Thomas Schroth Visiting Artist Series

Presented jointly by the College of Architecture and Environmental Design and the College of the Arts.

Since 2001, the Thomas Schroth Visiting Artist Series has presented guest artists respected in the field of theatre, dance, visual arts, music and architecture including such noted artists as Tony award-winners Stephen Schwartz, the composer of "Wicked," "Into the Woods" and more; "Next to Normal" actress Alice Ripley; the Grammy-winning Emerson String Quartet; postmodern minimalist artist Richard Tuttle; artists and fashion designers Ruben and Isabel Toledo; the internationally acclaimed dance company, Ballet Florida; and actor, dancer and arts advocate Ben Vereen and the Limon Dance Group, just to name a few.

The Schroth series was established by Cecile Draime and her late husband, Max, of Warren, Ohio, to honor their dear friend Thomas Schroth (1922-1997). A noted regional architect, Schroth designed the Butler Institute of Art’s Trumbull museum in Howland, as well as numerous other award-winning projects. Thomas Schroth spent his life in Niles, Ohio, as a prominent architect and inveterate collaborator in the artistic life of the Mahoning Valley and Northeast Ohio. A world traveler, he saw human creativity as a window framing human experience. The Thomas Schroth Visiting Artist Series brings diverse views through that window to the Kent campus and community.

The events are always free and open to the public.

2025-2026 Thomas Schroth Visiting Artist Series

Jane Chu
Artists as Leaders and Entrepreneurs
Sept. 9-11, 2025

Paul Tazewell
Costume Designer
Sept. 17-19, 2025

Bobby Sanabria
Drummer, Percussionist, Composer, Arranger, Bandleader, Educator
Oct. 6-10, 2025

Krzysztof Wodiczko
Cultural Prosthetics: Projections and Instrumentations
Dates to come

Adam Furman
Artist and Designer
Feb. - March, 2026

A Selection of Previous Thomas Schroth Guest Artists

Jeanne Gang, Artist

The Thomas Schroth Visiting Artist Series at Kent State University will present a free, public lecture by architect Jeanne Gang FAIA, LEED AP on Thurs., Jan. 28, 2016 at 7:30 pm at Kent State University’s University Auditorium in Cartwright Hall. The event is free and open to everyone. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Reservations are not required, and the lecture will be followed by a complimentary dessert reception. Gang is the founding principal of Studio Gang, an architecture and urbanism practice in Chicago and New York that specializes in sustainability, collaboration and material experimentation. She is a MacArthur Fellow and recipient of the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award.

Internationally recognized for her innovative use of materials and environmentally sensitive approach, Gang explores the role of design in revitalizing cities. Through projects ranging in scale from community anchors and cultural institutions to tall mixed-use buildings and urban planning, she engages pressing contemporary issues and their impact on human experience. Addressing global issues through local engagement, she has produced some of today’s most compelling design work, including the Aqua Tower (Chicago), Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo, WMS Boathouse at Clark Park, and Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership. Jeanne Gang and Studio Gang are currently engaged in major projects throughout the United States, including the expansion and renovation of the American Museum of Natural History, tall buildings in San Francisco and New York, and the Campus North Residence Hall for the University of Chicago.

Gang’s work has been exhibited widely, including at the Venice Architecture Biennale, the Chicago Architecture Biennial, and the Art Institute of Chicago. She is the author of Reveal: Studio Gang Architects and Reverse Effect: Renewing Chicago’s Waterways.

In 2011, Gang was recognized by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation as a MacArthur Fellow. The Foundation's stated aim is to "support creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world.” Typically, the award is issued to 20 to 25 citizens or residents of the United States, of any age and working in any field, who "show exceptional merit and promise for continued and enhanced creative work."

Gang’s work has been honored and exhibited widely, including at the Venice Architecture Biennale, the Chicago Architecture Biennial, and the Art Institute of Chicago. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Gang is a distinguished graduate of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, she has taught at Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.

, her first volume on Studio Gang’s work and process, was published in 2011, followed by , which envisions a radically greener future for the Chicago River.

Nick Cave, Artist

Nick Cave is an artist, educator and foremost a messenger, working between the visual and performing arts through a wide range of mediums including sculpture, installation, video, sound and performance. "I have found my middle and now am working toward what I am leaving behind," said Cave. Cave is well known for his Soundsuits, sculptural forms based on the scale of his body. Soundsuits camouflage the body, masking and creating a second skin that conceals race, gender, and class, forcing the viewer to look without judgment. The “Soundsuits ” are unique, full-body outfits crafted from discarded objects found in antique shops and flea markets. The kaleidoscope of colorful works of art is wearable fabric structures that are considered part sculpture, part costume. The hybrid creations have been described as part Alexander McQueen, part Andy Warhol, and wholly bizarre, brash, and beautiful. He combines elements of sound, performance, color, and costume to create whimsical works that even the darkest soul would find hard to resist.   

Born in Missouri, Nick Cave showed an early talent for performance before moving to New York City to dance with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Followed by visual art studies in Missouri and Michigan, Cave's genre-expanding work straddles both dance and visual art to explore the ways that African identity is subsumed into disparate cultural codes. Director of the fashion graduate program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Cave has built a notable reputation as an educator and artist.

John Raimondi, Sculptor

Raimondi’s lecture entitled “The Evolution of Monumental Sculptures” recounted the process in which he creates the mammoth bronze (and sometimes steel) sculptures, which soar as tall as 60 feet. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Raimondi is a creator of monumental works, which are solid in form and fluid in movement. His sculptures are known for their lyrical qualities. He is arguably the most successful creator anywhere of public sculpture on a monumental scale, with works in twenty-seven states and several European countries.

Raimondi has completed more than 100 monumental sculptures for public, corporate and private collections worldwide. His current work, incorporating the myths and iconography of Native American Indians, uses the tension created by sweeping lines to evoke the courage and tragedy of a proud and noble people. Raimondi is of international distinction. “I will be showing a 43-year history highlighting the monumental sculptures that I have done across the country and world,” said Raimondi.

“Students will definitely benefit from Raimondi’s strong and varied art background,” said Effie Tsengas, coordinator of the Schroth Series Lecture. “His vast knowledge comes from his avid art collecting.” Raimondi said, “I’ve been collecting art for as long as he’s been making it.” During Raimondi’s visit, he will be doing studio visits with a diverse group of art students at both the graduate and undergraduate level.

What all these series have in common is Raimondi’s classical sense of design and craftsmanship, an aesthetic developed while studying at the Portland School of Fine & Applied Art (now the Maine College of Art), Massachusetts College of Art and Harvard University.

Limon Dance Company

Under the artistic direction of Carla Maxwell, the Limón Dance Company is hailed as one of the world’s greatest dance companies. The Limón Dance Company has been at the vanguard of American Modern dance since its inception in 1946. The Company is the living legacy of the dance theater developed by José Limón and his mentors, Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman, whose innovative works revolutionized the American dance. After Limón’s death in 1972, the Company pioneered the idea that it was possible to survive the death of its founder, setting an example for the entire dance field. Now in its 67th year, the Company is renowned for its technical mastery and dramatic expression, and demonstrates both the timelessness of José Limón’s works and the humanistic vision that guides the repertory choices.

Current Artistic Director Carla Maxwell worked closely with Limón before becoming Artistic Director in 1978. The Company has been committed to producing and presenting programs that balance classic works of American modern dance with commissions and acquisitions from contemporary choreographers, resulting in a repertory of unparalleled breadth. In its first half-century, the Company achieved many important milestones: it was the first group to tour under the auspices of the American Cultural Exchange Program (1954), the first dance troupe to perform at Lincoln Center (1963), and has had the honor of appearing twice at The White House (1967 and 1995). More recently the José Limón Dance Foundation was awarded a 2008 National Medal of Arts, the nation’s highest honor for artistic excellence.

Thijs Verhaar and Lyske Gais

Kent, OH – Kent State University welcomed Thijs Verhaar and Lyske Gais to the Kent Campus on Wednesday, March 20 in Rockwell Hall. Sponsored by the Thomas Schroth Visiting Artist Series, Verhaar and Gais gave an engaging presentation and workshop about “Revolutionizing The Way of Knitwear Development.”

Thijs Verhaar, founder of Knitwear Lab, a knit design lab and consultancy, also designs for his own label, Thijs Verhaar Knitwear. With over 30 years in industrial knitting, his creations are inspired by the vibrant colors and geometric patterns found in European culture and design. Lyske Gais, Head of Virtual Knitting at Knitwear Lab, navigates between the analog and digital realms. With a diverse skill set spanning spatial design, graphic design, and 3D visualizations, she works with Virtual Knitting—an innovative approach to digital knitting programming and design, technology and craftsmanship.

The Thomas Schroth Visiting Artist Series

The Thomas Schroth Visiting Artist Series has presented guest artists respected in the field of theatre, dance, visual arts, music and architecture. Now in its 14^th year, The Thomas Schroth Visiting Artist Series has brought such noted artists as Tony award-winners Stephen Schwartz, composer of Wicked, Into the Woods, and more; Next to Normal actress Alice Ripley; Grammy-winning Emerson String Quartet; postmodern minimalist artist Richard Tuttle; artists and fashion designers Ruben and Isabel Toledo; and internationally-acclaimed dance company, Ballet Florida, and actor, dancer and arts advocate Ben Vereen and the Limon Dance Group, just to name a few.

The Schroth series was established in 2001 by Cecile Draime and her late husband Max of Warren, Ohio, to honor their dear friend, Thomas Schroth (1922-1997). A noted regional architect, Schroth designed the Butler Institute of Art’s Trumbull museum in Howland, as well as numerous other award-winning projects. Thomas Schroth spent his life in Niles, Ohio, as a prominent architect and inveterate collaborator in the artistic life of the Mahoning Valley and Northeast Ohio. A world traveler, he saw human creativity as a window framing human experience. The Thomas Schroth Visiting Artist Series brings diverse views through that window to the Kent campus and community. The events are always free and open to the public.

Pauline St. Denis, Photographer

The Thomas Schroth Visiting Artist Series at Kent State University presented a free, public lecture, “Synergy with Fashion and Lifestyle Branding- The Art of Photography Using Imagery and Story to Promote the Product,” by fashion photographer Pauline St. Denis on Wed., April 25 at 10:30 a.m. at Kent State University’s Rockwell Hall.

��è��Ƶ Pauline St. Denis

In the vibrant cityscape of New York City, one name stands out in the realm of photography - Pauline St. Denis. An accomplished photographer and live-action director, her artistic mastery spans over 25 years across international borders. Her portfolio, brimming with lifestyle, advertising, fashion, celebrity, and fine arts photography, is a vivid testament to her ceaseless creativity, remarkable versatility, and unwavering dedication.

St. Denis' lens paints with a cinematic flair, capturing the ephemeral dance of light, movement, and time. Her images pulsate with life, far from the realms of the static or sculptural. They are kinetic, dynamic, and authentic. She has crafted highly stylized images for a diverse clientele, showcasing her ability to innovate and adapt across various formats. Her pioneering spirit has led her to explore unconventional tools, notably earning her the title of a "Holga Inspire" artist.

Beyond her artistic accomplishments, St. Denis distinguishes herself through a steadfast commitment to mentorship. She generously imparts her unique photographic and film techniques to students during weekend sessions, nurturing the creative sparks of the next generation of photographers. Her efforts have been acknowledged in "American Photographer," attesting to her influence in the industry.

St. Denis' work has graced the pages of esteemed publications such as The New York Times and American Photographer, further cementing her status within the industry. Additionally, she has authored two books: "Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity" and "Holga Inspiration Artist." Her outstanding work has led to nominations for the prestigious Alfred Eisenstaedt Award in three categories: fashion, portrait, and celebrity photography.

Her portfolio is a constellation of celebrities, featuring captivating portraits of Sharon Stone, Adrian Brody, Kenny Lonergan, John Bon Jovi, and rising stars like Joey Phillips from Outlander, Malcolm Kamulete, Ella-Rae-Smith, Tobie Donovan from Heartstoppers, and Vanessa Vanderpuye.

Since 1981, St. Denis has remained a relevant figure in an ever-changing industry. Her audience extends to younger, budding photographers and business clients who value her dual role as an artist and mentor. Beyond her editorial work, she excels in wedding photography, adding another layer to her multifaceted skill set.

In an industry where images can sometimes feel stagnant, Pauline St. Denis infuses each frame with a breath of life. Her modern, dynamic approach, love for emulsion, cinematic influence, and relentless creativity transform her from a mere photographer into an artist and mentor. Her work is not just about capturing moments; it's about inspiring a new generation of visual storytellers.

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