For ArtPrize 2026, GRAM Presents ‘In Case You Didn’t Know,’ a New Public Art Commission

The commission is displayed at street level and free to view along GRAM’s Monroe Center exterior through March 14, 2027.

The project features seven large-scale portraits of Black and brown Grand Rapidians whose contributions to the city have gone largely unrecognized, including neighbors, workers, elders, and organizers whose work has helped shape the community. Portraits in the series include Minus Carr, Dee Dee Taylor, Alice Lyn, and Ricardo Tavarez.

Presented for pedestrians, commuters, and downtown visitors who pass by each day, the work requires neither a ticket nor museum entry. Each portrait is paired with a soundbite from its subject’s story, offering a glimpse into that narrative while tracing connections between identity, resilience, and purpose.

The portraits include artists, activists, environmental stewards, and entrepreneurs, directing attention to the stories behind their poses and presence. Beginning with people encountered every day and those already in viewers’ lives, the project describes community as interwoven with the ways personal journeys can impact the collective present and future.

Reeves is an award-winning editorial, portrait, and fine-art photographer based in Grand Rapids and originally from Liberia, West Africa; his images encourage self-reflection and expression while highlighting the identity and culture of the communities he photographs.