2027 Biennial Alumni Exhibition

This free juried exhibit is open to all alumni (Undergraduate or Graduate) of the Kent State University, School of Art. Show Dates: January 19 – February 12, 2027, reception: January 22, 5 – 7 p.m.. The Biennial Alumni Exhibition, seeks to bring together and highlight the wide array of talented alumni throughout the eighty-plus year history of the School of Art.

About This Year's Juror

Hilary Gent is a painter whose work explores both urban and natural landscapes through oil and latex mediums. Her recent paintings utilize latex house paint that is mixed in cups and poured in successive layers onto the canvas. Drawing inspiration from the extensive color palettes found in reflections of light, landscapes, and surrounding objects on water, Gent creates works that evoke the sensory experience of place. Touch, sound, and sight inform her personal connection to the landscape, which she translates into richly layered abstract paintings.

In addition to her studio practice, Gent is the owner and operator of HEDGE Gallery, located within the 78th Street Studios arts complex in Cleveland, Ohio. For the past sixteen years, she has curated public exhibitions, launched arts initiatives, and organized dynamic receptions for artists and organizations. Through this work, she has helped shape and expand public engagement with the visual arts, transforming how residents and visitors experience the cultural landscape of Northeast Ohio.