The Diane Kidd Gallery at Tiffin University is pleased to present The Neglect of the Urban Canopy, an exhibition by Cleveland-based artist Eileen Dorsey, on view October 19 through November 30, 2026, in the Hayes Center for the Arts. An artist reception will take place on Friday, October 23, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Diane Kidd Gallery located in the Hayes Center for the Arts. The reception is free and open to the public.
Through vibrant color, expressive brushwork and a gradual transformation of visual detail, Dorsey’s The Neglect of the Urban Canopy explores the environmental consequences of declining urban tree coverage. The exhibition invites viewers to consider the essential role trees play in our communities and the consequences of their continued loss.
Dorsey guides viewers through a visual progression in which color represents the richness and density of a healthy urban tree canopy. As the series unfolds, color begins to disappear and details loosen across the surfaces of the paintings. Although beauty remains visible, the changing imagery raises a pressing question: how long can that beauty survive if the natural environments surrounding us continue to deteriorate?
The exhibition draws particular attention to Cleveland, historically known as the “Forest City.” According to Dorsey’s artist statement, Cleveland’s tree canopy has declined from approximately 96 percent more than a century ago to 18 percent today. This dramatic change serves as a starting point for a broader conversation about urban forestry, environmental responsibility and the long-term effects of losing trees in populated areas.
Beyond their visual beauty, trees provide essential environmental and health benefits. They help filter air pollution, reduce carbon emissions, moderate urban temperatures and contribute to psychological well-being. Dorsey’s work encourages audiences to look beyond the immediate landscape and recognize the interconnected relationship between trees, human health and the future of our communities.
At the heart of the exhibition is a call to action. Because trees take decades to mature, the benefits of protecting and restoring urban canopies often extend far into the future. Dorsey challenges viewers to consider their responsibility to future generations and the importance of making environmental choices today, even when the full benefits may not be realized within our own lifetimes.
Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Dorsey earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from Kent State University. She has exhibited her work throughout the region and beyond, earning recognition in juried exhibitions and art competitions. For nine consecutive years, she was named Best Artist and Best Painter by readers of Cleveland Magazine and Cleveland Scene. In 2021, the mayor of Westlake, Ohio, officially proclaimed July 31 as Eileen Dorsey Day in recognition of her artistic contributions.
Dorsey is widely recognized for her color-infused oil paintings and portraits of local forests. In addition to her studio practice, she creates murals for corporate clients, franchises and public and private spaces. Her projects include the background mural for Twenty One Pilots’ Scaled and Icy album cover and extensive mural work for the Barrio Taco restaurant franchise. Dorsey works from her studio at the 78th Street Studios arts complex in Cleveland.
Through The Neglect of the Urban Canopy, Dorsey combines a distinctive visual language with an urgent environmental message, reminding viewers that the preservation of our natural surroundings requires attention, commitment and action.
For more information, visit the Diane Kidd Gallery’s website at tiffin.edu/arts/diane-kidd-gallery or email Joseph Van Kerkhove at vankerkhovejm@tiffin.edu.