Heights Arts Holiday Store Returns for 24th Year, Followed by Fiery 2026 Exhibitions

As the air turns crisp and the season of celebration approaches, Heights Arts once again opens its doors to one of Cleveland Heights’ most anticipated traditions: the annual Holiday Store.

This event transforms the organization’s space on Lee Road into a vibrant marketplace filled with creativity, craftsmanship, and community spirit. Now in its 24th year, the Holiday Store has offered local artists a meaningful platform to showcase and sell their work, while giving patrons a chance to support the region’s creative economy through thoughtful, one-of-a-kind gifts.

With over 120 local artists participating this year, the store features an array of handcrafted items including ceramics, fiber art, painting, jewelry, photography, sculpture, housewares, and more. Shoppers will also find cards, books, stickers, magnets, and even music, all locally made. This year, Heights Arts will offer a curated selection of the store’s items online, allowing supporters the convenience of shopping from home.

“Give back when you buy gifts this season,” says Store and Exhibitions Manager Heather Patterson. “Each unique gift you give will delight the recipient and support our creative community.” Proceeds from the store directly benefit the artists and Heights Arts’ year-round programs in visual, musical, and literary arts.

In January, Heights Arts will open its first exhibitions of 2026: Consider Fires, curated by Cleveland-based artist, educator, and arts advocate Gina Washington and Spotlight Artist: Josh Chefitz.

Consider Fires begins with an opening reception at 5 pm on Friday, January 16. The exhibition explores fire as both symbol and force—of renewal, destruction, warmth, resistance, and rebirth. “In this exhibition, we do not fear fire—we invoke it,” says Washington. Featuring work from Chester Hopkins-Bey, Tanya Kaiser, Kole Robinson Brooks, Yasmeen Kwan, Aja Joi Grant, James Negron, Jeanetta Ho, Mario Tripp, Ellis Walker, Falon Walker, McKinley Wiley, Lolita Wilson, and Leah Aki Wood, the exhibition asks viewers to reflect on the fires—personal, cultural, political—that shape our lives.

Josh Chefitz’s Spotlight Exhibition features paintings with layers of ink, paint, and mixed media. Chefitz invites viewers to uncover the complexity of memory, authenticity, and transformation as they view his pieces.

These exhibitions feature an Ekphrastacy, the popular public poetry event at the Lee Road space where poets write and perform original works in response to the visual art displayed, creating synergy and dialogue between the two arts disciplines. Ekphrastacy: Consider Fires will take place at 7 pm on Thursday, February 19. More information and reservations at heightsarts.org.

HEIGHTS ARTS
2175 Lee Road
Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118
heightsarts.org
216.371.3457

EVENTS:

Holiday Store, through December 30

Consider Fires, January 16–March 15, 2026. Opening reception 5pm Friday January 16

Josh Chefitz’s Spotlight Exhibition, January 16–March 14, 2026. Opening reception 5pm Friday, January 16

Ekphrastacy: Consider Fires, 7pm Thursday, February 19, 2026