Item Information

• Title(s) included: Penny House

• Artist: Julie Gayle Balliu (see below)

• Medium: Museum-quality digital print of original watercolor painting, using archival pigment print on 290gsm fine art cotton rag 

• Dimensions: H 24.00”, W 18.00”

• Edition size: Each individual print is one of 20, unsigned, hand-numbered on front

• Additional: Each individual print includes Certificate of Authenticity 

About the House

Each house featured in this series has been part of The Heidelberg Project, an artist-built environment in Detroit’s east side McDougall-Hunt neighborhood. For over 40 years, our founding artist Dr. Tyree Guyton (b. 1955) has used abandoned houses as canvases, giving new life to places others had written off. (Guyton grew up in what is now called Dotty Wotty House.) Most of these homes were abandoned and at least partly dilapidated at the time of Dr. Guyton’s art installation–with some very special exceptions. Although many of the buildings are no longer standing, their images together represent a vital part of The HP’s history.

Penny House (2005) was decorated with oversize pennies made from foam board, echoing the aesthetic of Dr. Guyton’s Penny Car sculpture. Although The HP had purchased the home from a local resident and planned to open a bed and breakfast on site, Penny House was destroyed by arson in 2013.

About the Artist

Julie Gayle Balliu is a British artist working primarily in watercolor, pen and ink. ​Her work explores houses, buildings and everyday environments that carry traces of the people who have lived, worked or passed through them. She is interested in the human stories held within places and the way those stories can survive as buildings, communities and uses change. These limited edition prints are original watercolors inspired by The Heidelberg Project’s historic art houses. This series shares her interpretation of these extraordinary houses and the artwork that has evolved around them. Learn more about Julie at her website.

About The Heidelberg Project

Founded in 1986 by Detroit-born artist Tyree Guyton (b. 1955), The Heidelberg Project (HP) is an artist-built environment in Detroit’s east side McDougall-Hunt neighborhood. As a 501c3 organization, The HP’s mission is to challenge the status quo, create a community for art, and cultivate a unique gathering space for all who seek inspiration outside museum walls. We are a catalyst for change, a platform for social justice and a cultural asset for Detroit.

Delivery Information

Delivery may take up to six weeks. Local pickup will be available at The Heidelberg Project on select dates through 2026. Purchasers who select this option will receive pick-up information from hello@opsandinsight.com within three business days of purchase.

Additional Information

The Heidelberg Project is a 501c3 non-profit organization. Purchases are not tax-deductible, but we invite you to support The HP through an additional, tax-deductible gift at our giving page here. For more information, or to volunteer with The HP, please reach out to us at info@heidelberg.org. 

To learn more about artist Dr. Tyree Guyton, visit www.tyreeguyton.com.