Hubert Massey

Hubert Massey graduated from Grand Valley State University in 1981 with a Bachelors of Arts. Prior to graduation, Massey was selected by the University to study to art at the University of London - Slade Institute of Fine Arts. After graduating from Grand Valley, Massey invested 12 years as a Pictorial Painter at Gannett Outdoor Sign Company.  During this time, Massey continuously educated himself and refined his painting skills. In 1989, he began studying art restoration and conservation. Through self- study and research Massey learned the art restoration and conservation techniques used by the “Old Masters.” Some of these techniques were used in Massey’s 625 sq ft mural, The Death of Laocoon and his two sons, Antiphas and Thymbraeus, which graces the lobby of the Athenaeum Hotel, 1000 Brush Avenue (Greektown), Detroit, Michigan.

In 1995, Massey was selected to participate in a fresco workshop under the tutelage of Stephen Dimitroff and Lucienne Bloch, apprentices to Diego Rivera. Shortly after, Massey was commissioned by Grand Valley State University to create a fresco. Entitled Importing and Exporting of Knowledge, the fresco is housed in the newly built Richard DeVos Building at the university’s downtown campus. Massey also completed a large-scale lunette fresco for Detroit’s prestigious Detroit Athletic Club. This fresco depicts Downtown Detroit: the waterfront, the city’s two stadiums, and the city’s cultural center. In 2006 he completed a 17 x 88 fresco painting entitled, Earth, Wind, Fire, Water for the Flint Institute of Arts in Flint, Michigan.

The range and depth of Hubert Massey’s work is evident in the variety of his commissions. The terrazzo floor which graces the Rotunda room of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit, Michigan, was designed by Hubert Massey. This design, entitled Genealogy, depicts the struggle of Africans and African Americans throughout history. The floor, which is 72 feet in diameter, is one of the main focal pieces in the museum. The Michigan State Fairgrounds was home to an oil on wood mural, depicting the history of Michigan. A granite petrography carving, designed and created by Massey is housed at the entrance of the IRS Midwest Computer Center in Detroit. And in 2008 he completed an oil on canvas painting for The Federal Reserve Bank in Detroit. Currently Massey is working collaboratively on a tile piece for the Bagley Avenue Pedestrian Bridge Project.

Being broadly versed in fine arts techniques, and in keeping with his commitment to the development of young talent, Massey has also worked an Instructor in various and varied art programs and workshops with the Detroit Council of the Arts, Detroit Summer Youth Employment Program, the Advanced Gifted and Talented Program, a joint collaboration between Wayne State University and the Detroit Public Schools, and the Center for Creative Studies.

Massey has received several awards over the years for his work. In 1993 Massey’s talents were recognized by the National Society of Mural Painters of New York, established in 1895. As a result of his extensive community involvement, he was appointed to the Wayne County Community Leaders Council in 1995. In April 2001, Massey was selected by Grand Valley, his Alma Mater, as one of three recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award which recognizes alumnae that have made significant achievements in their professional career. Massey was most recently awarded a significant public arts grant by MDOT.

While Massey continues to study and work internationally, he lives in Detroit, Michigan where he is dedicated to the creation of permanent art programs for youth, and the civic development through public art which is inspired by and deeply engaged with the needs of the community from which the art springs.