Cleveland Institute of Art student highlights Cleveland Buckeyes baseball team, celebrates its 1945 Negro League championship in new exhibition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2025

CLEVELAND—Hidden All-Stars, an exciting solo exhibition by Cleveland Institute of Art rising senior Nicole Alvarez, will honor the Cleveland Buckeyes—Cleveland's Negro League baseball team in the 1940s—and celebrate the 80th anniversary of the team's Negro League World Series championship in 1945.

Hidden All-Stars will feature 15 paintings that depict Cleveland Buckeyes players during impactful baseball moments—hitting home runs, sliding into bases, diving for ground balls—highlighting the talent and achievements of Negro League players who are too often forgotten or overlooked. Through her fantastical, other-worldly style, Alvarez brings these moments to life in her paintings, transforming players often seen posing stoically in historic black-and-white photos into vibrant pop-art superheroes.

"The work in my studio practice elevates subjects into something more by highlighting unnoticed characteristics that should be appreciated and honored," Alvarez says. "The Cleveland Buckeyes' achievements haven't been recognized, the players haven't been given their flowers—and I felt it'd be really impactful and amazing if I could have a hand in changing that."

Hidden-All Stars will be on view July 9 through August 10 in the Baseball Heritage Museum (6601 Lexington Ave., Cleveland) at League Park, home to the Cleveland Buckeyes' during their 1945 championship season. A public reception will be held from 5 to 8pm Saturday, July 19. Admission to the reception is free and open to all. Admission for other times is $10; visitors 9 and younger enjoy free admission.

"The Baseball Heritage Museum is thrilled to host the upcoming exhibition by the young, brilliant artist Nicole Alvarez," says Ricardo Rodriguez, Museum director. "Inspired by the Cleveland Buckeyes and the Negro Leagues—cornerstones of the Museum's mission—Nicole's work captures the rich history, resilience and legacy of these pioneering athletes. We are honored to showcase her vibrant and powerful art, which brings new energy and perspective to the stories we are committed to preserving."

A special pop-up preview showing of Hidden All-Stars will take place during the Cleveland Guardians’ Black Excellence Celebration on Friday, June 27 at Progressive Field (2401 Ontario St., Cleveland). The Guardians play the visiting St. Louis Cardinals that day at 7:10pm, and admission to the game provides access to Hidden All-Stars and other festivities. Purchase single-game tickets here.

Alvarez is studying Painting at the Cleveland Institute of Art and is a native of Lorain, Ohio. To learn more about her work, visit her website or follow her at @_.nicole._.a on Instagram.

Hidden All-Stars 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

Nicole Alvarez, artist
nicole.alvarez1516@gmail.com

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.