Work by Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) students that demonstrates their prodigious creativity; a show organized and mounted entirely by some of those same CIA students; and, Reinberger Gallery filled with work representing a wide range of mediums and perspectives.

These qualities and others make CIA’s annual Student Independent Exhibition (SIE) one of the college’s most popular exhibitions. And, every year, the SIE committee endeavors to make SIE better than the last—which, in the process, keeps the exhibition fresh and unique.

“You never really know what to expect from SIE. No year is the same, and it’s always exciting to see what gets juried into the show,” says Painting senior Janoi Daley, chair of this year’s SIE committee.

Now in its 78th year, the 2024 iteration of SIE is on view through Sunday, April 7, in Reinberger Gallery. “SIE is always an exciting opportunity for me to learn more about how our students respond to and make sense of our world,” says Reinberger Gallery director Nikki Woods. “I’m thrilled about the students’ exciting lineup of jurors and the committee’s infectious enthusiasm around this year’s exhibition.”

Daley shares Woods’ excitement, explaining, “we have four jurors, which is one more than usual, but the committee believes this will make the show even better.”

Those jurors are Boston-based painter Bianca Fields, a 2019 CIA alum who has exhibited internationally; Iowa City-based artist Ali Hval, whose work merges ceramic, fabric, installation and painting; Brooklyn, NY-based painter Haley Josephs, who exhibited in Getting to Know You at CIA in 2019; and Ukrainian-born painter Denis Sarazhin, whose work focuses on the human figure.

For students, excitement about SIE also revolves around exhibiting their work.

“It’s gratifying to see your work hung up in a gallery with other great artists,” Daley says. “Before SIE opens, students are constantly walking in the gallery to try and get a peek at what exactly got in the exhibition. As a juried show, not everything gets in, but even having a friend whose work is up is just exciting.”

Daley hopes her fellow students’ creativity leaves an impression.

“SIE is usually eclectic in nature, with works coming from a variety of identities,” she says. “I hope the work is meaningful to viewers. I’d call on them to pay attention to what the students are making right now, and how, in a way, it is reflective of the time in which we are in.”

CLEVELAND INSTITUTE OF ART
11610 Euclid Avenue

Cleveland, Ohio 44106

cia.edu

800.223.4700

EVENTS:

Student Independent Exhibition, through April 7

2024 Spring Show, 6pm April 23

BFA Exhibition, 7pm May 10