Fall of Freedom
Playground Detroit
Detroit
Nov. 21-Nov. 22, 2025
Art is such a beautiful demonstration of freedom of expression, and Detroit’s Fall of Freedom show reminded me exactly why.
The national call to artists held its exhibition at Playground Detroit this past weekend.
“Our Democracy is under attack. Threats to free expression are rising. Dissent is being criminalized. Institutions and media have been recast as mouthpieces of propaganda,” the movement’s website states. “This Fall, we are activating a nationwide wave of creative resistance.”
The demonstration took shape locally as a two-day group show featuring more than 20 Detroit artists.
When I walked in, my eyes were instantly met with meaningful work everywhere: colorful paintings about human connection, photography examining power dynamics, and pieces reflecting on the Trump administration and the current state of the world.
All of it felt intentional and alive.
My favorite work, however, was tucked on the back right wall of the space. Turning the corner, I was instantly wowed by an impressive floor-to-ceiling collage featuring work by nine different artists.
It merged their styles into one striking wall of politically charged images and statements like “Make America Detroit Again,” “Trump would have deported Jesus,” and “Free Free Palestine.”
A note beside the piece explained that it was a form of wheat paste art: “With its raw, guerrilla presence, [it] becomes an antidote to complacency. It’s an invitation to engage, resist, and reclaim power before it’s too late.”
Collage has always been one of my favorite art forms, and seeing activism literally layered together like this reminded me how vital art is. The mix of aesthetics and emotions created something no single artist could have made alone.
Another standout for me was a simple, quirky, but surprisingly sharp piece by an artist who goes by Colorful Fire: two photographs of bananas. One, titled “Suppression,” has its peel on and is duct-taped directly to the wall. The other banana’s peel unravels around the tape, slipping off the wall, and is titled “Expression.”
This odd little side-by-side was such an easy, effective hit — abstract, funny, and thought-provoking in a unique way.
Every piece in the show carried weight, rich with political imagery and deeper meaning, demonstrating what art is really about: translation. The ability to take something urgent and complex and render it onto a canvas or into a frame for broader understanding is its own kind of power.
The range of perspectives and expressions in this show — the different ways each artist interpreted resistance — felt unmatched.
My favorite thing about this show and this movement is the irony of its name. At a time when many artists feel freedom is being challenged by those in power, Fall of Freedom is one of the clearest grassroots reminders of the strength of free expression and the importance of art.
Published in conjunction with Detroit Metro Times.
