The Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series at the University of Michigan
The Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series brings respected leaders and innovators from a broad spectrum of creative fields to the historic Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor. Events take place Thursdays at 5:30 PM unless otherwise noted, and are free, non-ticketed, and open to the public.
In partnership with Detroit Public Television and PBS Books, each week’s events will be released online the following Friday at 8pm on this page, and on the Penny Stamps Series Facebook page for on-demand viewing. Some programs may not be available online, depending on artist requests.
Watch Past Penny Stamps Episodes
Spring 2025 Season
Friday, Jan. 16 at 8 p.m. – Rashaad Newsome: Multidisciplinary artist Rashaad Newsome explores themes of Blackness, queerness, and futurism through groundbreaking works.
Friday, Jan. 23 at 8 p.m. – The 1491s: Native American sketch comedy group The 1491s use humor and satire to challenge stereotypes and celebrate Indigenous culture.
Friday, Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. – George Rodriguez: George Rodriguez creates highly ornamented ceramic sculptures, largely unified by a connection to sociopolitical themes.
Friday, Feb. 6 at 8 p.m. – Stacey Kirby: Stacey Kirby is a queer interdisciplinary artist creating participatory installations that examine identity, community, and civil rights.
Friday, Feb. 13 at 8 p.m. – asses.masses: Cheeky and political, asses.masses combines Animal Farm, Pokémon, and Final Fantasy, letting audiences explore the work/play balance.
Friday, Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. – Tiff Massey: Massey merges her art practice with meaningful community engagement to explore the relationship between identity, public space, and community.
Friday, Mar. 13 at 8 p.m. – Gary Tyler: After 42 years wrongfully imprisoned, Tyler’s textile art highlights mass incarceration while inspiring hope and resilience.
Friday, Mar. 20 at 8 p.m. – Phung Huynh: Phung Huynh is a Los Angeles-based artist and educator with a practice in drawing, painting, public art, and community engagement.
Friday, April. 3 at 8 p.m. – John Cameron Mitchell: John Cameron Mitchell is an acclaimed actor, writer, and director known for his boundary-pushing work across theater, film, and television.
Fall 2024 Season
Ty Jeffries | Miss Hope Springs
Nayland Blake | Tear Down Our Walls
Fernando Laposse | Design for Rural Reality
Guadalupe Maravilla | Sound As Medicine
Emil Ferris | If Your Favorite Thing is Monsters
Irma Boom | Boom Books
John Collins & Scott Shepherd with Tom Sellar | Elevator Repair Service
Pablo Helguera, Jenna Bednar, Philippa Hughes, Lexa Walsh | Radical Conversations
Fred Wilson | The Silent Message of the Museum
Kelly Church | Sustaining Traditions
Phranc | PhrancTalk
Spring 2024 Season
Kelli Anderson | The Hidden Talents of Everyday Things
Artemio Rodríguez | Skeletons’ Riot
CW&T | House of Make
Lynn Hershman Leeson | BIO-DOT-BOT: Lynn Hershman Leeson Shorts
Fall 2023 Season
About the Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series
Established with the generous support of alumna Penny W. Stamps (1944−2018), the Penny Stamps Speaker Series brings respected leaders and innovators from a broad spectrum of creative fields to Ann Arbor to conduct weekly public lectures and engagements.
Design professional, arts advocate, philanthropist, and friend Penny W. Stamps dedicated herself to elevating opportunities for the culture-makers of tomorrow. In 2012, the U‑M Board of Regents named the School of Art & Design in her honor, creating the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design at the University of Michigan. The Stamps Gallery and Stamps Creative Work Awards are also named in her honor.
