The City of Cleveland’s Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Department is proud to collaborate with the Prizm Art Fair, held December 3 through December 8
Cleveland – November 26, 2024 – Continuing its commitment to bolstering Cleveland’s artistic community, the City of Cleveland is proud to support eight local artists—spanning mid-career, seasoned, and emerging talents—participating in the prestigious Prizm Art Fair during Miami Art Week, one of the premier events in the global contemporary art scene.
This exceptional opportunity provides Cleveland’s artists with invaluable exposure to national and international collectors, curators, and institutions, further cementing the city’s reputation as a hub for artistic innovation.
"This marks a pivotal moment for Cleveland's artistic community," said Rhonda Brown, Senior Strategist for Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy for the City of Cleveland. "Showcasing the exceptional caliber of our local artists on such a prestigious platform not only reinforces the strength and vitality of Cleveland's creative ecosystem but also advances Mayor Bibb's visionary commitment to positioning our city as a beacon of artistic excellence on the global stage. This initiative represents a carefully considered strategy to integrate Cleveland artists into international cultural networks, cultivating relationships with esteemed collectors and institutions, and paving the way for transformative, career-defining opportunities."
This opportunity emerged after Mikhaile Solomon, visionary founder, and curator of Prizm Art Fair, visited Cleveland last spring to meet with local artists and tour their studios. A total of 20 pieces—18 two-dimensional works, and two sculptures—from Cleveland artists will be featured alongside art by African American and Diasporan creators from around the globe, representing the richness of Cleveland’s creative contemporary artist talent on an international stage.
Prizm Art Fair is the premier platform dedicated to African American and Diasporan artists, offering a critical space to showcase work that engages with the complexities of the African American and global Black experience. Focusing on cultural narratives, identity, and social justice, Prizm provides an unparalleled opportunity for artists to reach a broader audience and build lasting relationships with key stakeholders in the art world.
The selected artists for this prestigious opportunity include Lawrence Baker, Mark Howard, Charmaine Spencer, Antwoine Washington, Lauren Pearce, Theadis Reagins, Amber Ford, and David Buttram.
"Often, an artist's career can make a quantum leap through a well-placed connection. Happily, for this cohort of Clevelanders, the connection between Rhonda Brown, Prizm Art Fair's founder Mikhaile Solomon, and Assembly's Chief Community Officer Deidre McPherson has opened the door for a career-changing opportunity," said Jeremy Johnson, President and CEO of Assembly for the Arts. "Our hope is this exposure will shine an international light on the incredible art emerging from greater Cleveland. The fact that Prizm focuses on artists of the African diaspora means that some of Cleveland's accomplished Black creatives will get a viewing before a broader audience."
The City of Cleveland is proud to partner with the Assembly for the Arts, George Gund Foundation, the Cleveland Foundation, Destination Cleveland, the Cleveland Institute of Art, Arora Family Foundation, the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Department of Public Programs, Engagement & Outreach, and many others to provide these local artists with the critical support need to represent the region in Miami.
"The creativity, thoughtfulness, and profound vision of these artists will be experienced by an international audience, which in turn helps establish their—and Cleveland's—rightful place in the art world," said Kathryn J. Heidemann, Cleveland Institute of Art President and CEO. "We at the Cleveland Institute of Art are especially proud of Theadis, a current CIA student, as well as Amber, Charmaine, David, and Mark, all of whom are CIA alumni. Each is an exceptional artist and deserving of this incredible opportunity."
Prizm Art Fair will be held December 3, through December 8, 2024, at Ice Palace Studio, West, 1400 N Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33136.
