The Bowen and Patron Galleries
The only nonprofit art gallery in the Village of Chagrin Falls welcomes thousands of guests and presents hundreds of regional artists in five gallery exhibitions every year. Many national and international artists exhibit in The Bowen Gallery, The Patron Gallery, and our acclaimed Art by the Falls outdoor art festival. Exhibiting a broad range of media and styles—from traditional to experimental—novice, emerging, and seasoned artists share artistic expression with art lovers and collectors of Northeast Ohio.
7th Annual Blossom Time Commemorative Poster Contest
Deadline: April 1st at 4pm.
2025 Winner, Pam Spremulli
The Chagrin Valley Jaycees in combination with Valley Art Center present the Seventh Annual Blossom Time Commemorative Poster Contest. Cash awards are provided by Lyndall Insurance.
The theme this year is "Red, White, and Blossom"!
Prizes include $250 for the Winner, $100 for Second Place, and $50 for Third Place.
The entry fee is $15. Jury results will be posted on Valley Art Center’s website by April 18, 2026.
For additional rules and details click on button below:
Upcoming Exhibition
Fun, To What End?
An Exhibition of Edward Raffel and Will Wilson
March 27 – May 6, 2026
Opening Reception: Friday, March 27, 5 – 8 pm
Sensory Friendly Quiet Hour: 5 – 6 pm
Artist Talk: Thursday, April 30, 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Valley Art Center is pleased to present Fun, To What End?, a dual exhibition featuring award-winning local artists Edward Raffel and Will Wilson, curated by Assistant Director & Gallery Manager Julie Polsinelli. The exhibition will be on view from March 27 through May 6, 2026, with an opening reception on Friday, March 27 from 5 – 8 pm, including a Sensory Friendly Quiet Hour from 5 – 6 pm.
As award recipients at previous Valley Art Center’s Annual Juried Art Exhibitions, Raffel and Wilson were invited to present a focused body of work in a shared exhibition that celebrates experimentation, imagination, and distinct artistic voices.
Though working in different dimensions and media, Wilson in mixed media and painted 2D and Raffel in salvaged material 3D lamps, both artists embrace play as both strategy and inquiry.
Edward Raffel presents an expansive installation of sculptural table lamps, most constructed from 80 to 95 percent salvaged materials. While rooted in found object traditions, Raffel’s approach diverges through extensive remanufacturing, repainting, and reconfiguration of components. The resulting works balance color, texture, rhythm, and concentric symmetry, often incorporating circline fluorescent bulbs whose toroidal forms create luminous halos within each piece. Created during a time marked by political unrest and global instability, Raffel describes these works as “a tiny refuge from the misery of the day.” The exhibition title, Fun, To What End?, reflects his questioning of whether playful art can offer relief, resistance, or renewal in difficult times.
Will Wilson’s vibrant, mixed-media works are concerned with “creating a joyful celebration of the different.” His practice blends traditional techniques with cartoon language, graffiti influences, illustration, and abstraction. Wilson’s compositions are bold and expressive, designed to captivate viewers from a distance and reward them with intricate detail upon closer inspection. Through layered imagery and interlocking drawings, he explores the complexity that exists beneath simplified labels, encouraging viewers to look beyond stereotype and surface assumption. His work aims to feel “weird and comfortable at the same time,” offering a visual affirmation of individuality and creative freedom.
An artist talk with both Raffel and Wilson will take place on Thursday, April 30, from 6:30 – 7:30 pm at Valley Art Center. Each artist will speak about their work and practice, followed by audience questions.
Admission to the exhibition and related events is free and open to all. This exhibition is sponsored by TKM Printing Solutions, Inc, and programming is made possible in part by Ohio Arts Council and Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.
For more information, please contact Valley Art Center at gallery@valleyartcenter.org or 440-247-7507.
Current Exhibition
Student/Faculty Exhibition 2026
On view January 23 – March 4, 2026
Valley Art Center’s annual Student/Faculty Exhibition celebrates the creativity, dedication, and artistic growth of our vibrant community. Featuring work by more than 100 students and faculty, this exhibition highlights the wide range of talent nurtured at Valley Art Center over the past two years.
From painting and drawing to ceramics, sculpture, photography, and mixed media, the exhibition showcases the diverse mediums and approaches taught by our professional instructors. Each piece reflects the unique voice of its maker, offering visitors an inspiring glimpse into both emerging and established artistic practices.
The exhibition opened with a public reception on Friday, January 23, and will remain on view through March 4, 2026. Whether you’re visiting to support a student or instructor, explore new ideas, or simply enjoy beautiful and thoughtful artwork, the Student/Faculty Exhibition offers something for everyone.
Visitors are encouraged to explore the Valley Art/Shop during their visit and experience all that Valley Art Center has to offer!
Past Exhibitions
54th Annual Juried Art Exhibition
The 54th Annual Juried Art Exhibition was Valley Art Center’s longest-running exhibition and a cornerstone of the Northeast Ohio arts community. For more than five decades, this exhibition celebrated the breadth, depth, and evolving practices of contemporary artists working across media.
On view November 7 through December 17, the exhibition showcased a dynamic selection of work chosen by an accomplished panel of jurors: Pita Brooks, Director of Operations at SPACES Gallery; Benjamin Lambert, Berea-based ceramic artist and educator; and Susan Snipes, interdisciplinary artist and Director of UNDERSTORY at 78th Street Studios. Together, the jurors brought deep insight into contemporary art, education, and experimental practice, shaping an exhibition that was thoughtful, rigorous, and exciting.
Artists in the exhibition were eligible for over $3,500 in cash awards, which were announced at the opening celebration. The exhibition opening offered the public an opportunity to meet the artists, experience the work firsthand, and celebrate another remarkable year of creative excellence.
The exhibition was further enlivened by Ekphrastacy, a beloved Valley Art Center event where poets responded to selected artworks with original readings. This evening of visual art and poetry created a powerful dialogue between disciplines and invited audiences to experience the exhibition in an entirely new way.
The 54th Annual Juried Art Exhibition continued Valley Art Center’s commitment to supporting artists, fostering creative exchange, and making contemporary art accessible to all.