Meet our 2025 Featured Artist Andy Adams

I’m an artist from Greenville, South Carolina, and from a very young age, I’ve been captivated by the act of creating. My work is rooted in concept—while I value aesthetics, I believe that a strong idea should always be at the heart of the piece. Communication plays a central role in my artistic practice. I have a deep fascination with words and their power to shape perception, emotion, and experience. I often deconstruct words into their simplest form—letters—exploring how these individual symbols are neutral until we assign them meaning through placement and intention. Letters and words are used in my work, inviting viewers to engage and participate. There’s an instinctive urge to assemble the letters into recognizable words, making the experience both interactive and deeply personal. In that way, the audience becomes part of the artwork, completing it with their own interpretations. Each piece I create carries a distinct concept, anchoring the visual and emotional impact. My paintings are created on wood panels using a combination of acrylic paint, ink, charcoal, graphite, and spray paint. I’m constantly exploring new ways to challenge familiar ideas and draw attention to the things we often overlook in our daily lives.

The 2025 Ann Arbor Street Art Fair Commemorative Poster was designed using this same thoughtful, observational approach. Inspired by my many years as an exhibitor at the Fair, I chose to depict the iconic Burton Memorial Tower surrounded by artists and patrons, celebrating the return of the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original, in its 66th year.

“I am honored to have been chosen as the 2025 Ann Arbor Original Featured Artist. I've always loved the show and I can't wait for it!