FEBRUARY

Shahzia Sikander: Collective Behavior opens. A career-spanning exhibition of the internationally renowned Pakistani and American artist, the exhibition follows Sikander’s primary ideas and inquiries throughout her work, rooted in a recurring lexicon of forms, figures, and ideas. It is the largest and most comprehensive presentation of the artist’s career. An iteration of Collective Behavior simultaneously opens at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The exhibition premiered as a Collateral Event of the 60th International Art Exhibition—La Biennale di Venezia in 2024, co-organized by CAM and the CMA.

CAM is named #3 Best Art Museum by USA Today’s 10Best Readers Poll.

MARCH

One decade down! The Rosenthal Education Center (REC) celebrates its 10th anniversary with an art-filled party featuring activities with previous artists in residence, dancing, face painting, and special guests like Dick and Kitty Rosenthal! The celebration is one of the main highlights of the A RECade: 10 Years of the Rosenthal Education Center installation.

APRIL

Spring brings a fresh look to the Museum Shop, which reopens after a major renovation with an inviting new design that highlights local artists, unique gifts, and museum-inspired keepsakes.

APRIL (cont.)

April continues to bloom—literally and figuratively—with record-breaking attendance for Art in Bloom. More than 12,000 visitors experience breathtaking floral interpretations of artworks throughout the galleries, making it the most attended Art in Bloom in CAM’s history.

APRIL (cont.)

April also sees the opening of Cycle Thru! The Art of the Bike, featuring Pee-wee Herman’s customized 1953 Schwinn DX Cruiser. The bike starred in Tim Burton’s 1985 film, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.

APRIL (cont.)

April also saw the opening of Tintoretto’s Genesis, which reunites newly conserved Renaissance masterpieces.

The Foundation for Italian Art & Culture honors and recognizes CAM and Louis and Louise Dieterle Nippert Director Cameron Kitchin for contributions to the promotion of Italian culture.

To cap off an incredible spring, CAM receives multiple CityBeat’s Best of Cincinnati awards, including #1 Museum and #1 Art Museum.

MAY

CAM names Julie Ribits as its new Head Conservator, advancing the museum’s commitment to preservation and care of the collection.

MAY (cont.)

Outside on the museum grounds, a new sculpture—One-Seater Concrete Tree by Spanish artist Nacho Carbonell—is unveiled. Standing nearly 12 feet tall, the work invites visitors to pause and reflect beneath its canopy.

Nacho Carbonell (Spanish, b. 1980, works in The Netherlands) One-Seater Concrete Tree, 2022, metal mesh, cork, steel, concrete, light fittings, Museum Purchase: Contemporary Art Deaccession Fund, Lawrence Archer Wachs Trust, On to the Second Century Art Purchase Fund, Weston Endowment for Contemporary Art, Jimmie Otten Gillespie Memorial Fund, 2024.01

MAY (cont.)

Inside, 2025 Rosenthal Education Center (REC) Artist in Residence Karen Saunders transforms the REC with You and Me and the Space Between: Our Expedition Starts Now—an interactive installation inviting visitors to step inside a landscape painting.

The annual ArtsWave campaign raises $12.3 million for the region’s arts. As a Sustaining Impact grantee, CAM is proud to once again participate in a workforce fundraising campaign.

JUNE

The summer season begins with the opening of Farm to Table: Food and Identity in the Age of Impressionism, exploring the intersections of art, gastronomy, and national identity in the fin-de-siècle France. The exhibition showcases paintings and sculptures, including the work of Claude Monet, Eva Gonzalèz, and Vincent van Gogh.

Member Appreciation Week (June 24–29) follows, featuring behind-the-scenes tours, art-making activities, and an outdoor picnic—a perfect kickoff to summer.

JULY

CAM announces a transformative gift from Mary W. Baskett in support of the Fashion Arts and Textiles Collection, endowing the position of the Curator of Fashion Arts and Textiles (the museum’s first endowed curatorial position) and creating a forthcoming dedicated gallery for the display of fashion.

AUGUST

The museum receives three Ohio Arts Council grants—one supporting staff leadership in accessibility, one for school-based learning, and another strengthening operational sustainability—underscoring CAM’s role as a leader in inclusion and innovation.

SEPTEMBER

Autumn ushers in Rediscovered Treasures, revealing remarkable works from the museum’s collection that had recently undergone conservation or been reattributed through new scholarship.

CAM introduces a new wellness initiative, Member Yoga with Olympic marathoner Julie Isphording, inviting participants to find balance and mindfulness.

The month concludes with the announcement of Board Officers and New Trustees: Chair Bruce Petrie, Jr., Bricker Graydon (retired); President Andrew Quinn, Bardes Corp.; Vice President Eric Kearney, Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce and former Ohio state senator; Treasurer Cheryl Rose, Constellation Wealth Advisors; and Secretary Jake Ragland, Salt Creek Capital.

Four newly elected trustees will serve their first term from 2025–2028: Shakila Ahmad, PhD (h.c.); Ivy Bayer; Ryan Hays, PhD; and Kristi Nelson, PhD. As president of the CAM Catalysts—the museum’s YP board—Natalie Leonard will serve as a trustee from 2025–2027.

OCTOBER

Recall. Reframe. Respond. The Art of Paul Scott opens and offers a fresh, thought-provoking take on art, history, and American experiences.

The month marks a milestone moment for the museum: the launch of its new Strategic Plan. This four-year strategy focuses on deepening community connections, organizational wellbeing and sustainability, and radical hospitality and learning.

OCTOBER (cont.)

And for the first time, the museum’s annual gala and Cincinnati Art Award come together in a single celebration, recognizing community leaders who champion the arts while raising essential support for the museum’s exhibitions and programs. This year’s honorees are Rhonda and Larry Sheakley, whose leadership, vision, and generosity have transformed the cultural landscape of Cincinnati. In 2022, the Sheakleys’ gift to A New View—CAM’s most ambitious fundraising effort in its history—enabled the museum to surpass its campaign goal. In recognition of the Sheakleys’ extraordinary contributions, the museum names its renowned Cincinnati Wing in their honor. 

NOVEMBER

Humor takes center stage with the opening of What, Me Worry? The Art and Humor of MAD Magazine. The exhibition delights visitors with original illustrations, political satire, and pop culture moments from the popular publication that defined generations of wit and irreverence.

We welcome back our blood drive in partnership with Hoxworth Blood Center, Taft Museum of Art, and the Contemporary Arts Center generating donations to help save 180 potential lives.

DECEMBER

CAM Nights & Holiday Lights in Partnership with BLINK® lights up the Alice Bimel Courtyard with a projection light show created by local artist Chaske Haverkos and provides more opportunities to visit the museum with extended hours throughout December—a perfect way to end the year.

Our achievements this year would not be possible without you. Thank you for your support throughout 2025. We look forward to welcoming you back in 2026 for another year of art and inspiration!