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DUHTROIT®

@duhtroit_

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Celebrating Detroit City and Detroit creatives.
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So, what did we learn? A LOT. 😂

But one thing we’re absolutely certain of: Detroit has no shortage of incredible creative talent. We just need to keep creating more opportunities to celebrate it.

To everyone who helped make PROOF happen, thank you. 🖤

This is only the beginning.

🎬 Part 3 of 3

#PROOFDetroit #DetroitArt #DetroitPhotography

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It was never just about putting photographs on a wall. 🖤

It was about celebrating the people behind them and creating opportunities for Detroit’s creative community.

And honestly? This part meant the most.

🎬 Part 2 of 3

#PROOFDetroit #detroit #community #youresofancystudio

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The PROOF is in. 🥃📸

Did we pull off the perfect event? Nope. 😂

Did Detroit’s creative community absolutely blow us away? YES.

Here’s a little behind-the-scenes honesty about our first PROOF: A Detroit Photography Experience.

🎬 Part 1 of 3

#PROOFDetroit #detroitphotography #community #detroit

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THE PROOF IS IN. 🥃📸

Detroit, you really showed up for this one. 🖤

Our first-ever PROOF: A Detroit Photography Experience was everything we hoped it would be and so much more.

An evening filled with incredible photography, familiar faces, new connections, a little friendly bidding, and a whole lot of love for Detroit’s creative community.

Watching the artists see their work printed, framed, and celebrated on the walls was one of our favorite parts of the entire experience.

To every artist who trusted us with their work, every friend and family member who came to cheer them on, and everyone who walked through those doors to support local creativity: THANK YOU.

And a huge thank-you to our incredible community partners who helped bring this crazy little idea to life. We couldn’t have done it without you.

THE ARTISTS

@dellarosaphotography
@erinimages
@jovanprints
@namebutbackwards
@nailahjphotography
@judibomm
@mariwthcam
@solo_not_han
@robsdarkroom
@queleone_

OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS 🖤

@twojames
@brucewhitegallery
@unfoldingcreative
@duhtroit_

A special thank-you to Two James Spirits for trusting us to bring this experience into their space and creating an incredible limited-edition spirit featuring artwork by Nailah Jackson. All 20 bottles found homes!

This was our first PROOF, but we’re hoping it’s just the beginning.

Here’s to making more room for Detroit’s artists to be seen, celebrated, and supported.

Detroit, you are the art. 🖤

#PROOFDetroit #DetroitPhotography #DetroitArtists #detroit #DetroitCreativeCommunity LINK BELOW FOR MORE INFO👇

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I’m excited to announce that I’ll be joining the Nigerian Students Association @ngsawsu at Wayne State University @waynestate as a featured panelist for their 4th Annual NSA Conference, taking place Saturday, October 17th!

This year’s theme, “Rooted in Heritage. Driven by Excellence. United for Impact,” brings together conversations around culture, leadership, professional development, and the opportunities available to the next generation of Nigerian students and young professionals.

I’ll be speaking on “From Skills and Experience to Leadership and Entrepreneurship,” sharing insights from my journey across technology, business, entrepreneurship, and community development.

As someone of Nigerian heritage and a Wayne State University alumnus, this is an especially meaningful opportunity to return to my alma mater and contribute to conversations about turning our education, experiences, and ambitions into meaningful impact.

I’m looking forward to connecting with students, fellow professionals, and members of the Nigerian community!

Event Details
📅 Saturday, October 17, 2026
📍 Wayne State University | Student Center, Ballroom C
🕑 Conference begins at 2:00 PM
🎤 Panel Discussion: 4:00–4:30 PM

Special thanks to the Nigerian Students Association for the invitation!

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A huge THANK YOU to our 2026 sponsors and partners who’ve helped make our festival possible. We couldn’t do this without you all!

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A Closed Heart Cannot Make Room For New Opportunity. Grateful For All Mine🥀✨

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feats lately ✨ been an absolute dream to be a part of Progression and to see my work in print and up for viewing! Thank you so much August @sightsinmaria @duhtroit_ for such beautiful program curation and the opportunity to learn and grow further from this experience. Progression is also still being shown at the Detroit Public Library on the 3rd floor until September 30th! Working on my third piece, a part of a larger project, during this time has been inspiring to my practice and who I am as an artist. I hope you all continue to grow with me. I also was featured in @detroitnewwave my first time on print for a zine! These last few months have been crazy and I’m so excited to continue creating and pushing my own boundaries ✨💞

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I have been meaning to make this post, and honestly, I apologize for the delay. I’m still not 100% recovered, but I couldn’t let too much more time pass without acknowledging this moment. ❤️ I stood up in front of a room full of people and gave a speech about my work, my art, and my piece, “Serenity.” And I did it on one of the sickest days I’ve experienced in a very long time. I almost didn’t make it. There were plenty of reasons I could have stayed home, but I knew I needed to show up for myself. For a long time, I have introduced myself to the world as Venus Wright, my artistic name. There are so many crushing and heart-wrenching reasons why I have chosen not to use my real name publicly. But this time, I made a conscious decision to put some of that fear behind me.

So I stood there as Venus Wright, also known as Valency McDaniel. That may seem small to some people, but it was BIG for me. 🖤

I also want to take a moment to thank the people who made this exhibition possible.

Detroit Public Library, @detroitpubliclibrary thank you for allowing our artwork to take temporary residence in such a beautiful and historic space. Seeing our work displayed inside those glass cases on the 3rd floor was something I will not forget.

To our curator, August James @sightsinmaria, a photographic artist herself, thank you for your patience, encouragement, and for constantly pushing us to show up and show OUT. You took on your first curatorial project and created something incredibly beautiful. Thank you for believing in this group and bringing all of these pieces together.

To the executive director Justice @pure.justice with Duhtroit, @duhtroit_ thank you for being the executive producer and standing behind this project, opening doors, putting us in rooms with incredibly influential people, and constantly challenging us to think bigger, reach higher, and keep striving.

And to my fellow artists who were selected alongside me: (instagram name posted go add them!) You ladies are phenomenal! I admire your work!

Tatianna Alexxus — @alexxuslens
Kori Ajee Dobbs — @koriajee_
Nailah Jackson — @nailahjphotography
Davia Gross — @daviamg.photography
Adriana Villa — @only111nana.

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PROGESSION II is official & my third piece is finally out there at Detroit Public Library. The amount of love I’ve received for my vulnerability through both my voice and art is an experience that has given me a newfound confidence & love for what I do. This exhibition has challenged me in ways I didn’t even expect & I couldn’t be more grateful for the growth, knowledge, and community I’ve had throughout this entire process. A new beginning has been birthed.

Thank you, August, it’s your curation that led to 6 black women to discovering even more untapped potential that’s already been there. Thank you, Justice, you were on my ass 😭 for all the best reasons and it’s you that encouraged me to keep going and ask for more.

DuhTroit, the contribution and love you continue to show to black women photographers giving us a space & voice to be heard in rooms we didn’t know we could echo in. Thank you always.

@sightsinmaria
@duhtroit_

Lastly, thank you God. It still mind boggling how I started this year with no goal, no plan, no nothing but the strongest desire to just thrive to consecutive wins, life changing revelation, and overall consequential moments that would inevitably lead me to the best parts of myself.

To a new normal. My art is up till Sept 30, so go check me and my homegirls out!

Alexxus. 💋

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Wow, this is really my life, a dream come true🥹! What an honor to be in the Detroit Public Library. It’s crazy because I wasn’t even going to submit. I was feeling overwhelmed with life, but something told me to just see it through, and I’m glad I did! This experience has been such an eye-opener for me. I’m so grateful for all the new friends I made along the way, the new experiences, & the things I learned🫂. So, the moral of the story is when that call comes, you better say HELLO😉! You never know what’s waiting on the other side.
Go check out PROGRESSION on the 3rd floor of the library. My work is going to be displayed until the 30th.
I also want to s/o all the wonderful ladies in the cohort. I’m so proud of us. WE DID THAT🦋🫶🏾!
@daviamg.photography
@itz_justvee
@only111nana
@alexxuslens
@koriajee_

ALSO a special thank you to my muses this wouldn’t be possible without y’all @bmekenzo @fashion_junkieeeee @kendreaak_ 🧡

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Today I had the PRIVILEGE of being invited to PROGRESSION an art Exhibit at the Detroit Public Library featuring our @davia__mg. 🤯🤯🤯. There were six photographers featured and each had to present “progression” expressed through photo art.

Davia is multitalented!! I was blown away. It was a 30 day journey through the selection process via @duhtroit_, meeting new people, learning, self reflection. Davia you did your thing. I’m so proud of you!!! Keep going!! I love you!! #givingemsomethingtotalkabout #progression #art #photography #detroit

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