Stamps Gallery is proud to present Stacey L. Kirby’s The Bureau of Personal Belonging, a series of interactive performances set within immersive installations and activated by viewer participation. The work fosters dialogue on personal and collective identities, community engagement, and civic empowerment. Through bureaucratic forms, papers, postures, language, and aesthetics, audiences are invited to participate in playful interactions with the artist and performers.
As the 2025 Roman J. Witt Artist-in-Residence, Kirby spent 12 weeks on campus from January through March 2025, meeting with students, faculty, and staff across the University of Michigan. Based on these conversations, Kirby devised a site-specific installation in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that seeks to amplify the voices of the university community, uphold the values of democratic civic engagement, and highlight the power of art in building solidarity and mutual respect.
Curated by Srimoyee Mitra with the assistance of Haley Babcock-Perkins, The Bureau of Personal Belonging is on view through November 8 at Stamps Gallery, part of the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design at the University of Michigan. The exhibition is generously funded by U-M Arts Initiative.
Public Programs
Opening Performances: September 27, 1–5pm
Closing Performances: November 8, 1–5pm
Stacey L. Kirby and her collaborating performers welcome audiences to The Bureau of Personal Belonging for a 45-minute interactive and immersive experience. Drop in between 1–4:30pm; registration is recommended.
Curator-Led Exhibition Tour: October 4, 2–3pm
Join us for a tour of Stamps Gallery’s fall 2025 exhibitions led by curator Srimoyee Mitra.
Be Well: Art, Design & Wellness Series
Paper Trails: Documenting the Self Through Poetry: October 9, 6–7pm
Poet Caroline New presents an immersive poetry workshop inspired by The Bureau of Personal Belonging. Participants are invited to examine how the politics of bureaucracy intersect with our lives — and how poetry can serve as both a site of power and resistance. Space is limited, registration is required.
Be Well: Art, Design & Wellness Series
Yoga Workshop and Exhibition Tour: October 11, 11am–12:30pm
A rejuvenating yoga workshop led by Zion Well Yoga focused on promoting wellbeing and mindfulness, followed by an immersive tour of the gallery’s exhibitions. Space is limited, registration is required.
Queer Art Showcase and Panel Discussion: November 5, 6–8pm
A one-night-only showcase of U‑M queer artists, followed by a panel discussion featuring a Q&A with performing artist Stacey L. Kirby.
All programs are free and open to the public.
For more information, visit stamps.umich.edu.
