Downtown Artist Series @ Tuscan Café & City Hall

The Northville Art House partners with community organizations and businesses to promote the appreciation of the arts, arts education, and local artists. The Downtown Artist Series has a rotating presentation of work by established and emerging artists inside the Tuscan Café, 141 E Main St. and at Northville City Hall, 215 E Main St. Featured work is available for purchase online and by phone.

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TUSCAN CAFÉ & NORTHVILLE CITY HALL

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January 22 – March 31 – Ashwini Prabhakar – Ann Arbor, MI

Ashwini Prabhakar, a self-taught artist based in Ann Arbor, has spent a lifetime navigating the intersection of logic and creativity. Much like a traveler standing between two distinct landscapes, Ashwini’s life has been a constant “see-saw” between a high-functioning career in Engineering and Business Analysis and a profound, right-brain passion for the natural world. This duality eventually led to the birth of Creative Artonomics—a dedicated full-time practice where artistic passion meets the strategic spirit of a lifelong learner and exploration.

With a background rooted in structured logic and a childhood discovery of the quiet peace found in art away from the noise of the world, Ashwini’s work has evolved from a disciplined appreciation for realism into a vibrant, textured style. Her work captures the “soul” of a place rather than just its coordinates, serving as a bridge between the physical world and the internal journey. Today, Ashwini creates to invite fellow wanderlusters and art enthusiasts to find a piece of their own story within her canvases. 

Artist Statement

“Art is the compass that guides us back to ourselves.”

My work is an exploration of the deep, often unseen connections between the human spirit and the environments we inhabit. Having spent years in the structured worlds of Engineering and Business, I am fascinated by the “Artonomics” of life—the point where the precision of form meets the boundless freedom of creative expression.

While my journey began with the meticulous study of realism, I found my true voice in abstract-textured impressionism. Rather than just painting a scenery, I try to show the deeper connection we feel with nature. I want my art to reflect the stories that a place tells us. My goal is to capture that feeling of wonder you get when you see a new horizon—the kind of moment that stays with you long after the trip is over/moment has passed.

To achieve this, I utilize palette knives and a modern impasto technique, building layers of acrylics and metallics that give the work a physical, tactile presence. These textures represent the ruggedness of the earth and the layers of experience we gather as we move through the world. My process is often intuitive—starting with gestural marks that capture the energy of a place before refining them into a harmony of light and shadow.

Exhibiting here at the Tuscan Café, in collaboration with the Northville Art House, is a celebration of community and connection. I hope these pieces serve as a “visual hook” for your imagination, sparking memories of your own journeys and reminding you of the quiet beauty that connects us all.

Tuscan Café

City Hall

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TUSCAN CAFÉ

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January 8 – March 11: Kenneth Rosenthal – Southfield, MI

I’m excited to have my art be in Northville’s Tuscan Café in the first few months of 2026. Growing up in Novi during the summers I rode my bicycle through Northville almost every day, My love for photography came from the scenery in south eastern Michigan especially Northville. I am familiar with Northville’s art scene with being the Northville Art Houses emerging artist in February 2024 and having my Creative Digital Photography in their 2023 and 2024 Small Works Exhibit.

I began taking photos in 2018. My most recent work is a series of flower and plant photos with color alterations. I choose my photos randomly. That’s when the creative process begins. I wait for the images to talk to me then begin experimenting with color and composition, and eventually I crop the final result in a way that feels good.

Despite my mental disability, I’ve been told that I’m a talented & creative artist. I started taking photos in 2018 and in 2020 I began exploring photography as an artform. Although I am relatively new to photography, art is not new to me; my mom, a woman who suffered from a developmental disability, was an artist as well. She was also an art teacher. So, the entire time I was growing up, she remained a big influence on me and my sister. She would assign us art projects for fun, and we would do them. My mom and dad have since passed away but I try to honor their memory with my art. As I have grown older my mental handicap has continued to be a barrier in some ways, but thanks to Gesher Human Services and the College for Creative Studies I have continued to develop myself as an artist and have even begun to create art professionally with what some have referred to as a unique signature style.

My work has been shown throughout Michigan, including The Ann Arbor Art Fair. I have been featured in television and print outlets. Recently, I was selected for an Applebaum Foundation Grant and have built a successful micro enterprise, Exposures by Ken. www.exposuresbyken.com.

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Thank you to our 2026 Venue Sponsors!