Cai Guo-Qiang: Cuyahoga River Lightning features three monumental gunpowder works by Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang (b. 1957), known for his explosion events, gunpowder paintings, and installations, all using environmentally friendly material.

While Cuyahoga River Lightning: Drawing for the Cleveland Museum of Art (2018) was created especially for the exhibition, the other two exhibited works in monochrome and polychrome gunpowder illustrate the artist’s reflections on the state of our planet, wildlife, and the world’s diminishing natural reserves of fresh water.

The Cleveland Museum of Art is pleased to present this exhibition as part of Cuyahoga50, a citywide commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the last Cuyahoga River fire and celebration of the progress made toward clean water for all.