Fiscal Year 2026 Impact Report
Support for Artists
Emily Xie, Digital Artist in Residence (DAIR) at TMA.
It Begins with the Artist
Artists are at the heart of a thriving cultural community. Creativity ignites innovation and economic growth, connects diverse groups of people, and builds the future while preserving traditions and heritage. Donor support helps the Toledo Museum of Art (TMA) provide vital resources for artists: residencies, exhibition opportunities, public programs and events, innovative technology initiatives and material support. Participating artists gain the freedom to hone their skills and processes, connect with audiences and advance their careers. In turn, their successes enrich TMA and the entire community.
Impact at a Glance BLOCK PARTY DRONE SHOW ATTENDEES
7,500
BEEPLE STUDIOS: TRANSIENT BLOOM VISITORS
2,100+
TRANSIENT BLOOM MEDIA IMPRESSIONS
1.4 Million 2
Creating Space for Artists
Sara Jane DeHoff Guest Artist Pavilion Project (GAPP) Artists need time, space and institutional support to explore new ideas. Through donor support, TMA provided three GAPP artists the opportunity to explore the use of glass in their work, share their creative process and engage directly with audiences over the span of one year. “I’m usually alone in my studio so it’s a real delight to have a few weeks collaborating with people and allowing the ideas to come out of conversation and experimentation and working with others. It was such a generous invitation from the Museum, and I’m happy I was able to take advantage of this opportunity.” NATALIE LANESE GAPP Artist
FY26 Impact Report: Support for Artists
FY26 GAPP Artists RIGHT: NATALIE LANESE
Known for her bold color palettes and graphic sensibility, Lanese’s large-scale murals, immersive installations and playful, geometric motifs challenge spatial perception through patterns and collage.
BELOW: SHEREE HOVSEPIAN
Born in Iran and raised in Toledo, Hovsepian blends photography, sculpture and collage to explore identity and the human form. Her work invites viewers into a tactile, intimate dialogue with materials and memory.
Toledo Museum of Art
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BELOW: THADDEUS WOLFE
Wolfe, a Toledo native and Cleveland Institute of Art alum, uses a unique casting process to create angular, textured glass sculptures reminiscent of Brutalist architecture and Cubist forms.
“Supporting working artists is an investment in creativity, innovation, and cultural vitality. Programs like GAPP give artists access to the facilities, collaboration, and freedom they need to explore new directions in their work and push the boundaries of their practice. These opportunities can be transformative, helping artists build confidence, refine their vision, and create work that resonates with audiences long after a residency has ended.” ALAN IWAMURA
Assistant Director, Glass Studios at the Toledo Museum of Art
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FY26 Impact Report: Support for Artists
Digital Artist in Residence (DAIR) Artists respond to the world around them, growing and evolving in tandem with constant cultural change. TMA offers unique resources allowing artists to connect emerging digital technologies with time-honored artistic traditions. During FY26, the generosity of donors made it possible for the DAIR program to support two artists exploring the intersection of technology, creativity and public engagement. RIGHT: DAN HERNANDEZ
Dan Hernandez, a Toledo-based artist, constructs hybrid visual worlds drawing from religious art, myth, and gaming aesthetics. His residency explored cultural storytelling that fused digital design, ceramic production and interactive media.
LEFT: EMILY XIE
New York generative artist Emily Xie creates algorithmic systems inspired by textiles, ornament, heritage and the logic of craft. During her residency she developed an algorithmic design that was used to create a glass sculpture in TMA’s Hot Shop.
Toledo Museum of Art
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BEEPLE STUDIOS:
Transient Bloom
Thanks to your generosity, during FY26 TMA continued to create opportunities for contemporary artists working in emerging media to share their work with local, national and international audiences. The exhibition of Beeple Studios: Transient Bloom was an extraordinary success, drawing widespread attention. A generative digital art installation, it recreated a lush, ever-changing ecosystem where cultural icons appeared as statues and structures; driven by real-time internet data, some elements rose in splendor while others deteriorated, mirroring the reality of digital culture.
Block Party Drone Show
Artists thrive when audiences engage with their work. During FY26, the support of donors made innovative public experiences — like TMA’s first drone show — possible. Artists working with digital media reached 7,500 community members in a creative experience that transformed TMA’s campus.
Artists Featured: •
Matt Hall and John Watkinson
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Snowfro
•
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Sarah Meyohas
FY26 Impact Report: Support for Artists
Connecting Artists and Audiences
Robert C. and Susan Savage Community Gallery Thanks to you, FY26 exhibitions in the Robert C. and Susan Savage Community Gallery provided artists with a platform and space to share their work, build visibility and connect with new audiences.
CHRIS “CHILLY” RODRIGUEZ:
The Journey So Far Drawing from a background in graffiti and street art, artist Chris “Chilly” Rodriguez shared introspective, emotional, large-scale murals and mixed-media works that explore the power of art to heal, inspire and leave a lasting impact.
AMY BEELER:
Domestic Lines, Quiet Rituals Beeler’s work is rooted in home rituals, transforming domestic practices into sculptural forms that explore identity, memory and intergenerational connection. Domestic Lines, Quiet Rituals offered a sensory meditation on loss, resilience and the quiet power of everyday life. CRAIG FISHER:
Lines of Discovery, Expressions in Copper Inspired by the sweep of history and natural science, Fisher uses intaglio printmaking to explore the power of imagery to speak across time and culture. Lines of Discovery, Expressions in Copper invited visitors to slow down and engage with the richness and depth of his works, exploring the stories held within. NINTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Invitational High School Art Exhibition The annual Ninth Congressional District Invitational High School Art Exhibition once again gave hundreds of area high school students the opportunity to share their artistic skills and creativity. Thanks to generous support of this show, young artists won substantial awards in a wide range of media. Toledo Museum of Art
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Here for Artists, Here for Our Community
Whether through a residency, an exhibition, a digital experiment or a public event, donor support helps artists create, take risks, share ideas and connect with audiences. By investing in artists today, your generosity becomes a creative force for our community — and our future.
2445 Monroe Street Toledo, Ohio USA 43620 toledomuseum.org