PEPPER PIKE, Ohio — During her recently completed Emerging Artist Residency at the Orange Art Center, Lauren Sylvia reflected on the lasting bond with her “soul pet,” Twila — a cat companion who was by her side for nearly 20 years.

The work of Sylvia, a multi-media artist from Cleveland Heights, will be displayed in her residency exhibition, “The Many Hues Between Brown and Blue.”

The art center’s first Emerging Artist Residency exhibition opens to the public during the Orange Community Art Fest Aug. 16 and will remain on view through Sept. 30.

The Art Fest will be held at the Orange Art Center, 31500 Chagrin Blvd. in Pepper Pike. Hours for the show are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

Sylvia’s exhibition begins with a preview from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 16.

“Our inaugural residency surpassed all expectations,” Destyni Green, Orange Art Center coordinator, said in a news release.

“Lauren’s thoughtful body of work shows how transformative dedicated time and space can be. We are grateful for the opportunity to champion emerging artists.”

Launched this spring, the Emerging Artist Residency offers a four‑week studio immersion for early‑career visual artists living in Northeast Ohio.

Residents receive private studio access, professional mentorship, a stipend with a supply budget and a solo exhibition with an artist talk or workshop.

Additional benefits include access to the Orange Art Center’s painting and ceramics facilities, onsite storage and career‑development resources.

Sylvia’s residency ran March 11 through April 4.

“My experience at the Orange Art Center has been truly incredible, something I’ll never forget and will always be grateful for,” Sylvia said in the news release.

“Having a spacious studio to spread out and let my ideas flow has deeply impacted the way my work has evolved.”

Through themes of love, loss and remembrance, Sylvia honors a connection that transcends the physical in her exhibition, according to the news release.

Using watercolor and acrylic on raw canvas, Yupo (waterproof) paper and Brusho pigments, she explores presence, memory and devotion.

A hallmark of Sylvia’s practice is her ability to blend vulnerability with intention, creating space for reflection and discovery, the release said.

Her willingness to experiment with new materials and techniques helped her reconnect with Twila on a deeper level, expanding the emotional range of the series.

“This has been a powerful part of my healing journey,” Sylvia said in the news release.

“It’s helped me realize that this wasn’t just a loss, but also a new beginning.”

A native of Wooster, Sylvia is a self-taught artist who did not study art formally at an institution, Green said.

This is her first solo exhibition.

Sylvia has exhibited in group exhibitions since 2020, Green said.

Her work has been shown at local institutions such as the Morgan Conservatory, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Future Ink Graphics and Waterloo Arts — all in Cleveland — and the Ursuline College Gallery in Pepper Pike.

She also has done independent and collaborative mural works throughout Northeast Ohio.

Sylvia lives in Cleveland Heights with her husband, Davon, and their young daughter, Ruby.

“Launching this residency has been a milestone for OAC, and we look forward to supporting more emerging voices in the future,” Green said in the news release.

The Orange Community Art Fest is free and open to the public, but preregistration is required. To register, go to orangeartcenter.org/art-fest.

To learn more about Sylvia and her residency, visit orangeartcenter.org/blog.

The Orange Art Center is a division of Orange Community Education and Recreation. It offers high-quality visual arts classes, workshops, exhibitions and community events for all ages.

The Orange Art Center will open applications for the next Emerging Artist Residency this fall. Program details and deadlines will be posted at orangeartcenter.org/emerging-artist-residency.

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