Free Artist Workshop on August 9
By MIKE HABERMAN
Midtown Global Market is excited to announce the continuation of its 2025 Artist in Residency program by welcoming Ron Brown to its artist space through August 31.
Brown’s artistic practice is rooted in Afrofuturism, a movement blending African culture with science fiction and speculative futures. He uses art as a tool for cultural affirmation, historical reflection, and spiritual resistance. Brown will host a free artist workshop at Midtown Global Market on Saturday, August 9 from 2 – 4 p.m. This event is free and open to the public but registration is required as space is limited. Register at midtownglobalmarket.org/meeting-artistspace.
About Ron Brown
Ron Brown’s 35 year + artistic journey began early, shaped by imagination and experiences. Art is a limitless universe. Ron’s work is a testament; creativity should be expansive, multidimensional, and reflective. This philosophy guides his process and purpose.
Ron relocated from Gary Indiana to Minnesota with dreams of attending the Perpich Center for Arts, a renowned art school. Barriers prevented Ron from enrolling, leading him to Roosevelt Highschool. Ron immersed himself in art, cultivating his skills and vision. Ron’s pursuit of art led him to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, a premier institution for creative development. While SAIC proved valuable, he returned to the Twin Cities with a desire to reconnect with the community, ground himself in an evolving cultural space, and create art connected to engagement and cultural storytelling.
Ron remains involved in the local art scene, hosting community events, art performances, cultural festivals, and exhibitions. His work highlights the beauty, depth, and resilience of Blackness and the African diaspora. Ron reimagines futures informed by ancestral knowledge, pain, triumph, and creativity. “My art is my sword, and my tongue is my shield,” a phrase describing his work serving as protection and empowerment. See Ron’s artwork through his Facebook profile, Planet Afree’kha, or on Instagram @afroanimeillustrator_ronbrown.
Artist in Residency Program
Throughout the year, the Midtown Global Market features local artists as they create and display their work within the vibrant and culturally rich environment of the market. Each artist will also host a free, public workshop.
This program is supported by the City of Minneapolis Cultural District Arts Fund and is designed to enhance community engagement through the arts, promote cultural diversity, and contribute to the economic vitality of the area.
The goals of Midtown Global Market’s Artist in Residency program are:
- To provide artists with space and resources to develop their work.
- To foster cultural exchange and engagement between artists and the Midtown community.
- To inspire community participation in art through workshops and interactive events.
For more information on the Midtown Global Market Artist Space and Artist in Residency Program, visit midtownglobalmarket.org/meeting-artistspace.
