MOCHA 2026: Building Community, Expanding Possibilities

As the Museum of Creative Human Art (MOCHA), under the direction of Antwoine Washington, enters its second decade of operation, 2026 marks an exciting season of growth, expanded programming, and new opportunities for artists and communities throughout Northeast Ohio and beyond.

This year also brings growth to MOCHA’s creative team. Joining the organization as gallery curator is Yana Mikho-Misho, a curator, visual artist, and art director with more than a decade of experience working with Cleveland nonprofit arts organizations. Throughout her career, Yana has developed exhibitions, artist residencies, public programming, and communication strategies that connect artists and audiences through contemporary art. At MOCHA, she oversees exhibitions, artist relations, and gallery programming that encourage community engagement and accessibility.

MOCHA also continues its collaboration with photographer Ryan Harris. A self-taught photographer from Cleveland, Harris has been featured in Cleveland Scene Magazine, the Akron Beacon Journal, and People magazine. His work explores urban landscapes and the beauty and complexity of the Black experience, bringing a thoughtful documentary perspective to MOCHA’s visual storytelling.

MOCHA’s partnership with the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) is entering its third year. Through this collaboration, MOCHA curates and produces exhibitions that connect artists and audiences through meaningful creative experiences.

This season opened with Spirit Wings: Tales Told in Color, featuring Sylvia Munodawafa and Dinara Mirtalipova, whose sculptural masks and narrative illustrations invited visitors into an exploration of folklore, nature, and imagination.

The partnership continued with Nature Includes You 2026, a collaborative photography project featuring more than twenty photographers and contributions from fifteen organizations across Northeast Ohio. Looking ahead, visitors can anticipate the fall exhibition, Wild Order: Studies in Natural Form.

Beyond Northeast Ohio, MOCHA is proud to participate in Season Contemporary Art Fair,to be held September 11–13 at the Shepherd in Detroit. Under the curatorial leadership of Amanda D. King, MOCHA will present the work of Cleveland artists A.F. Oehmke, Lauren Pearce, and Antwoine Washington to a broader Midwest audience.

As MOCHA moves into this new phase, we thank our artists, partners, supporters, and community members for helping make these opportunities possible.

MOCHA
Museum of Creative Human Art
3907 Perkins Avenue,
Cleveland, Ohio
museumofcreativehumanart.org
info@creativehumanart.com

EVENTS:

MOCHA+The Conservancy for CVNP Exhibition, Wild Order: Studies in Natural Form, August 29–October 25. Opening reception noon-3pm Saturday, August 29 at the Gallery at CVNP, 1565 Boston Mills Road, Peninsula.

MOCHA+offset Midwest Season Fair, September 11–13 at the Shepherd, 1265 Parkview Street, Detroit, MI 48214