Drawing Interest
Illustration by Erin BarkerStory Art: Works by Regional Book Illustrators
Pearlman and McClure Galleries
Art Academy of Cincinnati, 1212 Jackson St.
Gallery Hours:
Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(Closed Nov. 23–25)
Gallery admission is free and open to the public
Art Academy of Cincinnati is pleased to present Story Art: Works by Regional Book Illustrators, a group exhibition featuring picture book illustrators from Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky in the Pearlman and McClure Galleries. The exhibitions runs Nov. 14 to Dec.12, 2025 with an opening reception on Friday, Nov. 14, 5–8 p.m.
This exhibition celebrates the breadth and variety of talented book illustrators in our region, featuring illustrations made with traditional painting, digitally produced art, photography, and sculptures, as well as a display of the printed books that the illustrations are from. There will also be examples of process material, such as sketches, studies and storyboards.
Every year, Cincinnati hosts the Books by the Banks festival, bringing hundreds of accomplished regional and national authors and illustrators to the Main branch of the Cincinnati Library. Story Art will open the same weekend as the festival, and will include many authors participating in Books by the Banks. This exhibition offers students of the Art Academy and the wider community the opportunity to view the artistry and process of bringing story books to life.
The exhibition is curated by Jeffrey Ebbeler, a New York Times best-selling illustrator. He has illustrated and occasionally written over 60 books for young readers. His published work includes picture books, middle grade and chapter books, and graphic novels. He teaches illustration at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, and is also an AAC alum.
The artists in the exhibition are Erin Barker, Keturah Bobo, Tim Bowers, Jane Dippold, Jeffrey Ebbeler, David FitzSimmons, Barry Gott, Jacob Grant, Fern Haught, Will Hillenbrand, Tara Calahan King, Terri Libenson, Loren Long, Tammy Lyon, Katie Mazeika, T.L. McBeth, Wes Molebash, Debbie Palen, C.F. Payne, Merrill Rainey, Rafael Rosado, Blyth Russo, Chris Sickles, Joe Sutphin, Christina Wald, Lindsay Ward, and Deann Wiley