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The Fred and Laura Ruth Bidwell Exhibition Space, inside the Cleveland Foundation headquarters, is curated and informed by community members. The space is connective and thought-provoking, a place where foundation guests and the community can appreciate the work of local artists and experience the incredible diversity and beauty of the Greater Cleveland community.
The exhibition space can be viewed during Cleveland Foundation business hours, weekdays, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
About Fred and Laura Ruth Bidwell
Avid art collectors and patrons, Fred and Laura Ruth Bidwell have a passion for creating and nurturing community-centered spaces that showcase Cleveland artistic talent. The couple finds inspiration in helping artists and creatives pursue careers and nurture relationships within the local and global arts communities.
Plenitude
Plenitude — a community art exhibition celebrating food as a cultural backbone of community, memory and belonging.
At the heart of the gallery is a three-part installation by artist Thao Nguyen. Twelve large-scale gradient silkscreen prints, inspired by the vibrant calendars found in Asian grocery stores, capture reflections from the exhibition's community advisory council on food and culture. Hand-stretched paper lanterns, rooted in East Asian papermaking traditions, span the gallery overhead and video interviews with council members and AsiaTown restaurant owners round out Nguyen's contribution.
Together, the works in Plenitude invite you to explore handicraft traditions, collective making, cultural stewardship and memory.
About the Artist
Thao Nguyen
Thao Nguyen is a Cleveland-based illustrator, designer, and visual artist focused on community storytelling through culture and the outdoors.
Her vibrant work can be seen across Northeast Ohio through murals, public art, and collaborations with organizations like MidTown Cleveland and AsiaTown.
Past Exhibits
Tale of Two Taínos: A Journey Through Culture, Home and History By Gabriel Gonzalez & Marisol Ramos
This exhibit united the compelling work of two Cleveland-based Puerto Rican artists, featuring the striking photographs of Gabriel Gonzalez alongside evocative poems by Marisol Ramos.
Together, they illuminate their shared experiences growing up in the vibrant Clark-Fulton neighborhood. Rooted in themes of community, family, identity and spirituality, "Tale of Two Taínos" offers a profound glimpse into the lives, relationships and cultural love that define their artistic journeys.
The Cleveland Foundation thanks Future Ink Graphics (F.I.G.), Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts Center, and Young Latino Network for their partnership in the development of this exhibit.
Complex Structures: Indelible Stories of Coming Home
"Complex Structures," the opening exhibition on display from summer 2023 through the end of 2024 at the Cleveland Foundation’s headquarters, was a collaborative effort between:
- Amber N. Ford, photography
- Shelli Reeves, storytelling
- and Leila Khoury, exhibition and book design
It featured 11 neighbors of the Cleveland Foundation, through portraits and storytelling via individual zines. There was also a poem framing the collective portraits and serving as a description of home by interviewees and other neighbors involved in the development of the project.
