KOHLER, Wis. – Nov. 6, 2024 – Kohler Co. showcases the relationship between art and manufacturing during Miami Art Week 2024 with a new exhibition titled Makers in Place: Kohler Celebrates 50 Years of Arts/Industry, a vibrant presentation featuring over 30 artworks by artists who have participated in the Arts/Industry residency program. The Arts/Industry residency program, a collaboration between Kohler Co. and John Michael Kohler Arts Center, was founded in 1974 by siblings Ruth DeYoung Kohler II and Herbert V. Kohler, Jr. The residency is widely recognized as one of the most remarkable collaborations between art and industry in the United States. 

Since the residency’s inception, Arts/Industry has provided over 500 artists from around the world the opportunity to access the industrial resources available in Kohler’s factories in Kohler, Wisconsin, and work alongside highly skilled associates, often resulting in unexpected creative synergies. These include industrial designers, engineers, and ceramic, enamel, cast iron, and brass specialists, allowing them to experiment with materials and techniques not typically available in traditional studio settings.

Makers in Place: Kohler Celebrates 50 Years of Arts/Industry is a curated exhibition showcasing distinguished examples of artwork selected from the Kohler Co. Art Collection. Curated by Michelle Grabner, the artwork on display features artists who have integrated Kohler’s industrial processes into their larger artistic practice. The international roster of artists includes Ann Agee, Ghada Amer, Lily Cox-Richard, Jack Earl, Joel Otterson, Woody De Othello, Christine Tarkowski, Tomas Vu, Willie Cole and Theaster Gates among others.

“This exhibition pays tribute to the striking imagination of artists when offered the opportunity to work with industrial processes. In this bountiful presentation of artwork, viewers can appreciate the diverse cultural conversations shaping the qualities of objecthood and materiality, concept and craft, innovation and tradition,” states Michelle Grabner.

The Arts/Industry residency program exemplifies the power of collaboration between artists and industry. This exhibition celebrates this rich history and the residency’s impact on contemporary art and design. The works in the Kohler Art Collection regularly travel to galleries and museums internationally, showcasing the innovative creations that emerge from the Arts/Industry experience. The exhibition offers visitors a unique opportunity to engage in the imagination of artists and their exploration of industrial processes.

Makers in Place: Kohler Celebrates 50 Years of Arts/Industry

Monday, Dec. 2 – Saturday, Dec. 7

Location: 3946 N. Miami Ave

Hours: 12 pm – 10 pm                                         

Media are invited to schedule guided tours of the exhibition, and interviews with artists are available upon request to kohler@suttoncomms.com.

The exhibition is part of a year-long celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the Arts/Industry program. It is one of many events honoring the profound influence the program has had on artists and Kohler Co. associates alike. This anniversary has been commemorated through a dynamic array of exhibitions, special residencies, convenings, and celebrations, both at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center and in Kohler, Wisconsin. For a full list of exhibitions, visit KohlerCompany.com/Arts.

Additionally, the Arts/Industry program will be highlighted in a Design Miami/ Design Talk on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 5:30-6:30pm at the Design Miami/ Fair. Titled “50 Years of Arts/Industry”, the talk will be moderated by Glenn Adamson, Curatorial Director of Design Miami/ 2024.

Panelists include Michelle Grabner, Artist, Teacher and Curator; Joel Otterson, Artist and Sculptor; and Tomas Vu, Artistic Director, LeRoy Neiman Center for Print Studies; LeRoy Neiman Professor of Visual Art, Columbia University; and Jodi Throckmorton, Chief Curator at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center.

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About Kohler Co.

For more than 150 years, Kohler Co. has been a global leader in bold design and innovation, dedicated to helping people live gracious, healthy, and sustainable lives through its kitchen and bath products; luxury cabinetry, tile, and lighting; wellness products and services; and luxury hospitality experiences and major championship golf. Privately held Kohler Co. was founded in 1873 and is headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin. The company also develops sustainable living solutions to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations. Its Innovation for Good platform addresses pressing issues, such as clean water and safe sanitation, with breakthrough products and services for underserved communities. David Kohler serves as Chair and CEO and represents the fourth generation of Kohler family leadership.

About the John Michael Kohler Arts Center

Founded in 1967, the John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC) is dedicated to generating creative exchanges between an international community of artists and a diverse public. The JMKAC’s collection focuses primarily on works by artist-environment builders, self-taught and folk artists, and works created in the Arts/Industry residency program Central to its mission is promoting understanding and appreciation of the work of self-taught and contemporary artists through original exhibitions, commissioned works of art, performing arts, community arts initiatives, and publications. Its satellite campus, the Art Preserve, opened in 2021 to highlight JMKAC’s collection of 25,000 individual works of art by more than 30 art-environment builders.