Devon Akmon

@devonakmon.bsky.social

299 Followers 55 Following

Museum director building vibrant institutions and collaborative spaces at the intersection of art, science, and technology. www.devonakmon.com

Event flyer for "How Do Museums Resist Censorship?" featuring a bronze equestrian statue by Kara Walker titled "Unmanned Drone" (2023). The flyer lists the date and time as February 23, 2026, 7:30-9:30 PM at Herald Examiner Building in Los Angeles. Panelists include Elizabeth Larison (moderator, Director of Arts and Culture Advocacy Program at National Coalition Against Censorship), Devon Akmon (Director of Michigan State University Museum and Chair of the Board at American Alliance of Museums), Ann Burroughs (President and CEO of Japanese American National Museum), and Hamza Walker (Director of The Brick and Co-Curator of MONUMENTS). Bottom text reads "RSVP HERE - Join us in person or online" with URL zps.la/museums.
Promotional graphic for an event titled “How Do Museums Resist Censorship?” The design features large bold text and event details on a dark textured background. Date and time listed as February 23, 2026, from 7:30 to 9:30 PM at the Herald Examiner Building in Los Angeles. Panelists shown in individual headshots include Elizabeth Larison, Devon Akmon, Ann Burroughs, and Hamza Walker, each with their titles and affiliations. A photograph of a bronze sculpture by Kara Walker appears on the left side. The bottom includes logos of partner organizations and a call to RSVP at zps.la/museums.
Black graphic with white text reading “In Solidarity.” The Minnesota Museum of American Art announces it is closed today, January 23, for staff community service and well being, expressing support for the communities it serves. The message notes the museum will reopen Saturday and Sunday as a place of respite and inspiration, with free admission for all.
Visitor wearing headphones viewing interactive and digital algorithmic art installations, including a central illuminated column with abstract marine-inspired visuals, at Infinite Images: The Art of Algorithms, Toledo Museum of Art.
Video of Jardins d’Été by artist Quayola, on view at the Toledo Museum of Art as part of the exhibition Infinite Images: The Art of Algorithms.
Slide titled ‘RECOMMENDATION 4: Make engagement events more accessible and attractive.’ It explains that inaccessible, unwelcoming, or hostile events deter engagement. Below are ten listed strategies, such as offering hybrid meetings, holding meetings at various times, recording and sharing meetings, enforcing respectful ground rules, compensating participants, training facilitators, and clearly communicating decision-making processes.
A red, white, and blue “I Voted” sticker featuring the U.S. flag, Arabic text reading “لقد صوتت” (I voted), and the hashtag #A2Votes, all on an oval white background.
A digital art poster featuring a human brain integrated with glowing circuits, resting on a computer chip. The text reads: "OPEN CALL. SINGULARITY – An Exhibition Examining When AI Outthinks Humans. Entry Deadline: July 4, 2025." The background consists of a close-up view of a circuit board with orange and blue lighting.
A decorative metal Band-Aid tin featuring Hokusai’s iconic wave artwork, labeled “FLEXIBLE FABRIC DESIGNS BY HOKUSAI” in collaboration with The Met. In front of the tin is a single fabric bandage with a colorful floral pattern on a green background.
Agnes Denes' "The Living Pyramid," a tiered, pyramid-shaped earthwork covered in blooming wildflowers and grasses, situated in a green lawn with trees under a partly cloudy sky.
A cartoon shows two women riding bicycles along a peaceful canal. A sign clearly prohibits bikes, yet they're biking anyway. One woman says, "If anyone proposed this in my town I’d kill them," while smiling.
WPA poster from 1936 showing the question "Must We Always Have This? Why Not Housing?" with an illustration of overcrowded, unsafe urban housing conditions in dark tones contrasted by bold text promoting improved housing, created by the New York City Housing Authority under Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia.
Large Arch by Henry Moore (1971), Bartholomew County Public Library and First Christian Church by Eliel Saarinen (1942) Bronze abstract arch sculpture framing a tall brick clock tower, with the First Christian Church and surrounding greenery visible in the background.
Dharma working on a laptop in the passenger seat of a car, wearing sunglasses and a blue denim shirt, with trees visible through the window.
John Jammin Collins performing live at a mixer, wearing headphones and focused on mixing tracks. Turntables and audio equipment are prominently displayed.
Promotional poster for John Collins of Underground Resistance DJ set, featuring John Collins at the turntables wearing headphones. Event details: Friday, April 11, 8:00–10:00 PM, 311 Abbot, East Lansing. Registration at museum.msu.edu.
Promotional graphic for “Futurist Frequencies: A Conversation with Jeff Mills,” moderated by Dr. Julian Chambliss. Event details: Thursday, April 3, 6:00–7:30 PM with a 30-minute reception after at WKAR Studio, Room 145, 404 Wilson Road, East Lansing. Hosted by MSU Museum. Black and white stylized image of Jeff Mills is on the right side. Logos for MSU Museum, MSUFCU, and WKAR are at the bottom.
A graphic from the American Alliance of Museums features a black background with white and orange text. It states that the entire staff of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has been placed on administrative leave. The message questions the agency’s ability to fulfill its legal obligations to distribute congressionally appropriated funding. The American Alliance of Museums logo appears in the top right corner, and a link to read the full statement (aam-us.org/press) is included at the bottom.
Black and white photograph of a DJ, wearing a leather jacket, headphones, and glasses, intensely focused while performing. The image features a multiple-exposure effect, showing different moments of movement as the DJ manipulates audio equipment labeled 'AUDIO RESCUE TEAM'.
John Collins, centered, poses with Detroit techno and house DJs at WKAR. From left to right: DJ Le Femme, DJ Minx, DJ Holographic, and Stacey 'Hotwaxx' Hale. They stand together in front of a vibrant green and blue curtain, smiling.
A black and white photograph of five members of the band DEVO wearing shiny metallic outfits and distinctive red energy dome hats. The red color of the hats is highlighted, while the rest of the image remains monochrome. The band members have serious expressions and are positioned closely together against a patterned curtain backdrop.
"Flyer for an event titled 'HER SOUND, HER CITY: Detroit's Women Shaping Electronic Music.' The flyer has a light pink background with black text and features a halftone image of a woman DJ wearing headphones and glasses in front of a vinyl record. The event features a talk with DJs Stacey 'Hotwaxx' Hale, DJ Holographic, DJ Minx, and DJ Le Femme, moderated by Dr. Olivia Furman. It is scheduled for Thursday, March 20, from 6:00 – 7:00 PM at WKAR Studio (room 145), 404 Wilson Road, East Lansing. Registration is available at museum.msu.edu. Logos of sponsors, including MuSeUm, MSUFCU, and WKAR PBS NPR, appear on the right side.
Exterior view of the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University during nighttime, showcasing its modern angular architecture with sharp geometric lines and illuminated entrance.
"Promotional flyer for 'Futurist Frequencies: A Conversation with Jeff Mills,' moderated by Dr. Julian Chambliss. The event is scheduled for Thursday, April 3, from 6:00 – 7:30 PM, followed by a 30-minute reception at WKAR Studio (room 145), 404 Wilson Road, East Lansing. Registration details are provided at museum.msu.edu. The flyer features a stylized, halftone image of Jeff Mills in profile, with a vinyl record partially visible in the background. Logos for MSU Museum, MSU Federal Credit Union, and WKAR (PBS, NPR) are displayed at the bottom.
A close-up of a hand holding a smartphone displaying the MSU Museum on the Bloomberg Connects app. The screen shows a dark silhouette of two people observing an immersive exhibit with colorful lighting. The text at the top reads, "We're on Bloomberg Connects!" and a Bloomberg Philanthropies logo appears at the bottom.
Promotional image for "Techno Futures: Detroit's Afrofuturist Groove" event. Features a talk with Carl Craig and Mike Banks, moderated by Dr. Julian Chambliss. Event details: Tuesday, February 18, 6:00–7:00 PM, WKAR Studio (room 145), 404 Wilson Road, East Lansing. Registration at museum.msu.edu. Includes images of Carl Craig and Mike Banks with a vinyl record, and logos for MSU Museum, MSUFCU, and All Black Digital.
Interior view of Fish Lads of Grand Rapids, a seafood vendor in the Downtown Market. Features wooden produce bins with onions, potatoes, limes, and lemons in the foreground, and chalkboard menus above listing seafood options such as Icelandic cod, Alaskan halibut, and specialty items like Po’ Boys and Lobster Rolls.
Historic Flat Iron Building in downtown Grand Rapids, featuring its iconic triangular shape and Italianate architectural style with arched windows, detailed cornices, and cream-colored brick facade. The foreground shows a winter street scene with nearby businesses and modern urban surroundings.
The Blue Bridge at night featuring 'Kinetic Perspective,' a light art installation by Juan Fuentes Studio. The installation includes glowing blue circular designs that create a dynamic, futuristic display along the snowy pedestrian walkway.
A vibrant, neon-lit installation featuring psychedelic, multicolored sculptures of cacti, animals, and abstract designs in a dark room illuminated by blacklight. The scene includes whimsical details like glowing stars and intricate patterns.
A brief sample of the video from Ryoji Ikeda’s “The Universe Within The Universe” installation.
A wide view of a pedestrian-only street at Culdesac Tempe with brick paving, string lights overhead, and modern buildings on both sides. A "Lectric Ave" sign is visible on the left, and a directional map stands in the center
View of Arcosanti's architectural structures integrated into a desert landscape, featuring tall cypress trees and a rugged canyon backdrop.
Mariscos Jalisco food truck parked on a sunny Los Angeles street, with customers ordering and eating at nearby tables.
A promotional video from Cosm Los Angeles showcasing a fight and a soccer game.
The main auditorium of Cosm LA with illuminated red seating, a modern dining setup, and a wide-screen projection featuring the “Cirque du Soleil O” logo alongside a menu for a “Double Wagyu Smashburger.”
Mark Sullivan, Creative Director of CoLab Studio at Michigan State University, stands in front of a green wall holding a tablet displaying AI-generated artwork. The wall behind him features images of various art pieces, including a bicycle loaded with trash and a person with a crate. The overlay text identifies him and his role at Michigan State University.
The construction site showing a large brick building, MSU Museum, surrounded by a black fence with a "Christman: Building Since 1894" banner, set against a cloudy sky and fallen autumn leaves.
The NZ Engage fundraiser at the Neutral Zone, featuring Lori Ruddy on stage, a decorated backdrop with lights, and audience members seated at round tables engaged in the presentation.
Compilation video showcasing vibrant light projections on buildings during the BLINK 2024 program in Cincinnati, captured at night.
Two people seated in front of screens in a dimly lit room, wearing headphones and watching video displays. The room has a modern, minimalistic setup with additional people and a green-lit exit sign in the background.
A wide view of a park at dusk with multiple large green faces projected onto the trees. A few people are gathered in the foreground, some sitting on the grass and others standing, looking toward the illuminated trees. The faces are formed by the light blending with the tree branches and leaves, creating a surreal and mysterious effect. A basketball court is visible in the background.
Promotional graphic for the Curtis Chin book discussion and signing, hosted by MSU Museum and MSU Libraries, on February 1.
Exhibit view within the Food Fight! exhibition at the MSU Museum.
View of food stalls inside Grand Central Market in downtown Los Angeles.
Siim Kumpas, policy officer with the European External Action Service, delivers a lecture to about 100 science museum directors in the auditorium at Heureka in Finland during the International Directors Forum on Science Engagement.
A view of the construction on the museum at the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago on an overcast day in November.
The Blue Paradox immersive exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry Chicago.
A digital ad for the event, Conversation on AI & Accountability, presented on October 11 from 5pm to 6:30pm in the Cook Recital Hall within the Music Building at Michigan State University.
Dan Jay discussing compelling reasons for why it is timely to establish an art-science institute for transformative creativity.
Screenshot of the headline, Beyond Collaboration at the CoLab Studio, for the Arts.MSU.edu website.
Program graphic for the "AI & Academic Use Roundtable" event hosted by the MSU Museum on September 22 at Michigan State University.
Core Group members of Artspace Washtenaw posing outside on a rainy day near a mural in downtown Ann Arbor.
Promo graphic for the new MSUFCU Arts Power Up Arts Residency program at Michigan State University.
A clever Instagram post from WWF using a progression of Twitter logos, ending with X, to urge action on protecting wildlife and ending extinction.
Members of the Ann Arbor Equitable Engagement Steering Committee posing with the proclamation from the Mayor of Ann Arbor outside City Hall.