A Juried Art Exhibition Celebrating 110 Years of the Cleveland Museum of Art
In celebration of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s 110th anniversary, Lake Effect: Artists from Cleveland Now brings into focus the extraordinary depth and vitality of artistic production across Northeast Ohio. 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.
Lake Effect will be presented at the Cleveland Museum of Art Transformer Station, 1460 West 29th Street, July 9, 2026, through December 6, 2026. This exhibition is organized by the Cleveland Museum of Art.
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
If you are interested in learning more about the artists and their work in Lake Effect, please visit our Web Gallery.
The Submission Period has now closed. Thank you to everyone who has submitted an artwork for consideration. Jury notification emails will be sent the evening of Friday, May 1st.
Submissions will be reviewed by a curatorial jury composed of CMA curators and museum professionals. Selection will be based on artistic excellence and feasibility of installation. A micro-grant of $1,000 will be awarded to three artists.
Eligibility
