Cincinnati Art Museum Acquires Two New Ceramics for its Decorative Art Collection

The Cincinnati Art Museum’s decorative arts collection just got bigger by the size of two teapots. While the ceramic additions by artist Roberto Lugo are modest in size, they hold a message greater than their tangible capacity.

The works, “Annie Ruth and Robert O’Neal Teapot” and “Bootsy Collins and Kathryne Gardette Teapot” feature portraits of the titled Black and Brown leaders in Cincinnati before beautifully hand-painted and patterned backgrounds. The artwork’s subjects are prominent leaders who work to create equity and promote dialogue and art in local communities.

“Lugo draws from his lived experience and deep knowledge of ceramic history to create works that elevate the people and cultural movements that have been overlooked or misrepresented in the historical record of ceramics,” according to a Cincinnati Art Museum (CAM) press release. “His multicultural mashups often combine classic forms and patterns with elements of hip-hop.”

Each individual depicted on the teapots is recognized as a local and even national leader in connecting art to communities in impactful ways. Annie Ruth is a local artist, author and educator who works to empower women and girls. The late Robert O’Neal founded Cincinnati’s Arts Consortium and provided inner-city youth with artistic opportunities and education. Bootsy Collins is a master of funk who helped put Cincinnati on the map as a city rooted in music. He is also a mentor to local youth musicians. Kathryn Gardette, Walnut Hills Area Council president, is a member of an experiential learning program that employs performance and media as tools called Drums for Peace.

Lugo made the teapots for the Hi-Def Archives exhibition that features his ceramics and runs at CAM through Sept. 24. Prominently included in this collection is a four-foot-tall vase that depicts Cincinnati-native hip-hop artist and producer Hi-Tek on one side and a portrait of downtown Cincinnati on the other.

“Showing his work in conversation with selections from the museum’s Rookwood collection, Lugo examines intersections of community, place, and identity, celebrating the rich craft history of Cincinnati while simultaneously recontextualizing the impact of ceramics as contemporary cultural objects that honor all of us,” CAM’s website reads.

Roberto Lugo: Hi-Def Archives runs through Sept. 24 in the Sara M. and Michelle Vance Waddell Gallery and the Manuel and Rhoda Mayerson Gallery, located across from the Terrace Café. No tickets are required for this exhibition. General admission to the museum is also free. Visit cincinnatiartmuseum.org for more information.
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