With ongoing renovations of several gallery spaces, the Detroit Institute of Arts took a different approach to its 13th annual Ofrendas exhibit, which invites local artists and community members to celebrate Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. The Ofrendas, which are altars or offerings honoring deceased loved ones, were set up at various spaces on each of the three floors of the museum. Finding each of the displays was similar to a scavenger hunt.

Searching for the Ofrendas throughout the museum was both engaging and reflective. As I walked through the museum’s wide halls, the usual subdued atmosphere was replaced with color and emotion, bright orange marigolds, painted skulls, and detailed altars filled with personal objects and photos. Each Ofrenda felt like a small world of its own, inviting visitors to pause and connect with the memories and stories therein. The experience left a strong impression, showing how art and tradition help keep memories alive.

The first Ofrenda I came across was called “Everlasting Sunshine: Memories of Morgan Parton” by Erin Melyssa Boggs, Ellen High, and Margaret Bussinea, who are teachers from Clippert Academy in Southwest Detroit. It honored Morgan Parton, a special education teacher, artist, and advocate who made a lasting impact on his students and community. The altar reflected his coastal New York roots and punk spirit, filled with street art, costumes, Jello shots, and donuts, all designed with a fun tiki theme. Around it were bright paper flowers made by students, showing the joy and color he brought into their lives. Reading the artists’ words made it clear that this Ofrenda wasn’t just about loss, but a celebration of a teacher whose creativity and kindness still inspire those he left behind.

On the second floor, one of the Ofrendas that stood out was “Silvia Pinal: Golden Era,” created by the Mexican Consulate in Detroit. It honored Silvia Pinal, an iconic Mexican actor whose career spanned more than seven decades and included collaborations with stars like Burt Reynolds and Anthony Quinn, as well as director Luis Buñuel. The display highlighted Pinal’s cultural influence beyond film, including her immortalization in a portrait by Diego Rivers. The altar felt like a tribute to her lasting impact on Mexican cinema and arts, showing how one person’s legacy can inspire generations.

On the third floor, the Ofrenda, “Sailing Together by Maria Famodou,” was a moving and deeply personal tribute to her mother and mother-in-law, who passed away within just fifteen days of each other. The altar includes Aztec and Egyptian pyramids and the Nile River, representing the women’s Mexican and African American roots. Famodou describes how their essences rise into the air, flowing toward the sea and carrying love that nourishes everyone still living, supporting all of nature on a never-ending spiritual journey. The display radiates her pride in Mexican and African traditions and her desire to share her creativity while honoring the lives, resilience, and love of these two remarkable women.

Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a cherished tradition in Detroit that dates back to the early 1900s when the earliest immigrants from Mexico began to create a vibrant community in the city. The 13th Annual Ofrendas at the Detroit Institute of Arts features twelve altars created by artists from Michigan, Los Angeles, and Mexico City, each expressing the holiday in a unique way. This year’s altars explore themes ranging from personal loss to the emotional impact of cultural and societal challenges. The celebration continues with workshops and performances that showcase the living culture of the holiday.

In speaking with Amanda LeClaire of WDET about “How to Celebrate Dia de los Muertos (A Brief Guide for Non-Latinos),” Maria Cotera, director of Latina/o Studies at the University of Michigan explains, “It’s a kind of commemoration but not a sad commemoration. It is a celebratory commemoration. You are bringing the things to your loved one that they can’t get in the other world, the things that remind them of the world of the living and usually it involves very colorful flowers and other kinds of objects and streamers.”

The 13th annual Ofrendas at the DIA will be on display through Nov. 2. Admission to the museum is free for residents of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.