2024 Art Jurors

Alex Henry is a multidisciplinary visual artist based in Cleveland, Ohio, who works across various mediums, including painting, sculpture, and animation. He received his BFA in Studio Arts & Creative Writing from Carnegie Mellon University and is also a self-taught musician, focusing on jazz saxophone and free improvisation.

Henry’s work has a strong conceptual component that often explores the transformative effects of the computer and digital media as traditional techniques are altered through the interjection of new technology. His notable exhibitions include the 2006 group show “Street Repairs” at Spaces Gallery, where he exhibited his piece, “Painting The Flats; Strip Tease,” a combination of an oil painting and video installation documenting the finished painting in progress by the shirtless artist, in response to Cleveland’s once vibrant entertainment district left desolate and exposed through urban renewal.

In 2023, the Cleveland Public Library acquired two of Henry’s large psychedelic flower paintings for the newly renovated Woodland branch. He was recently featured in the May 2024 edition of The Violet-Edge, an independent magazine that showcases creatives based in Northeastern Ohio. His upcoming solo show at the Kaiser Gallery, scheduled at the end of the year, will include sculpture work recently created for a large public art commission and new paintings based on imagery from his feature-length animation, The Artist’s Loft.

Sam Skelton is a filmmaker and photographer hailing from Cleveland, OH (and a current resident of Tremont), who channels his creative focus into capturing the breathtaking essence of the natural world, encompassing both its inhabitants and landscapes. His portfolio prominently features the allure of outdoor settings, spotlighting the individuals and wildlife that inhabit these spaces. Beyond his artistic endeavors, Sam is a zealous traveler, skilled snowboarder, dedicated surfer, proficient scuba and free-diver, and an adept drone pilot.

His repertoire includes collaborations with esteemed entities such as PBS Nature, Discovery, A & E, and various other regional companies across the Midwest. Notably, Sam’s passion project revolves around the Skelton Brothers, a concept driven of the collective efforts of brothers Sam and Caleb, which has garnered an impressive 100,000,000 views across various social media platforms. Their shared commitment lies in fostering enthusiasm throughout the Midwest while advocating for the protection and reverence of the Great Lakes and other freshwater bodies.

Tanya Kaiser is a visual artist specializing in ceramic sculpture, whose work explores the cultural silencing of women’s suffering due to societal stigma associated with the female form. By confronting these issues, she aims to use her pieces as a catalyst for discussions on women’s roles, health, and bodily autonomy. Tanya earned her MFA in Studio Art from Stony Brook University in 2017 and was honored as the Goldberger Fellow for excellence in art in 2016. Her artwork, spanning both 2D and 3D forms, has been exhibited internationally.

With over 11 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Tanya has held significant roles, including event and media director of the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association in Huntington, NY, and administrator of the Social Justice Institute at Case Western Reserve University. She currently serves as the Assistant Director of Summer on the Cuyahoga, Northeast Ohio’s premier summer internship program for select regional colleges and universities, and is the Owner/Director of Kaiser Gallery, a contemporary gallery and cocktail lounge in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood. Opened in July 2020, the gallery combines her dedication to the visual arts with a unique ambiance, introducing art to new audiences while supporting artists in their creative endeavors.

Tanya’s multifaceted roles reflect her commitment to merging community development, education, and the arts. Her accomplishments have been recognized with accolades such as the Impact Award from Ingenuity Cleveland and the Community Impact Award from Tremont West Development Corp. In 2022-2023, she was accepted into the Art Leadership Residency issued by the Assembly for the Arts and Cleveland Leadership Center. For more information, visit www.KaiserGallery.com and www.TanyaKaiser.com.