Ready, Set, Relay! is a multidisciplinary, Cleveland Institute of Art student-curated exhibition that celebrates the legacy of artworks in the Progressive Art Collection.

The work in Ready, Set, Relay! will continue the meaningful conversations started by notable artists within Progressive Insurance®’s art collection. Students spent the semester researching artists' work from the Progressive Art Collection and created new artworks in response. These responses will bring fresh perspectives to the historic artworks at Progressive.

The students' work will celebrate the collection’s mission to push the boundaries of innovation while provoking critical thought and conversation about the times we live in. This exhibition will serve to commemorate the legacy of these prominent pieces in the Progressive Art Collection as they enter a transitional phase with the closing of Progressive’s Campus One and the relocation of the works to a newly renovated Campus Two.

Ready, Set, Relay! will be on view from April 19 through September 6 at Progressive’s Campus One at 6300 Wilson Mills Road in Mayfield Village, Ohio. An opening reception will be held from 6 to 9pm on Friday, April 19. To attend the opening or visit the exhibition, attendees must RSVP using this link or visit readysetrelay.com.

Artwork in Ready, Set, Relay! will range from drawings, paintings, and sculptures to photography, fiber art, and digital media—all created by CIA juniors. In addition to making their work, students managed all facets of the organization of this exhibition including: curatorial positions, creating all marketing materials, producing a companion website, writing all didactics and installing the exhibition.

Participating CIA artists: Jamie Brinker, Julissa Bruno, Madison Cantrell, Lucy Dietrich, Emily Fontana, Agi Kasapi, Chloe Newcomer, Arianna Papai, Gwen Putz, Lilly Ross, Jazzee Rozier, Natalie Russell, Kaylee Ryan, James Schaffer, Cora Terrion, Casey Wehrman and Nola Williams-Riseng.

Progressive Art Collection artists: Larry Bell, Petah Coyne, Valerie Hegarty, James Hyde, Jon Kessler, Joseph Kosuth, Kerry James Marshall, Bradley McCallum & Jacqueline Tarry, Vik Muniz, Todd Pavlisko, Doris Salcedo, Jennifer Steinkamp, Beverly Semmes, Felice Varini, Kara Walker and Andy Yoder. Yoder is a 1982 graduate of CIA.

To learn more about the partnership and exhibition, please follow students’ progress on Instagram at @ReadySetRelay.

Ready, Set, Relay! is the capstone exhibition from CIA's The Role of the Artist as Producer course taught by Sarah Kabot and Amber Kempthorn. Students majoring in Drawing, Illustration, Painting, Printmaking and Sculpture + Expanded Media curate and develop a group exhibition that embodies the work within an artist’s professional practice. Students collaboratively execute this project while practicing professionalism and gaining knowledge useful to working artists. The experience also exposes the students and their work to Cleveland’s arts community.