Lake Effect: Artists from Cleveland Now

Earlier this year, the CMA invited artists from the greater Cleveland area to submit their art for a group exhibition. The artworks on view here were selected by a panel of jurors. Recalling the May Show—the museum’s annual exhibition that for decades celebrated regional artists—Lake Effect once again highlights the rich artistic history of the region and the museum’s long role as a destination and inspiration in the community.

The response to this call was itself a testament to that history and its ongoing vitality: We received 1,700 submissions from 950 artists, reflecting a region alive with artistic excellence and vision. From this remarkable pool, 66 artworks were selected, forming an exhibition that honors the breadth of creative voices shaping Cleveland today.

As the Cleveland Museum of Art looks toward its next century, Lake Effect honors the artists and audiences who have shaped its past while imagining a vision for the future. The selected artworks, diverse in medium and perspective, collectively map a contemporary landscape shaped by local histories, global currents, and the unique cultural ecology of Northeast Ohio.

Participating Artists:

Marty Ackley, Keegan Adams, Elisa Albrecht, Leslye Discont Arian, Karen D. Beckwith, Eli Betchik, Melissa Bollen, Davon Brantley, Leigh Brooklyn, Timothy Callaghan, Yiyun Chen, David Kendrick Chittock, Kristen Cliffel, Donna Coleman, Doriyan Coleman, Gianna Commito, Ajha Dean-Phillips, Billy Delfs, Avery Duff, Meryl Engler, Charles Gray, Toby Griffiths, Ilynn Guldman, Melissa Harris, Bettyann Helms, Heather Higham, Matthew Holland, R Kauff, Teresa Kiplinger, Phil Kline, Stanka Kordic, Shufeng Kuang, Maria Laureno, Jennifer Leach, Jordan Lee, Janice Lessman-Moss, Hannah Levengood, Amy Lewandowski, Yu Liu, Nicole Maye Luga, Mike Meier, Anthony Mitri, Nicolette Moyer, Paul O’Keeffe, Jenniffer Omaitz, Frank Oriti, Kristina Paabus, Maxmillian Peralta, Allison Polgar, Darice Polo, Maiya Ponsky, Shawn Powell, Bellamy Printz, Ty Rex, Katy Richards, Eric Rippert, Michael Boyd Roman, Brian Sarama, Glen Schreck, Kelle Schwab, Jacob Smith, Heather N. Stout, Judy Takács, Zack White, Chi Wong, and Nikki Woods.

For more information, visit https://lakeeffect-artists-fromclevelandnow.artcall.org.

For questions, please contact cleartistsnow@clevelandart.org.

This exhibition is organized by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

The Cleveland Museum of Art is funded in part by residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.

This exhibition was supported in part by the Ohio Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Ohio and the National Endowment for the Arts.