Cleveland Institute of Art student explores Cleveland’s rich industrial past in new exhibition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2025

CLEVELAND—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.

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.

“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.”

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

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.

Echoes of Industry was organized 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.

Contacts

Michael C. Butz, Director of College Communications + External Relations
mcbutz@cia.edu / 216.421.7404

Angelina Patterson, artist
agpatterson@cia.edu / 302.429.7840

About the artist

Angelina Patterson is a Cleveland-based artist and a current junior at the Cleveland Institute of Art. Patterson’s work often explores themes of history, industry and urban life. Her artistic approach is deeply influenced by her personal connection to urban cityscapes and her adoration for the evolving narratives embedded within them. To learn more about Patterson's work, visit her website or follow her on Instagram at @agpatterson_art.

Cleveland Institute of Art

The Cleveland Institute of Art is a private, nonprofit college of art and design that has been the training ground for countless students who have gone on to make important contributions to the fields of creativity and innovation since it opened in 1882 as the Western Reserve School of Design for Women. Its students have designed internationally recognized products, their artwork has been exhibited in major museums and private collections around the world, and their entertainment media has been enjoyed by audiences and game players for generations. It enrolls about 600 students nationally and internationally and has a faculty of about 100 full-time and adjunct members, all of whom are practicing artists, designers and scholars.