Now in its 80th year, the Student Independent Exhibition (SIE) is an honored tradition at the Cleveland Institute of Art. The exhibition showcases work from all areas—from visual arts and craft to digital art and design—all selected by jurors chosen by CIA students. Prizes are awarded during the opening reception thanks to generous donors.
Join us Friday, February 27 from 6 to 9pm in Reinberger Gallery for the SIE 80 opening reception. Awards will be announced at 7pm. The show will remain on view through April 5.
Jurors
Selected by the student body, jurors Alex Heard, Thao Nguyen and Shawn Powell will jury the submissions.
Alex Heard is a soft sculptor and transdisciplinary artist currently working in New England. Their colorful, plush costumes explore a variety of topics both absurd and sincere. They are a production artist with The Cleveland Museum of Art’s Parade the Circle. They have participated in residencies at the Cleveland Heights Library and Akron Soul Train. They were a recipient of the Urgent Art Fund at SPACES. They have exhibited locally, nationally, and interdimensionally. Alex received their BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2020, and is a current MFA candidate at the University of Connecticut.
Thao Nguyen is an illustrator, designer, and visual artist. She has a range of creative pursuits such as illustrating and designing logos, magazine covers, greeting cards, and packaging. She combines her passion for hand-drawn art and design with digital techniques. Her work consists of vibrant colors and incorporates wildlife inspired by her love of the outdoors. Her impact can be seen throughout Northeast Ohio, with public art installations and murals across Cleveland, Lakewood, and Larchmere. Nguyen graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2021.
Shawn Powell is a painter, curator and has presented solo exhibitions in
Tennis Elbow at The Journal Gallery, New York, NY; 106 Green, Brooklyn, NY; Chapter, New York, NY; Marrow Gallery, San Francisco, CA; and at Abattoir Gallery, Cleveland, OH. He has been included in group exhibitions at The Fabric Workshop and Museum, Philadelphia, PA; the Green Gallery, Milwaukee, WI; Wassaic Projects, Wassaic, NY;
NADA New York, NY; and
NADA Miami, Miami, FL. Powell has been invited to participate in the
nido and
Living in the Play residencies in Monte Castello di Vibio, Italy as well as the
Alfred/Düsseldorf Residency in Düsseldorf, Germany. His work has been acquired by the Fidelity Art Collection, Cleveland Clinic Art Collection, Akron Art Museum, Bridgehampton Museum, and the Putnam Art Collection at Case Western Reserve University. Powell received his BFA in Painting and Art History from the Kansas City Art Institute and an MFA in Painting from Hunter College. He was the recipient of the Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award Grant in 2021, 2023, and 2025. He is currently an Associate Professor and the co-chair of Painting at Kent State University.
Sponsors
The Student Independent Exhibition is generously supported by UBGreensfelder.
Reinberger Gallery programming is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County, through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. Our exhibitions are also generously supported by CIA's Community Partners.