Established in 2019 in Detroit, Michigan, the Modern Ancient Brown Foundation (MABF) supports creative practitioners who are interdisciplinary or anti-disciplinary in their making. Drawing upon the personal experiences of its founder, painter McArthur Binion– who has practiced across visual and literary arts–Modern Ancient Brown celebrates artists working at the intersection of critical studies, creative writing, and visual culture. The Foundation aims to be supplemental to academic space and higher learning, where scholars may expand and experiment beyond their research, and writers and artists may engage in deeper critical analysis around their making. 

 

MABF is committed to fostering a culture that supports the work of historically marginalized groups, empowering artists to tell their own stories and share their gifts with the world.⁠ The Foundation aims to be a catalyst for expanding the critical consciousness of its artists and fellows, as well as the arts ecosystem in Detroit, through the continued growth of its program offering. The Foundation’s Core Program consists of a Visiting Fellowship, an Artist Residency, Public Lectures and Seminars, a budding art collection, and a forthcoming annual publication.