What does it take to show work at the Whitney Biennial? For Flint-born artist and University of Michigan Flint assistant professor of art Ash Arder, the answer involves a cargo van, a bomb cyclone, sterile dirt, and a Zoom class in a Dunkin’ Donuts parking lot.
In the latest episode of the Riverbank Arts Podcast, guest host and CASE communications specialist Kat Oak sits down with Ash to unpack the full journey behind their inclusion in the 2026 Whitney Biennial — one of the most prestigious exhibitions in the contemporary art world.
Ash discusses how an out-of-the-blue email from Whitney curators led to a Detroit studio visit and, weeks later, an invitation to exhibit two existing works: Consumables, a solar-powered display refrigerator, and Broadcast #4, a sound installation incorporating organic materials and personal history.
From navigating New York City permit headaches for a rooftop solar array to submitting pre-tenure materials during mid-installation week, Ash’s story is a candid look at what it means to be a working artist-educator juggling it all — without breaking a single plate.
