Press Releases

For Immediate Release
Contact: Ann McGuire
Director of Communications
amcguire@cia.edu
216.421.7417

CLEVELAND (OH) – The Cleveland Institute of Art bestowed its highest honors on painter and CIA graduate Richard Anuszkiewicz; sculptor, CIA graduate, and former CIA president David L. Deming; and recently retired CIA senior vice president for institutional advancement R. Michael Cole.

CIA President Grafton J. Nunes presented Anuszkiewicz with CIA’s Award for Artistic Achievement, and Deming and Cole with its Award for Service, at a private event for CIA supporters on Nov. 7. Together, the awards recognize those who have made significant contributions to the arts through their own artistic pursuits or through their exceptional service and philanthropy.

“We are honored to have this opportunity to recognize Richard, David, and Mike for their contributions to arts and culture,” said Nunes. “Richard’s Op Art paintings are in collections and galleries around the world, and David and Mike initiated CIA’s once-in-a-generation campus modernization and unification project that is now nearing the finish line. These three gentlemen are emblematic of the rich history of CIA and its vibrant future.”

Award for Artistic Achievement: Richard Anuszkiewicz
A 1953 graduate of CIA, Anuszkiewicz vaulted to international prominence early in his career with the rise of the Op Art movement when his paintings were featured in The Responsive Eye, the landmark 1965 exhibition of perceptual abstraction at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In his elaborate early work, Anuszkiewicz explored the optical wizardry that occurs when high-intensity, complementary colors are applied to the same geometric configurations. His most recent work reflects his evolution toward more subtle explorations of color and form. He has work in the collections of more than 75 museums from Akron to Yale and countless private collections.

Anuszkiewicz’s work was featured most recently in the international show, Dynamo – A Century of Light and Motion in Art, 1913 – 2013, at the Grand Palais Museum in Paris. His recent work is on display in CIA’s Reinberger Galleries on East Boulevard through December 14.

Nunes said, “Richard has works across the globe and in countless collections. His body of work and his long and successful career speak to his incredible talent as one of the founders of Op Art painting. To be able to recognize Richard with this award while he is showing his work in our Reinberger Galleries is a real delight.”

CIA’s Award for Artistic Achievement honors individuals with strong connections to the Institute who have made a significant contribution to the visual arts locally, nationally, or internationally by producing a substantial and noteworthy body of work. Recipients must demonstrate a highly developed sense of creativity, have advanced the quality of their profession through their work, be role models for aspiring artists or designers, and have contributed to advancing their art form.

Award for Service: David L. Deming ’67
Deming has always balanced his institutional leadership with a successful career as an acclaimed sculptor. A 1967 graduate of CIA, he served as a professor and college administrator at the University of Texas for 28 years before serving as president of CIA from 1998 through 2010. Under his watch, CIA transformed the curriculum from a five-year to a four-year undergraduate program, making it more affordable and competitive with its peers. Deming also launched CIA’s first digital arts department; managed the creation of CIA’s first visiting artists endowment; established the Viktor Schreckengost ’29 Teaching Award to recognize excellence in teaching at CIA; and spearheaded the capital campaign for the campus unification project.

His sculptures are in permanent installations across the country and in more than 100 private collections, scores of corporate collections, and many museums including the Columbus Museum of Art, San Antonio Museum of Art, and the Longview (Texas) Museum of Art.

“David has a long and successful history of institutional leadership and truly paved the way for the road forward for CIA. His efforts have ensured a long and healthy future for the Institute,” said Nunes.

Award for Service: R. Michael Cole
Throughout his 11-year tenure as CIA’s senior vice president for institutional advancement, Cole was instrumental in recruiting and building relationships with CIA board members; bolstering the annual fund drive; establishing and stewarding relationships and partnerships with individuals, corporations, and foundations; and launching and overseeing the execution of the capital campaign that is funding CIA’s campus unification. Cole transformed CIA’s development department, filling out its staff and strengthening the college’s cultivation efforts. He raised the professionalism of CIA’s institutional advancement efforts and always sought to make sure that others appreciated CIA in all its dimensions.

“CIA has had an effective champion and eloquent ambassador in Mike Cole. His leadership and professionalism are truly exemplary and will serve the college long into the future, helping the Institute achieve even greater success and sustainability,” said Nunes.

CIA’s Award for Service honors individuals and organizations that have supported and advanced art and design at the Institute through their financial contributions, leadership, and advocacy. Recipients have distinguished themselves through long-time effective service as CIA board members, philanthropists, or advocates for CIA; and have advanced the quality of and appreciation for the visual arts through their support and professional contributions.

This year, the award recipients will receive works of glass art created by CIA Professor Brent Kee Young, chair of the Glass Department. Young is an internationally renowned artist with works in significant museum and gallery collections in the U.S. and abroad. He received CIA’s Award for Artistic Achievement in 2012.

The Cleveland Institute of Art is located at 11141 East Boulevard. For directions or other information, please visit www.cia.edu or call 216.421.7407.

About CIA

Founded in 1882, the Cleveland Institute of Art is an accredited, independent college of art and design offering 15 majors in studio art, digital art, craft disciplines, and design. CIA extends its programming to the public through gallery exhibitions; lectures; a robust continuing education program; and the Cinematheque, a year-round art and independent film program. CIA’s public programming is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. For more information visit cia.edu.

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