph, MI; May 21, 2022 - Summer
- World of Winter 2022 - Grant Recipient - Grand Rapids, MI; Jan 7 - Mar 6, 2022
- ArtPrize 2021, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Top 25 Overall Finalist
ADDITIONAL EXHIBITIONS, EVENTS AND GALLERY SHOWS
Fireflies - World of Winter, Grand Rapids - Jan-March 2025
Illuminated Trees; 235 S Division, Grand Rapids, MI. Dec-March 2024
AllArt: Grand Rapids; DeVos Place Convention Center; Grand Rapids, MI. Sept 2024
Lions & Rabbits Rosebud Gallery; 1264 Plainfield NE, Grand Rapids, MI. Nov 1 - Dec 13, 2023
Founders Brewing Co, 235 Cesar E. Chavez Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Sept 10, 2022
Cause & Affect Gallery; 126 N. Leroy St, Fenton, MI 48430. July 9 - Sept 3, 2022
LowellArts; 223 W Main St, Lowell, MI 49331. July 8 - Aug 13, 2022
Festival of the Arts Regional Arts Competition; 2964 28th St SE, Kentwood, MI 49512. June 1 - June 30, 2022
William John Heule Memorial Award Recipient
Outdoor Mural, 55 Monroe Center St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Aug, 2021
Clio Center for the Arts - 3370 W Vienna Rd, Clio, Mi 48420. Nov 20, 2020
Swartz Creek Area Art Guild - G-8048 Miller Rd, Swartz Creek, Mi 48473. Nov 6, 2020
Cause & Affect Gallery - 126 N Leroy St, Fenton, Mi 48430. July 10 - Aug 8, 2020
The Yard - Columbus Circle, 33 West 60th Street, New York, NY, 10023. Feb 27-May 23, 2020
William H. Miller Studios & Fine Art, 714 Main St, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577. April 3 - 15, 2020
The Depot Museum, 1 North Harbor Dr, Grand Haven, Mi 49417. Sept and Dec 2019
All Art Works, in collaboration with Project 1. 37 Ottawa, Grand Rapids, Mi 49503. Sep 6-10, 2019
Odd Side Ales, 41 Washington Ave, Grand Haven, Mi 49417. June 1-30, 2019
We're Here! Apartment Lounge, 33 Sheldon Ave NE, Grand Rapids, Mi 49503. June 9, 2019
Art for Health, Brush Studio, 50 Louis St SW, Grand Rapids, Mi 49503, May 1, 2019
Art with an Impact, Light Studio, 317 Division Ave S, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, Feb 1 - 29, 2019
BWYL, Galerie Richard, 121 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002. Nov 8, 2018
All Art Works, 41 Sheldon Blvd SE, Grand Rapids, Mi 49503. Sept 14, 2018
The Fed Galleries, Kendall College of Art and Design. 17 Pearl St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. May 30 - June 23, 2018.
Strathnairn Arts Gallery, 90 Stockdill Dr, Holt ACT 2615, Australia. April 5-29, 2018
Taymour Grahne Gallery (BWYL), 157 Hudson St, New York, NY 10013. Nov 16, 2017
Scarab Club Plein Air Exhibition, 217 Farnsworth, Detroit, Mi 48202. August 26-September 16, 2017.
Fenton Fine Art Exhibition, Fenton’s Open Book; 105 W Shiawassee Ave, Fenton, MI 48430; July 15th, 2017 and July 14th 2018
Avenue for the Arts Gallery Space; 307 South Division, Grand Rapids, Mi 49503; Aug 4-23, 2017
The Artshouse, April 1-19, 2017, 14 Rother St, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6LU, United Kingdom
Lyles & King Gallery, 106 Forsythe Street, New York, NY 11211, February 13, 2017
Fall 2016 Collectors Show, Sept 21-Oct 9, 2016, The Harris Building, 111 Division Ave S, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
"Tall Ships" at Studio 23, 901 North Water St, Bay City, Mi 48708, July 14-August 26, 2016
Fenton Fine Art Exhibition, Community & Cultural Center, 105 S Leroy St, Fenton, Mi 48430, July 8 - July 9, 2016
"Blooms, Bugs, and Beasts" at the Scarab Club, 217 Farnsworth St, Detroit, Mi 48202, May 18 - June 25, 2016
"Festival of Regional Arts Exhibition" at the Urban Institute of Contemporary Art, 2 West Fulton, Grand Rapids, Mi 49503, June 1 - June 26, 2016
Buckham Gallery - Flint, Mi, "ArtPrize 2014-2015 Revisited at Buckham Gallery”, February 12 – March 3, 2016
The Harris Building – Grand Rapids, Mi 2014
Michigan Institute of Contemporary Art - Lansing, Mi. April 2011
“Natural Impressions” – MCC Visual Arts & Design Center Gallery, Flint, Mi - Solar plate and reduction woodcut printmaking exhibition. June 16 – July 7, 2010
Greater Flint Arts Council Exhibition. Flint, Mi. May14 – June 4, 2010
“Figure Prints” – UCEN Fine Art Gallery. Flint, Mi. April 5 – April 18, 2010
“What’s New in 3D” – UCEN Fine Art Gallery – Flint, Mi January 8 – January 22, 2010
“What’s New in 2D” – UCEN Fine Art Gallery – Flint, Mi February 5 – February 19, 2010
“Dreamscapes” – UCEN Fine Art Gallery – Flint, Mi. December 7 – January 4, 2010
“Revisionists” - Buckham Gallery – Flint, Mi - June, 2009
Mott Community College Annual Juried Show – MCC Visual Arts & Design Center, Flint, Mi. 2005-2009
CURATORIAL & OTHER EXPERIENCE
Curator: ArtPosts - Outdoor exhibit at five mini galleries around downtown Grand Rapids, MI. May 16, 2022
Curator: Art with an Impact, Light Studio, 317 Division Ave S, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, Feb 1 - 29, 2019
Member of the Ada Arts Council Board of Directors
Artist Statement
Exhibitions, Gallery Shows & EVENTS
Growing up in a secluded wooded environment, I learned early on in my life that all creatures play an important role. It is no surprise that these early encounters would be reflected in my artwork through large scale depictions of animals, insects, and landscapes. I continued to expand on this idea by representing the relationships that are shared between humanity and the environment. I often use light, sound, and texture to create a multi-sensory experience. It is my goal to connect with the viewer through their senses so that they are no longer viewing the art, they are experiencing the art.