Come see us! Tell Me a Story Where the Bad Girl Wins: The Life and Art of Barbara Shermund and Selections from Ohio Designer Craftsmen Best of 2024 are now open.
We will be following CDC protocols and state health orders. Face masks are welcome during your visit to the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio. Social distance will be maintained and visitor numbers monitored. Thank you for helping protect our visitors, volunteers, and staff!
We look forward to seeing you!
We will be following CDC protocols and state health orders. Face masks are welcome during your visit to the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio. Social distance will be maintained and visitor numbers monitored. Thank you for helping protect our visitors, volunteers, and staff!
We look forward to seeing you!
Current Exhibition
Tell Me a Story Where the Bad Girl Wins: The Life and Art of Barbara Shermund
Caitlin McGurk, Curator
September 21 - December 29, 2024
Tell Me a Story Where the Bad Girl Wins: The Life and Art of Barbara Shermund showcases the work of Barbara Shermund, the trailblazing feminist cartoonist who, as one of the first women cartoonists for The New Yorker magazine, brought her outspoken women characters to life in a distinctive flowing style that helped shape the visual brand of The New Yorker. Mounted in 2020 but cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, the exhibit returns because of its popularity, visual appeal and relevance, and with an exciting lineup of associated programs.
The exhibition features more than 100 pieces of original cartoon art by Shermund published during the heyday of American magazines, the 1920s-1960s. Curated by Caitlin McGurk, curator
of comics and cartoon art & associate professor at the Ohio State University’s Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum, the artwork in the exhibition represents the best of Shermund’s
work in the Billy Ireland collection and outlines the most prominent themes running through Shermund’s cartoons – Youth & Age, Relationships, Travel, Society, Fashion & Beauty, Modern Art. Also highlighted are selections of her advertising work, early art, men’s magazine cartoons and book illustrations.
In collaboration with The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
With support from The Fox Foundation Inc., Ohio Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom
Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of Ohio Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Caitlin McGurk, Curator
September 21 - December 29, 2024
Tell Me a Story Where the Bad Girl Wins: The Life and Art of Barbara Shermund showcases the work of Barbara Shermund, the trailblazing feminist cartoonist who, as one of the first women cartoonists for The New Yorker magazine, brought her outspoken women characters to life in a distinctive flowing style that helped shape the visual brand of The New Yorker. Mounted in 2020 but cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, the exhibit returns because of its popularity, visual appeal and relevance, and with an exciting lineup of associated programs.
The exhibition features more than 100 pieces of original cartoon art by Shermund published during the heyday of American magazines, the 1920s-1960s. Curated by Caitlin McGurk, curator
of comics and cartoon art & associate professor at the Ohio State University’s Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum, the artwork in the exhibition represents the best of Shermund’s
work in the Billy Ireland collection and outlines the most prominent themes running through Shermund’s cartoons – Youth & Age, Relationships, Travel, Society, Fashion & Beauty, Modern Art. Also highlighted are selections of her advertising work, early art, men’s magazine cartoons and book illustrations.
In collaboration with The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
With support from The Fox Foundation Inc., Ohio Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom
Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of Ohio Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Selections from Best of 2024
September 21 - December 29, 2024
The Ohio Designer Craftsmen "Best of 2024" showcases contemporary fine crafts. Selections from this annual juried members' exhibition will be on display September 21 – December 29, 2024 in the Lower Gallery. Come see these remarkable works in clay, glass, metal, wood, fiber and mixed media by 22 Ohio artists, including 11 who received awards of excellence.
September 21 - December 29, 2024
The Ohio Designer Craftsmen "Best of 2024" showcases contemporary fine crafts. Selections from this annual juried members' exhibition will be on display September 21 – December 29, 2024 in the Lower Gallery. Come see these remarkable works in clay, glass, metal, wood, fiber and mixed media by 22 Ohio artists, including 11 who received awards of excellence.
Fantastic Plastic: 100 Years of Plastic Christmas Decorations
November 29 - December 29, 2024
Step back in time and explore how plastic transformed holiday decorating over the past century. George and Jeanne Johnson’s enchanting display will feature hundreds of vibrant plastic Christmas decorations that have brightened homes from 1920 to 2020. From tree ornaments to window displays, these dazzling decorations tell the story of how plastic revolutionized holiday traditions.
November 29 - December 29, 2024
Step back in time and explore how plastic transformed holiday decorating over the past century. George and Jeanne Johnson’s enchanting display will feature hundreds of vibrant plastic Christmas decorations that have brightened homes from 1920 to 2020. From tree ornaments to window displays, these dazzling decorations tell the story of how plastic revolutionized holiday traditions.
Exhibition Programming
Christmas Curator's Talk
Sunday, December 8, 1:00 pm
$10/$5 member in advance | $15 at door
Join Curator Dr. George Johnson for an informal lecture on Fantastic Plastic: 100 Years of Plastic Christmas Decorations. George will walk visitors through the exhibition and share insights on this unique Christmas collection. Reservations strongly encouraged for Curator's Talks
Sunday, December 8, 1:00 pm
$10/$5 member in advance | $15 at door
Join Curator Dr. George Johnson for an informal lecture on Fantastic Plastic: 100 Years of Plastic Christmas Decorations. George will walk visitors through the exhibition and share insights on this unique Christmas collection. Reservations strongly encouraged for Curator's Talks
Register for Christmas Curator's Talk
Book Launch and Signing
Sunday, November 17, 2:00 pm
Free
Celebrate the release of exhibition curator Caitlin McGurk’s Tell Me a Story Where the Bad Girl Wins: The Life and Art of Barbara Shermund (Fantagraphics, 2024). In her book, McGurk honors the life and art of pioneering cartoonist Barbara Shermund, whose career spanned the heyday of American magazines and helped shape the visual style of The New Yorker. Shermund lived an alternative lifestyle for a woman of her era and was deeply private. The book rightfully places Shermund in the canon of cartoon art history and is a beautiful compendium of Shermund’s artwork. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Please let us know if you plan on attending by registering.
Sunday, November 17, 2:00 pm
Free
Celebrate the release of exhibition curator Caitlin McGurk’s Tell Me a Story Where the Bad Girl Wins: The Life and Art of Barbara Shermund (Fantagraphics, 2024). In her book, McGurk honors the life and art of pioneering cartoonist Barbara Shermund, whose career spanned the heyday of American magazines and helped shape the visual style of The New Yorker. Shermund lived an alternative lifestyle for a woman of her era and was deeply private. The book rightfully places Shermund in the canon of cartoon art history and is a beautiful compendium of Shermund’s artwork. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Please let us know if you plan on attending by registering.
Holiday Open House
Saturday, December 14, 6:00-8:00 pm
Celebrate the holidays with us and enjoy an evening of Fantastic Plastic: 100 Years of Plastic Christmas Decorations.
Saturday, December 14, 6:00-8:00 pm
Celebrate the holidays with us and enjoy an evening of Fantastic Plastic: 100 Years of Plastic Christmas Decorations.
For more classes, visit our Programs, Classes and Events page. For information on the DACO Gala, visit the Gala page.
Upcoming Exhibitions
The Nearest Faraway Place: Ohio's Painters, Makers & Their Mentors
David and Constance Terry, Curators
January 25 - April 26, 2025
Whether native born or those that migrated from other states, there have been many artists who call Ohio home. These painters and makers were also influenced and transformed by various mentors, be it from their travels abroad or from artists and educators right here in Ohio.
This manifold group has passed on their knowledge in an endless chain that continues to grow and influence today, and has given us a plethora of compelling works to call Ohio’s own.
The Nearest Faraway Place features a diverse historical look at how the coming and going of these artists and their influences shaped Ohio as a creative hub between states and continents for the 20th and 21st centuries.
David and Constance Terry, Curators
January 25 - April 26, 2025
Whether native born or those that migrated from other states, there have been many artists who call Ohio home. These painters and makers were also influenced and transformed by various mentors, be it from their travels abroad or from artists and educators right here in Ohio.
This manifold group has passed on their knowledge in an endless chain that continues to grow and influence today, and has given us a plethora of compelling works to call Ohio’s own.
The Nearest Faraway Place features a diverse historical look at how the coming and going of these artists and their influences shaped Ohio as a creative hub between states and continents for the 20th and 21st centuries.
Previous Exhibitions
- June 1 - August 25, 2024 -- Bottomless Cocktail: The Art of Shag
- Jan. 27 - April 28, 2024 -- From Struggle to Strength: Inspiring Journeys of Central Ohio's Refugee Community
- Jan. 27 - April 28, 2024 -- Perspective of Color
- Sept. 30 - Dec. 31, 2023 -- It's an Honor to Be Here: Ohio Nature Artists in Their Natural State
- Nov. 24 - Dec. 31, 2023 -- Homemade, Handmade & Artist-made Christmas
- Sept. 30 - Dec. 31, 2023 -- Duck Decoys of Ohio
- June 3 - August 27, 2023 -- Intrinsic Luminescence
- Feb. 4 - April 23, 2023 -- Flower Power: Flora in Fashion
- Sept. 24 - Dec. 31, 2022 -- Ohio: The Start of It All
- May 21 - August 28, 2022 -- Chronicles: The Great Depression and the Pandemic
- Jan. 29 - April 24, 2022 -- Hindsight: The Art of Looking Back
- June 5, 2021 - Jan. 2, 2022 -- Distinctly Paramount: Fashion & Costume from the Paramount Pictures Archive
- Nov. 21, 2020 - February 28, 2021 -- Russian Decorative Arts from the Tsars to the USSR
- July 18 - October 25, 2020 -- 2 + 3 x 18: Diptychs and Triptychs by 18 Contemporary Ohio Artists
- Jan. 25 - April 26, 2020 -- Tell Me a Story Where the Bad Girl Wins: The Life and Art of Barbara Shermund
- Sept. 21 - Dec. 29, 2019 -- The Ohio Presidents: Surprising Legacies
- May 25 - Aug. 18, 2019 -- Selections from the Pizzuti Collection
- Jan. 26 - April 28, 2019 -- Lilly's World: Decorative Arts & the Art of Lilly Martin Spencer, 1840-1900
- Sept. 15 - Dec. 30, 2018 -- Imagining a Better World: The Artwork of Nelly Toll
- May 19 - Aug. 19, 2018 -- Creating the Illusion: Costumes & Characters from the Paramount Pictures Archive
- Jan. 20 - April 15, 2018 -- Artists of the Winding Road A-Z
- Sept. 9- Dec. 31, 2017 -- In Our Own Image: The Genesis of Photography and the Contemporary Eye
- May 20 - Aug. 13, 2017 -- Three Voices: Conversations on Life and Conflict
- Feb. 4 - April 23, 2017 -- Circular Abstractions: Bull's Eye Quilts
- Sept. 10 - Dec. 31, 2016 -- An Ohio Childhood: 200 Years of Growing Up
- May 21- Aug. 14, 2016 -- Edith Head and Company: Costumes and Jewelry, 1924-2015
- Jan 23 - April 24, 2016 -- Blue Walk: The Art of William Kortlander
- Sept. 12 – Dec. 31, 2015 -- Early Visions of Ohio - 1765-1865
- June 20 – Aug. 23, 2015 -- Persistence of Nature: Featuring the works of James Mason and Karen Rumora
- February 7 - May 17, 2015 -- A Tradition of Progress: Ohio Decorative Arts 1860-1945
- Oct. 25 - Dec. 31, 2014 -- Campana Brothers: Brazilian Design Now
- June 7 - Aug. 24, 2014 -- Designing Woman: Edith Head at Paramount 1924-1967
- Jan. 25 - April 13, 2014 -- My Best Friends are Potters: Ceramics from the Tim Frederich Collection
- Oct. 26 - Dec. 29, 2013 -- Joseph O'Sickey: Unifying Art, Life and Love
- May 4 - Sept. 1, 2013 -- Gorgeous Threads: A World of Textiles
- Jan. 26 - April 7, 2013 -- A Remarkable Menagerie: Animals in Art
- Oct. 20 - Dec. 30, 2012 -- Outcault/Stahler
- June 23 – Sept. 9, 2012 -- Appalachian Strings
- Jan. 21 – May 20, 2012 -- Looking Forward
- Oct. 22, 2011 – Dec. 31, 2011 -- Once Upon a Page
- June 26 – Sept. 4, 2011 -- David Hostetler Unabridged
- Jan. 29 - June 5, 2011 -- Equal in Goodness: Ohio Decorative Arts
- Oct. 23, 2010 - Jan. 2, 2011 -- The Creative Spirit
- May 22 - Sept. 5, 2010 -- Paul Hamilton: Poetry of Place
- Jan. 30 - April 18, 2010 -- Artful Paper: Cut, Folded and Fabulous
- Oct. 3, 2009 - Jan. 3, 2010 -- The Shakers: Abiding Inspiration in Faith and Design
- June 25 - Sept. 6, 2009 -- Along Water Street: New Work by Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson
- April 4 - June 7, 2009 -- Nancy Miller: An Artist's Creative Journey