ON THE HARP

Ackeem Salmon is a harpist, composer, and interdisciplinary artist whose music blends ambient textures, improvisational soundscapes, and classical influences to explore the emotional and spatial dimensions of sound. Originally from Kingston, Jamaica, and now based in Detroit, Ackeem crafts performances that move fluidly between structure and spontaneity, often incorporating original compositions, reimagined classical works, and experimental improvisations.

His approach to the harp is both meditative and cinematic—drawing on personal memory, cultural history, and the physics of resonance to create immersive sonic environments. Whether performing solo or within interdisciplinary installations, Ackeem’s music invites listeners into layered experiences of space, time, and feeling.

Ackeem has performed at prominent venues such as the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Hall, Théâtre Douze in Paris, and the Faena Forum in Miami. He has exhibited at renowned spaces including Sotheby’s Auction House in New York, the Charles H. Wright Museum in Detroit, Galerie Joseph in Paris, and Val de Vie Estate in South Africa. His contributions to the arts have earned him numerous accolades, including the 2024 Ashley Longshore Excellence in the Arts Award, the 2023 Gilda Snowden Award for Interdisciplinary Work from the Kresge Foundation, and the 2021 National Dr. Jesse M. Colson Award from the Pierians Foundation, among others.

Beyond his artistic practice, Ackeem is a passionate advocate for equity and access in the arts and education. As a former Teach for America Fellow (2021-2023) and public school teacher, he continues to foster dialogues on learning, identity, and social progress through both his art and collaborative works.

Centaurs Become Human, 2023

A Night in Blue, 2023