Bronze People of Detroit

Bronze People of Detroit is a powerful and immersive exhibition that showcases a rare and expansive collection of African metal artifacts, meticulously collected over more than 40 years by Detroit-based Master Metalsmith Carlos Nielbock. 

This one-of-a-kind exhibition traces the artistic, cultural, and spiritual legacies of African metallurgy—from the royal bronze casters of Benin, the sacred blacksmithing traditions of the Dogon, to the intricate goldweights and ceremonial objects of Ghana.

The collection includes several pieces, ranging from bronze sculptures, ritual vessels, currency forms, adornments, tools, and architectural elements, each telling stories of mastery, resistance, symbolism, and heritage. These artifacts—many of them forged using ancient lost-wax techniques—embody centuries of ancestral knowledge, cosmology, and craftsmanship.

Bronze People of Detroit not only pays homage to the original makers across West Africa but also to the enduring spirit of Black craftsmanship in Detroit. Through Nielbock’s unique lens—as both collector and maker—the exhibition bridges Africa and Detroit, tradition and innovation, past and present.

For inquiries contact: galleryofmetals@gmail.com