Opening on February 14, 2025, in celebration of Valentine’s Day, Love is Resistance is an art exhibition and performance event hosted at the Transformer Station of the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA). Organized by Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) faculty and Reinberger Gallery staff in partnership with the CMA, Love is Resistance will showcase work by CIA students, faculty, and alumni. The exhibition explores the concept of love as a radical act—one that centers passion, care, knowledge, and community as creative tools to challenge oppressive systems rooted in hate, fear, division, and unjust ideologies.

Love is Resistance calls for building a better world by understanding past histories and approaching one another with persistent care in the face of uncertain futures. Participating artists will respond to artworks from the CMA’s collection that engage with the concept of resistance from an art historical perspective. (Examples:  Los Caprichos, Francisco de Goya; The Race Track, Albert Pinkham Ryder; Utopia, Magritte; Christ, El Greco; Malcolm X, Robert L. Haggins, etc.) 

The opening night event will be a combination of art exhibition and punk show, featuring musical performances by bands whose work aligns with the exhibits themes, further amplifying the messages conveyed by the artwork on display.

CIA faculty Mike Meier and Adam Lucas and exhibitions and galleries director Nikki Woods, invite students, staff, alumni and faculty from the Cleveland Institute of Art to submit artworks that engage with works in the Cleveland Museum of Art’s (CMA) collection inspired by resistance. All materials, mediums, and practices are welcome.

Nikki Woods, Director, Exhibitions + Galleries: nwoods@cia.edu
Seneca Kuchar, Exhibitions + Collections Specialist: sakuchar@cia.edu 

We look forward to your contributions to this powerful exploration of love and resistance!