Located on the shores of Lake Erie and known as the “Rock and Roll Capital of the World,” Cleveland is the undisputed cultural center of Ohio. With a seemingly endless list of art centers and cultural venues, we’ve curated a list of ten must-visit museums and galleries.
Founded by the parents of the current owner, Ara Hamamjian, in 1970, the River Gallery still strives to support and encourage the local arts in Cleveland. The gallery showcases a wide variety of artwork, including contemporary painting, metalworks, glass, ceramics, photography and even jewellery. Exhibited artists include abstract painter Lainard Bush, and craftsman and sculptor Chadd Lacy. Recent exhibitions have covered a range of themes, from miniatures and jewellery, to their summer exhibition with works by landscape artist Bruno Capolongo, ceramist John Nickerson, and jeweller Qandle Qadir. The River Gallery is a hidden gem on the west side of the Rocky River.
River Gallery, 19046 Old Detroit Rd, Rocky River, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. +1 440 331 8406
The Spaces Gallery, located in downtown Cleveland, is an innovative art space that provides a setting for artists and visitors to experiment and explore. Formed by a group of Cleveland artists in 1978, and developed from mere creative gatherings, The Spaces Gallery has been housed in the Superior Viaduct since 1990 and runs programs to promote and nurture the arts in the Ohio City. These programs include their Research and Development (R&D) projects, the SPACES World Artists Program (SWAP), and The Vault. Artists involved in the R&D program are given a platform to articulate their artistic ideas through an exhibition or project. SWAP is a residency program that fosters cultural exchange between Ohio residents and the rest of the world, and provides another avenue for artists to develop their oeuvre. Operating since 2010, The Vault is a converted walk-in safe that provides a venue for video and other media art exhibitions. Artworks are added to The Vault on a regular basis, and viewers can decide which media art piece they want to experience through the use of a remote control. A unique creative experience, the Spaces Gallery is artist-led and at the forefront of contemporary art in Cleveland.
Spaces Gallery, 2220 Superior Viaduct, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. +1 216 621 2314
A staple in Cleveland’s art scene, the Bonfoey Gallery has been representing local talent since it was opened by Asher D. Bonfoey in 1893. Considered one of Cleveland’s premier contemporary art spaces, the Bonfoey Gallery has been promoting the works of local, regional and international artists for over 117 years. Works featured in the gallery include paintings, drawings, photographs, limited edition prints, sculptures, glassworks and more, all by leading artists and designers. The gallery boasts an impressive portfolio of around 100 artists, and an extensive collection of over 2,000 works of art. The gallery’s framing service is also noteworthy, and is an important part of the gallery’s operation, as they still make frames by hand and gild to this day. Over the years, the Bonfoey Gallery has attracted a number of important visitors, such as John D. Rockefeller, who later recommended the gallery to his colleague, Henry Ford.
The Bonfoey Gallery, 1710 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. +1 216 621 0178