Item Information

• Title(s) included: One each of all twelve unique prints (see “About the Houses”)

• 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 Houses

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.

• Dotty Wotty House (1991) has been a Guyton family home since 1947, and still stands today on Heidelberg Street as a private residence. Dr. Guyton first covered the house in small polka dots, then in 2007-2008, painted larger polka dots and renamed it The New White House in honor of then-recently elected US President, Barack Obama. By dint of its origins as Dr. Guyton’s home and its transformation with The HP’s signature polka dots, Dotty Wotty House is an internationally recognized symbol of The HP.

• Fun House (1989) was once the home of a family well-known for having fun. Dr. Guyton composed the exterior with objects from in and outside of the home–including the kitchen sink! In 1991, during the administration of Mayor Coleman Young, Fun House was demolished without consent from the artist. Today its image is a reminder of civic action against The Heidelberg Project.

• OJ House (1994) was created in part to reflect on the stunning OJ Simpson trial that had captured national attention, as well as the injustice of the 1991 demolition of Fun House. The building housed The HP’s first gift shop, and was the site of poetry readings by Detroit poet Ron Allen. In 2013, OJ House became the first of four houses on site destroyed by acts of arson.

• Baby Doll House (1987) was located on Mt. Elliott Street, between Heidelberg Street and Benson. Dr. Guyton’s work on the house confronted child abuse through a imagery of discarded baby dolls and parts. Slated for demolition prior to Dr. Guyton’s transformative work, it was demolished by the City of Detroit in 1989.

• Birthday Cake House (2008) was a celebration of life and The HP, which at the time had recently celebrated 20 years on-site. Dr. Guyton’s work on this house was limited to exterior painting. In 2017, the City of Detroit slated the building for demolition with the cooperation of The HP.

• House of Soul (2008) was located on Elba Street and was donated to The HP by its owner, Ms. Washington. Dr. Guyton’s artwork on the home–including the use of dozens of vinyl records–celebrated music and its role in the life of the community. In 2013, House of Soul was destroyed by arson. 

• 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.

• Clock House (2005) was located on Elba Street and was donated to The HP by its owner, Ms. Ford. Clock House reflected the increasing use of clocks and time-centric imagery in Dr. Guyton’s work, which has since become a recognized theme of his aesthetics in and beyond The HP. The house was destroyed by arson in 2013.

• YOU House (2019) was located at the corner of Heidelberg St. and Mt. Elliott St. Dr. Guyton’s work featured paint on the house’s brick exterior and the message “The Y is in YOU.” Following an accidental fire, the City of Detroit sought The HP’s permission before demolishing the house in 2022.

• Taxi House (1998) was inspired by Dr. Guyton’s “New York state of mind,” and featured paintings on the house’s exterior siding. The house was located on Mt. Elliott Street near Heidelberg Street, and in 2018, the City of Detroit secured The HP’s permission to demolish the house. 

• Party Animal House (1998) was so named–and, with stuffed animals, cheekily designed–to commemorate a family that had once lived in the home and, per Dr. Guyton, “partied all the time.” Located on Mt. Elliott Street, the house was the final victim of arson at The HP, in 2014.

• Number House (2001) still stands today, on Heidelberg Street near the corner of Ellery Street. Dr. Guyton was first invited to decorate this home by its occupant and matriarch, the late Mrs. Thelma Woods. This was an incredibly meaningful gesture of support from The HP’s nearby community. Mrs. Woods loved to play the numbers and the lottery. She requested a “numbers” theme and shared that her grandchildren learned to count from the numbers on the house. The HP honors that request to this day–and plans to re-open the renovated home in 2027 as the organization’s first on-site welcome center.

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.