The School of Art Collection and Galleries at Kent State University is pleased to announce Devan Shimoyama as the 2026 Curlee Raven Holton and Raven Print Editions Fellow.
In conjunction with the fellowship, an exhibition featuring Shimoyama’s work will be presented in the CVA Gallery, located at 325 Terrace Drive, Kent, Ohio, from Oct. 20 through Nov. 20, 2026.
As part of the exhibition program, Shimoyama will deliver an artist lecture on Friday, Oct. 23, at 12 p.m. in Room 165 of the Center for the Visual Arts. A public reception honoring the artist will follow in the CVA Gallery from 5 to 7 p.m.
About Devan Shimoyama
Devan Shimoyama (b.1989; B.F.A. Penn State University; M.F.A. Yale University) is a visual artist who works primarily in painting and sculpture. Through his mixed media painted depictions of the queer black male form, Shimoyama investigates the politics of queer culture while navigating his own personal narratives. His work is held in private and public collections nationwide, including the Rockwell Museum, Brooklyn Museum of Art, Perez Art Museum Miami and the Scantland Collection of the Columbus Museum of Art. Shimoyama has had solo exhibitions at CAC Malaga in Malaga, Spain, The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, PA, Serlachius Museum in Mänttä, Finland, The Ulrich Museum in Wichita, KS, and most recently at Rowan University's Art Gallery and Museum in Glassboro, NJ. He lives and works in Pittsburgh, PA.
Learn more about Devan Shimoyama.
About the Curlee Raven Holton & Raven Fine Art Editions Distinguished Art Fellowship
The Curlee Raven Holton and Raven Print Editions Fellowship is awarded annually to a distinguished contemporary artist. Through exhibitions, public programs and engagement with Kent State students and the broader community, the fellowship advances the School of Art’s commitment to fostering critical dialogue and artistic excellence. Previous fellows include Stephanie Woods, Willie Cole and RASHAYLA MARIE BROWN (RMB).
- All events are free and open to the public.
- This exhibit is presented with support from the Ohio Arts Council.
About the School of Art
The School of Art at Kent State University was established in 1941 and maintains a tradition of excellence in visual arts education, creation, scholarship and leadership. Its undergraduate and graduate programs in the visual arts offer a range of directions and opportunities in the fields of art education, art history and studio art, which includes a comprehensive array of studio disciplines: ceramics, drawing, glass, jewelry/metals/enameling, painting, print media and photography, sculpture and expanded media and textiles. The School of Art Collection and Galleries consist of six exhibition spaces located on the Kent campus and downtown Kent and a collection of over 4,000 artworks and objects. The School of Art is located at the Center for the Visual Arts at 325 Terrace Dr. in Kent, Ohio. The 27,900-square-foot facility — twice the length of a football field — had its grand opening in 2016 and houses School of Art studios and classrooms.
The CVA Gallery Hours:
Tuesday – Thursday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
