You’ll typically find Jihirah Mulrain (Photography, 2026) behind a camera, photographing people in a studio or snapping candid shots. But this summer, Mulrain gained a new perspective on creativity—and her professional possibilities—thanks to a summer internship at the Amber Collective in Detroit.
Experiential learning (that is, learning by doing) is a key part of education at Columbus College of Art & Design. And Mulrain has done quite a bit of learning and doing in her full-time, paid summer internship with the Amber Collective. The collective was founded in 2023 by six artists—all women of color who grew up in Detroit and who wanted to provide an inclusive and supportive environment for underrepresented creatives. (You can read more about them in the Detroit Metro Times.)
Mulrain has taken on a range of activities as part of her art gallery internship. She's helped in moving artwork to a new location, designing the organization’s logo, tracking down members’ email addresses, brainstorming event names, contributing to the collective’s newsletter, and even advising on paint colors for the Detroit art gallery. Mulrain also takes notes at the founding members’ weekly meetings. She says she has benefitted from witnessing how members interact, especially when it comes to resolving disagreements. “It’s refreshing to see people not arguing, and actually hearing one another out,” she says.
Mulrain joined the collective and had her first art gallery exhibit as part of her Amber Collective internship. She says the summer art internship has inspired her to seek more exhibition opportunities for the future. In addition, her experience in the Detroit art scene also has influenced her approach to art-making. “I’ve realized that I can add so many elements to my art,” she says. For instance, “a photo can tell so much story by just adding maybe a splash of paint or even writing a statement or two on the piece of art.”
Mulrain’s internship activities included assisting Dye and other Amber Collective members in moving to a new Detroit gallery space.
Before her art gallery internship, Mulrain had three post-graduation professional goals: to be a photo stylist, then a photo assistant, and, finally, to run a small studio and gallery space. Now that she’s had some time working at the Detroit art gallery, she realizes that she’s still interested in the work—when she has a bit more experience. “I did not realize how much behind-the-scenes work goes into maintaining a studio or a gallery—the paperwork, the labor. … Artists, we go to places like that, but we don’t own places like that, usually, and now I see why people get stressed out and overwhelmed—it’s a lot,” she says.
While all of her art gallery internship tasks can seem like a lot to juggle, Mulrain says the experiential learning helps keep her engaged. “At the beginning of summer break I was kind of in my ‘lazy mode,’ but now I’m actually getting to work and come up with ideas and not just let my summer bleed out until school starts,” she says.
The Amber Collective, like many art galleries, is closed Mondays and Tuesday, but you won’t catch Mulrain scrolling social media or killing time shopping online on those days. Instead, she spends those days with collective co-founder Dianetta Dye, a leader in the Detroit art scene. “My boss takes me around the city to get inspiration for my upcoming thesis,” and to look at artwork for the collective’s new Detroit gallery space, she says. Mulrain is from Columbus and has found inspiration in murals, graffiti, and art around the Motor City. The public art has given her new ideas about the use of perspective, scale, and subject matter in her photography. “Every corner you see it’s just art, art art, and it’s such a cool thing to see,” she says.
With her art gallery internship, Mulrain has dived into the Detroit art scene. She accompanies Dye on visits to Detroit art galleries and museums, gatherings like the Detroit Fine Art Breakfast Club Auction (a place of community where artists showcase, seek advice, and sell their work), and to free art classes at a local community college. Mulrain is building upon her painting and illustration skills and connecting with seasoned creatives from the Detroit art scene. “I get to meet other well-known artists in Detroit, and it’s such a really cool experience because I get to see the artists in their natural work environment, in their studios and in the zone,” she says.
Meeting other artists from all over the U.S. has been Mulrain’s favorite part of the art gallery internship experience, she says, and it’s something she recommends to other emerging artists. “My biggest tip to networking is, honestly, going to art openings, galleries, or museums to connect with other people, especially art people,” she says.
Top: Jihirah Mulrain’s skills and confidence in her fine arts practice have grown via her Detroit gallery internship.
Learn more about CCAD’s Photography program, or apply here. Head to our Creative Careers & Collaboration page to learn more about internships and other real-world learning opportunities for CCAD students.
