M. Saffell Gardner
M. Saffell Gardner holds BFA and MFA degrees in fine art from Wayne State University. A multidisciplinary artist, art historian, curator, lecturer and educator, he teaches at private colleges and community colleges. Mr. Gardner has participated in arts mentoring programs. In fall of 2023, Saffell installed a monumental sculpture “Gateway to Black Eden'' at Michigan Legacy Art Park, which was commissioned by their collection committee. “Detroit rePatched'' commissioned Gardner for a large memorial blanket sculpture. “Sankofa,” one of Saffell’s larger sculptures, was shown at the Krasl Biennial at the Box Factory in St. Joseph from 2022–2023. Saffell’s sculpture “Lost Kings” was juried into the 2021 Regional Biennial at the Marshall M. Frederick’s sculpture museum and his sculpture was in the 2020–2021 Chelsea SculptureWalk. In 2015, Saffell was awarded a Kresge Fellowship. In 2014, Saffell was invited to have a survey exhibit at the 9338 Campau Gallery. Mr. Gardner also participated in ArtPrize for 2014. Mr. Gardner was invited to participate in “The Venice Biennale 2013.” In 2012, Saffell co-curated “Vision in a Cornfield '' for the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit. In 2000, Mr. Gardner was selected as the Chivas Regal Artist in Residence at the Charles H. Wright museum. A commissioned painting, “Door of No Return'' is in the museum’s permanent collection as a result of the residency. Commissions include a painted receptacle for Detroit’s “Pretty City” project as well as major commissions for Huntington Place and Detroit Public Schools. Mr. Gardner’s work is in the permanent collection of The Henry Ford Hospital, Blue Cross Blue Shield, DMC, Total Healthcare, The Federal Reserve Chicago, Renaissance High School, Southeastern High School and Detroit School of the Arts. He has exhibited in Brazil and Ghana.
Path Taken
2022
Oil on canvas
24 in x 36 in