Today we’d like to introduce you to Misha McGlown.
Misha, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am a native Detroiter who grew up on the Northwest side. Like many Detroiters, I grew up surrounded by creatives, makers, entrepreneurs, side-hustlers, and hard-working families – people who invented themselves and made things happen – most of them, most of us, overcoming tremendous odds…with grace and with style. I would put together all the fragments of Detroit swag I had seen and been given, in the heart of the Motown era, to define what my life would look like.
I’ve always been an artist, and a writer, and knew that these things would factor significantly in my future. I never dictated what I thought my career should be – I’ve always simply been open for the opportunities that were set in front of me. In some ways, I suppose I always felt confident that the Universe would provide, and that all I needed to do was put one foot in front of the other. For the most part, that’s how I’ve lived my life.
I began painting seriously in high school and continued creating art when I moved to New York as a young adult. From there, I fell in with other creative types from Pratt Institute and began making jewelry – first out of clay before moving on to other materials. That developed into a full-time business with showroom representatives in three major cities, and fulfilling wholesale orders across the country and in Japan. I did that for several years before scaling the business back and deciding only to present the jewelry as art. From there, the jewelry became available exclusively in gallery and private, seasonal settings, as well as in the Studio Museum in Harlem, which carried the work since its inception.
Now, a single mother still living in New York with two small children, I began teaching in NYC public schools, and for non-profit organizations including the Anne Frank Center and Symphony Space. This led to other opportunities in Arts & Education and, over time, working in arts administration for The Children’s Art Carnival and the Arts Horizons LeRoy Neiman Art Center. In 2008, I curated my first exhibition on behalf of artHARLEM and, with that, came another shift in my path in the arts.
I continued to curate independently and for a long list of notable institutions across New York, while also exhibiting, collaborating with other artists, leading special workshops, and teaching before returning to Detroit to open Irwin House Gallery with my aunt, Valerie Irwin. I was able to bring thirty years of experience, working in nearly every aspect of the arts, into building this organization. I think that’s helped give us a unique presence in the Detroit arts landscape.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I wouldn’t say the road has been smooth – there are always going to be bumps and setbacks along the way – but my career has been seamless. One path has led to another and, ultimately, I’ve always gotten to where I need to be. When you have a lot of big ideas, financing work and projects is always a challenge. Finding people who believe in the work you are doing and who want to stand behind it is an on-going effort that can sometimes feel like a long swim against the current. Even now, despite our tremendous track record at Irwin House, we have yet to tap into any substantial funding. I believe in moving forward with what you have, however. I don’t always have the resources to carry out a mission exactly how I envision it, but it’s always important to put what you do have on the table and figure out exactly how much you can do with that. Then do a little bit more…
As you know, we’re big fans of Irwin House Global Art Center & Gallery. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I am the Director of Irwin House Global Art Center & Gallery, located on Detroit’s historic W. Grand Blvd. The gallery is the outgrowth of the vision of my aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Council B. and Valerie Irwin, who were art collectors and enthusiasts, mentors, and world travelers. My uncle operated the Irwin Insurance and Travel Agency just two doors east of the gallery site; the business was launched by his mother in the 1950s. Mr. Irwin, who passed away in 2013, did not live to see the realization of the art gallery, but his wife and my aunt, Valerie, and I pushed the vision forward by transforming the home and former doctor’s office into a formidable exhibition space that now ranks among Detroit’s most beloved and respected arts destinations.
Since 2020, Irwin House has continually curated a compelling mix of thematic solo and group exhibitions, underlining both local Detroit talent and broader regional, national, and international creatives. As an accessible community-based art space, our focus has been aimed at developing artistic careers, amplifying creative voices historically marginalized within the art world, strengthening Detroit’s cultural footprint, and nurturing the landscape of the West End Detroit neighborhoods (including Virginia Park, LaSalle Gardens, and NW Goldberg – which was once considered one of the most blighted communities in America). We achieve these goals through accessible arts programming and public art installations, fostering informed artistic engagement and critical cultural conversations, and creating a sense of place for artists and community-members against a rapidly changing metropolitan backdrop that pushes emerging and minority voices further and further to the periphery.
Our residency program is a cornerstone of Irwin House Gallery and one of the key features that distinguishes us from other local art establishments. Through this initiative, we have welcomed artists on permanent, semi-permanent, and short-term bases, offering them the time, space, and resources to advance their individual and collective practices. In addition to providing a supportive environment for experimentation and the creation of new work, the program fosters professional growth, collaboration, and the development of projects that extend beyond the gallery walls.
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– Irwin House Gallery’s 6th Annual “Gift of Art” Holiday Exhibition opens on Black Friday and runs from November 28-December 21, 2025. This is the gallery’s largest and most inclusive exhibition of the year and, this year, has been guest curated by Phil Simpson. It’s an affordable art show designed to encourage holiday art-giving. Holiday hours: Thurs-Sat 12-7pm; Sun 12-5 pm.
– Irwin House is also in the process of surveying an expansion and rebranding as the Irwin House Detroit-Global Museum Center. A formal announcement will be issued at the top of 2026.
– “WHATSOEVER things are pure” – a debut solo exhibition of Omo Misha’s work – runs at N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art through January 23, 2026.
How do you think about luck?
Some people are lucky. I am not necessarily one of them. Even on my worst day, however, I realize I am blessed. I am fortunate to have been born into a family and community full of love and grace. I am fortunate to have always been able to trust in and rely on my talent, and to have always had direction. I have been blessed with rich friendships for as long as I remember. Have I always made the best decisions –both personally and professionally? Absolutely not. But, I am resilient, and I have always been optimistic. Sometimes being able to bounce back, and simply see a way forward, are much more valuable than luck. I wouldn’t mind getting lucky every now and then though. That sounds like fun!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://irwinhousegallery.org/
- Instagram: @irwinhousegallery
- Facebook: @irwinhousegallery
- Youtube: @irwinhousegallery
- Other: IG: @omo.misha
