Creative Fusion: Street Art Edition

Last month, a group of international artists arrived in Cleveland to begin their Creative Fusion artist residencies. The program’s brought more than 70 artists from underrepresented cultures to Cleveland since 2008, and this year there’s a new twist.

All six Creative Fusion artists will be centered in Ohio City’s Hingetown neighborhood. And they’ll each be paired with a local Cleveland artist. This “Street Art Edition” of Creative Fusion will engage local artists more deeply, and amplify their collective impact.

Moving forward, visiting artists will work around a common theme—whether they all come from one country, work in one medium or neighborhood, or respond to one issue through their art.

What is Creative Fusion?

It’s the Cleveland Foundation’s international artist residency program, which connects artists with local host organizations during their three-month stay. We welcome Creative Fusion cohorts twice a year, in spring and fall.

Artists produce innovative work in their disciplines, and also engage deeply with organizations, artists and students within the Greater Cleveland community.

Meet the Artists

Our international artists this fall hail from Chile, Brazil, Mexico, England, Italy/Germany and Austria:

Cleveland Print Room, a nonprofit community darkroom, workspace and gallery, is hosting local artist Amber Ford and Chilean artist Loreto Greve. Loreto is a photographer and printmaker and will work with students in Cleveland Public Schools, St. Martin De Porres and Lake Erie Ink.
Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) is hosting local artists Gary Williams and Robin Robinson and Brazilian artist Ananda Nahu. Ananda is a painter and muralist who will work with CPT’s Brick City Theatre, an immersive arts education program in partnership with the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority for residents of Lakeview Terrace.
Ingenuity Cleveland, a nonprofit at the intersection of technology and art, is hosting local artist Leila Khoury and Mexican painter Luis Ituarte.
Ohio City Inc., a neighborhood development organization, is hosting local artist Glen Infante and British artist David Shillinglaw.
SPACES, a contemporary art venue, is hosting local artist Ryan Jaenke and Italian/German artist Michela Picchi.
Transformer Station, a free contemporary art museum and annex of the Cleveland Museum of Art, is hosting local artist Donald Black Jr. and Austrian sculptor Rainer Prohaska. Rainer will create and install work in the outdoor space next to the Transformer Station gallery.

What’s Next?

The artists will produce photographic and painted murals and sculptures centered along the Detroit Avenue Corridor in Ohio City.

And on November 19, in collaboration with PNC Bank, you can join in a community celebration and tour the neighborhood to see all the new artworks.

Stay tuned to follow our Creative Fusion artists as they continue on their Cleveland adventure!