For eight years, Linda and Theodore “Teddy” Schinkel have been working to transform the historic Moross House in Detroit’s Rivertown district into an art gallery.
In early October, the mother-son duo behind the internationally acclaimed art and design firm Schinkel Fine Art finally opened the space to the public with their inaugural show, Threads of Connection.
The exhibition showcases over a decade of their collaborative work, featuring their original “Metallaverse” concepts that blend metalwork with detailed painting, colorful lighting, and other media.
“We engrave on the metal by hand, and then we do the printing and the painting,” Linda tells Metro Times.
Teddy, the more technical member of the duo, was initially intrigued by aluminum printing when it was a newer technique. So, he began using their Epson 9900 inkjet printer, originally purchased for traditional prints, to explore the medium.
Years later, they still utilize that same printer and method, producing one-of-a-kind works that include what the duo calls “Metalagrams,” “Metalamirrors,” and the newly developed “Metalamix,” which merges the first two creations.
Some pieces feature mirrored surfaces, allowing the environment and viewers to become part of the artwork, shifting with light and movement. “Lighting is a big factor with the artwork,” Teddy says. “It changes depending on the time of day and your perspective, creating a kind of ethereal effect.”
This unique artistic approach has evolved through their long-standing collaborative practice, which first sparked in 2010 after Linda made art her focus and Teddy returned to Michigan from working in the film industry.
“I was like, ‘Well, Mom, we should try something out,’” Teddy recalls.
“When he said that to me, I still remember it. I was like, ‘Really?’” Linda adds.
While visiting Teddy’s brother, Linda’s younger son, in Shanghai, China, their creative experimentation really took off, originally with photography. From there, their work together evolved quickly, leading to participation in local art fairs and eventually igniting their passion for metalwork.
Art has always been a significant part of Linda and Teddy’s lives.
“When he was in utero, I played Mozart to him,” Linda says.
For Teddy, now 38, art was a uniquely important outlet during childhood.
“I was diagnosed with severe dyslexia when I was, like, in second grade, so much so that the state actually approved me to learn Braille, because they thought I’d never be able to read,” he says. “It was a processing issue as well, so with all of that, art projects were a way to help me connect.”
While it can be challenging to work with family, the duo’s creative process is fueled by their close bond.
“When things are good, they’re great,” Teddy says. “And when things are not so great…”
“It’s not so great,” Linda finishes. “It’s funny, whenever I get a little upset with him, I always try to envision him as a baby.”
Currently on display at the Moross House is one of the Schinkels’ first major collaborations — a permanent piece for the Cranbrook Institute of Science from 2014, which helped solidify their creative process.
Since that project, Schinkel Fine Art has gained international acclaim, with exhibitions across the U.S. and Europe. Yet their work remains heavily rooted in Detroit, with several pieces in Threads of Connection inspired by the city’s culture and landmarks, reflecting notable sites such as the Spirit of Detroit statue and the city’s skyline.
The Moross House itself adds to this sense of Detroit connection. Built in 1848, it’s an official National Register of Historic Places property and the oldest brick dwelling in the city. The house formerly operated as the Moross House Museum by the Detroit Historical Society and Detroit Garden Center from the 1970s until 2005, before being purchased by Linda and Teddy in 2016.
Since then, they have utilized the upstairs space as a working studio; however, bringing the main public spaces and the Detroit Secret Garden in the back to fruition took significant time and effort. The Schinkels also plan to renovate the house’s attic in the future.
In 2019, Linda and Teddy founded Conceptions Connect, a nonprofit charity that aims to empower individuals through collaborative art projects that inspire self-reflection and community connections. This nonprofit arm allows educational opportunities through partnerships with organizations like Kids Kicking Cancer and Detroit Public Schools.
Looking ahead, the Schinkels are excited about continuing this community engagement, with plans to begin an art initiative with students at Detroit’s Cass Tech High School in early 2025. They also envision the Moross House evolving into a versatile space for hosting exhibitions by other artists and private events such as weddings and fundraisers.
Through it all, the Schinkels are motivated by a desire to connect — to each other, to their audience, and to their community. “Our work is about connection,” Linda says. “We want to create art that uplifts people and helps them reach their full potential.”
