The Ohio Artist Registry (OAR) is an exciting opportunity for artists to share their work, connect with the creative community, and establish an online presence—all on a free, virtual platform! The OAR encourages artists working in all art forms, throughout Ohio and beyond, to create a profile, which allows them to better promote themselves and their work. Being listed in the OAR provides artists with new opportunities to share their work with clients, galleries, patrons, and audiences. A listing in the OAR does not confer an endorsement, approval, or verification by the Ohio Arts Council.
For more information, contact Kathy Signorino, artist programs director, at kathy.signorino@oac.ohio.gov or 614-728-6140.
2025 Ohio Artist Registry Juried Exhibition
Denise A. Harrison
Kent State UniverisityEnglish, Faculty EmeritaTwinsburg Ohio 44087 United States Home Phone: 330-414-3945
Bio
Denise A. Harrison is from Northeast Ohio and is currently residing on Twinsburg, OH with her husband. She holds a BA degree from the University of Akron and an MA degree from Miami of Ohio. She has 4 children. She is a student at Kent State University, College of the Arts, School of the Arts MA program in Studio Textiles. She belongs to a number of academic and art organizations. Her work has been seen in a number of art shows including;
Melancholy Blues. Both Ends of the Rainbow Exhibition, Schweinfurth Art Center, Auburn, NY. February 2 -March 15, 2025.
The Vanguard: Co-Crafting Democracy. The National Women’s History Hall of Fame, Co-Crafting Democracy, Seneca Falls, NY. July 12-Sept. 2, 2024.
The Art of Tourism Waste, Akron Soul Train, May 11-June 28, 2024.
Indigofera Tinctoria Yoruba Diaspora and Blue and Indigo3
“Stitching Stories Celebrating Our Heritage.” African American Quilt and Doll Guild, May 17-18, 2024.
Blue and Indigo3 Quilt. Jan. 26-March 17, 2024, Praxis Fiber Art Workshop, Cleveland, Ohio
Indigofera Tinctoria Yoruba Diaspora. Both Ends of the Rainbow Exhibition, Schweinfurth Art Center, Auburn, NY. January 28 -March 9, 2024.
Open Borders Quilt, Cleveland Humanities Collaborative: Anisfield-Wolf Book Award Summer Seminar, George Makari, Of Fear and Strangers: The History of Xenophobia. March 2023
Organizations/Memberships
The Dairy Barn, Art Center, Quilt National Committee, 2022-25
African American Quilt and Doll Guild and Foundation 2022-present
Not Your Mother’s Quilting Bee, Kent State University student org. Fall 2025
Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards, Teachers Cohort—2017-present
Peace by Piece Quilters-2015-present.
American Quilt Study Group (AQSG)
Akron Soul Train, member
Black Artist Guild, Akron, OH, member
Schweinfurth Art Center, member
Artist Statement
Denise Harrison is a social activist quilt artist in Northeastern Ohio.
As a quilt artist, she has continued her education at Kent State University College of the Arts, School of the Arts Studio Textile. Harrison makes art quilts which confronts the intersection of “race” and gendered identities in her work. She believes abstraction allows her to interrogate her twoness (African diaspora and American) to make art that is Black and American. Her most recent works deconstruct the traditional processes of quilt making from the 3-layer, grid, and repeat pattern construction to a freer form process of layering fiber and fabric in a more abstract form.
Her artistic work recognizes through abstraction the oppression and celebrates the beauty of people of the African Diaspora. She uses fabric painting as an art form of abstraction and visual storytelling. As she conceives works which challenges the viewer, she is reminded of Audre Lorde’s quotes “We cannot live without our lives” and “your silence will not protect you.” Her academic scholarship centers on the history of Black women as quilt artist.
Her work recognizes the humanity of Black people and celebrates the beauty of the people of the African Diaspora. In creating work that recognizes our suffering and giftedness through abstraction, she is therefore envisioning justice in her work.