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The ����ɬ���� Museum is pleased to reveal a new look in its front lobby, as part of the new museum director’s broader initiative to make the museum more accessible, inclusive, and welcoming. In addition to facility updates, the museum has added tables and seating for students and visitors and has also installed new artwork by Cleveland-based artist, Jen P. Harris.

Harris’s work, entitled “Mercury’s Matter,” is on loan from the artist and highlights the museum’s mission to display exceptional textile art and to inspire the next generation of artists and designers.

Museum Director Sarah Spinner Liska, Ph.D., J.D. states, “Harris’s work pushes the boundaries of both textile and painting, showcasing a creative experimentation that invites viewers to question traditional assumptions about form, composition and materiality. It anchors the museum’s lobby, opening space for reflection, inspiration and connection.”

The work is what Harris calls a “loom painting,” where the painting serves as a loom for the weaving, which stretches over top of the canvas. Jen P. Harris explains, “In my current work, I combine painting with weaving techniques to create hybrid objects that question the conventions of both mediums. Playing with, and breaking with, traditional forms is a way of exploring the boundaries of my relationship to various identities and knowledge systems.”

The artwork foregrounds the weaving, obscuring the painting beneath, and reversing the traditional hierarchy between painting and textile. Museum Curator Sara Hume, Ph.D. states, “We are excited to present Harris’s work as one of the first pieces a visitor will see when entering the museum. It welcomes people to a space designed to highlight textile work. In fact, in the upcoming year we have several exhibitions planned which attest to the incredible potential of textiles as an artform.”

Harris’s work will be on view through 2025 and centers the museum’s efforts to open access to its world-class collection, by developing welcoming spaces and by highlighting contemporary artists and designers who are leading innovation in their fields.  

Students have embraced the new look of the lobby and enjoy both the seating area and the artwork. Likitha Kalla, who is pursuing an M.S. in Business Analytics at the Ambassador Crawford School of Business and Entrepreneurship, states, “As a student, I find the updated lobby both inspiring and inviting. The vibrant artwork by Jen P. Harris not only enhances the space but also creates a welcoming atmosphere where students and visitors can gather.”

Photo Caption: Installation view of Jen P. Harris, "Mercury’s Matter" (2023-2024) in the ����ɬ���� Museum lobby.