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Joyce Sabit

LOVERS | 6″ x 6″ x 3.5″ | Terra cotta | 1960


Artist Statement

My twin sister Joyce Sabit was also an artist. 

A pleasant memory is that of our Dad sitting all five of us siblings at the table to draw. We went to the Detroit Institute of Arts for Saturday morning art lessons. After graduating from Southeastern high school Joyce took evening art classes from Donald Brackett, an instructor at Detroit’s noted Cass Tech High School. His vote of confidence pushed her forward and he arranged for her to audit a class at Wayne State University. She continued making art throughout her life. Joyce was a caring, sensitive person who found her career as a licensed practical nurse at Mt. Clemens General Hospital, where she died in the arms of her co-workers after living with cancer. Her emotional regard for helping and comforting people is exhibited in her expressive, playful, small clay sculptures.

    – written by Julie Sabit

Artwork/s at the following locations:
Collected Detroit
N’Namdi Center For Contemporary Art

MR/QD Is Made Possible BY

Artists stipends made possible by Kresge Arts in Detroit

For details and more info on making a contribution to Mighty Real/Queer Detroit, please contact us at info@mrqd.org

About MR/QD

Mighty Real/Queer Detroit is an art exhibition in June 2022 devoted to 77 years (1945-2022) of Detroit LGBTQ+ art 

The exhibition presents a month-long historical examination of the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community and its longtime allies, featuring established & emerging Detroit artists, as well as artists whose careers were shortened by HIV/AIDS.

Mighty Real/Queer Detroit is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization committed to promoting positive and meaningful images of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community through artistic and intellectual means. © 2023. All Rights Reserved.