Echoes of Industry: Tracing Cleveland’s Industrial Legacy, a powerful new exhibition by Cleveland-based artist Angelina Patterson, explores the rich history of Cleveland’s industrial past with a collection of oil paintings reimagining the city’s iconic industrial spaces and honoring the buildings as they once were.

A reception for Echoes of Industry will be held from 4 to 6 pm Saturday, September 20. The exhibition will be on view from May 30 through January 6, 2026 in the Lower Passage of Cleveland Public Library's Main Library (325 Superior Avenue, Cleveland). 

“Echoes of Industry blends the old and new, transforming decaying buildings and abandoned machinery into narratives of survival, transformation and hope,” says Patterson, a rising senior studying Painting at the Cleveland Institute of Art. “The oil paintings in this exhibition—imbued with the raw beauty of rusted steel and weathered structures—offer a meditative exploration of time, history and the enduring human spirit.”

Cleveland’s industrial landscape, from the weathered facades of historic factory buildings to the towering smokestacks that once defined the skyline, serves as a testament to the city's role in shaping 20th century America. In the Clark-Fulton neighborhood and beyond, remnants of this industrial era remain silent-but-potent markers of Cleveland’s evolution. Through her work, Patterson invites viewers to witness the transformation of these once-vibrant spaces into powerful symbols of resilience, change and renewal.

At the heart of Echoes of Industry is a tribute to the men and women whose labor fueled the city’s growth. Through her evocative pieces, Patterson brings to life the stories of these workers, whose contributions shaped not only Cleveland’s identity but also the very fabric of industrial America. The exhibition challenges us to reflect on what has been left behind and what has remained.

Patterson organized this project through CIA's Creativity Works program, which is made possible by the generous support of the Fenn Educational Fund and the G.R. Lincoln Family Foundation. Creativity Works is a self-initiated internship program with the goal of supporting a student's professional development. Participating students create proposals that align with their long-term professional goals.

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