Lunch on Fridays: William Harper
Peter B. Lewis Theater

William Harper, "The Siberian Albino," Gold cloisonné enamel on fine sliver; 18, 22 & 24 kt. gold; glass; pearls; moonstones; aquamarine; 6 X 3.2 in

Spend a lunch hour learning about the latest in art and design during these Friday lectures. Each lecture features a variety of artists and designers from around the world, including CIA faculty and visiting artists. This event is free and open to the public. Pizza and beverages will be provided on a first-come, first served basis.

Please join us in welcoming our 2019 Spring exhibiting artist, William Harper.

There are painters who are craftsmen; there are jewelers who are artists. I maintain that the finest art, in any medium, results from those who are both artists and craftsmen.
— William Harper

In the world of artist William Harper’s vibrant and improvisational jewelry, craftsmanship and concept are always entwined. Now visitors to the Cleveland Institute of Art’s Reinberger Gallery may experience his singular visual voice in William Harper: The Beautiful & the Grotesque, a 20-year retrospective running April 4 through June 14, 2019.

The more than 60 works of art on view will include Harper’s exquisitely crafted fine jewelry; display boxes built from assemblages of found objects; paintings; and Japanese-style folding books.

Driven by an intense love for the material process, Harper enters his studio with improvisational spirit, allowing each move to inspire the next. His lush objects combine unexpected materials, including plastic beads, nails, and bone as well as pearls, jewels, precious metals, and enamel. The exhibit's title, The Beautiful & the Grotesque, underscores the tension between high and low, between precious and disposable, and between what draws and repels a viewer.

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