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TALKING DOLLS STUDIO




Current Events & Exhibition

  1. 07/12 –08/05 MUBATANIDZWA: LINK︎︎︎
  2. Donate to our Fundraiser for more Detroit–Zimbabwe Exchanges!


Collective Incubator Residency

SUMMER 2025
  1. Residents are here June–August 2025! 


Past Exhibitions & Events
2025 SEASON
  1. The Potluck 2025! 
     2. A Suite for Malcolm

IR 2022
  1. bree gant

MDW Fair

SUMMER 2022
  1. Atlas
  2. Assembly

OG 2022  
  1. Reuben Telushkin

IR 2021
  1. Rebecca Frantz
  2. Zahra Almajidi
  3. Know One
  4. TEIKAUT
  5. Lindsay Skvarek
  6. Yuming Song
  7. Jingying Su

OG 2021   
  1. Aaron Jones

IR 2020
  1. Violet Luczak 
  2. Ciaran McQuiston
  3. Rachel DeBoard

IR 2019
  1. Laura Gibson
  2. Rebekah Sweda 


Talking Dolls —

Info ︎︎︎
The mission of Talking Dolls is to empower our northeast Detroit neighborhood through justice-focused initiatives. We create a nexus of progressive art and community-led activism through access to our shop, artist studios, and gallery space for workshops, performances and celebration. It is led by co-directors Wes Taylor, Ron Watters, and Andrea Cardinal.
Mark





MUBATANIDZWA: LINK

Impressions and Connections Across Continents

July 12–August 5, 2025


Detroit, MI
Talking Dolls is proud to present Mubatanidzwa: Impressions and Connections Across Continents, an international printmaking exhibit opening July 12, 2025, and running through August 5 (extended from August 2nd!) at the Talking Dolls Studio in northeast Detroit. The show is the result of a year long collaboration between Detroit-based printmakers from Talking Dolls and members of the Animal Farm Collective, an artist residency in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe.

First exhibited at the U.S. Embassy in Harare in October 2024, Mubatanidzwa (Shona for “Unity” or “Link”) featured the original print work of 13 Zimbabwean artists who participated in intensive workshops during the spring and summer of 2024. These exchanges, funded by the U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe, have continued to grow through mutual visits, residencies, and artistic exchange between Talking Dolls and Animal Farm.

The Detroit edition of Mubatanidzwa expands on the original exhibit with newly added context through artist writings and conversations, and features the debut of a stunning new body of monotype prints by Zimbabwean artist Lillian Magodi, who has been working in residence at Talking Dolls since November 2024. 



In celebration of the exhibition’s opening, Zimbabwean culinary artist Chef Mhle will present a specially curated tasting menu, offering guests a sensory experience of Zimbabwean culture through food.



The culmination of this work represents one of the most significant contemporary screen print collections to emerge from Zimbabwe.


Animal Farm and Talking Dolls have made a commitment to continue these exchanges for the next five years. In addition to supporting the individual artists, proceeds for the sales will go to supporting future exchanges between Detroit and Zimbabwe in 2026 and 2027. 




Artists Featured:


Primrose Chingandu
Tinotenda Chivhinge
Franklyn Dzingai
Admire Kamudzengerere
Lillian Magodi
Tashinga Majiri
Evans Matenga
Mark Modiola
Clemence Murenza
Kudakwashe Musingarambwi
Batsirai Muskwe
Kudzai Nyamurowa
Tawanda Reza



Event Details

For an updated and detailed schedule, follow our Eventbrite

The Talking Dolls Studio  
7145 Davison St, Detroit, MI 48212
July 12–August 5, 2025

Follow us: @TalkingDolls on Instagram

Media Contact:
For more information or partnership opportunities, contact Talking Dolls at talkingdollsstudio@gmail.com




Support!

Interested in supporting more exchanges between Talking Dolls and Animal Farm in Zimbabwe? We have plans to continue to host artists from Zimbabwe and send Detroit-based artists there. Your donations will support travel, accommodations, materials, and infrastructrual improvements for the artists & the studio in Chitungwiza.