New Art Shows Spotlight Local Talent

Akron Soul Train is opening its doors to fresh art displays that celebrate local creativity. The gallery will host works by 2026 artists‑in‑residence Josh Maxwell and Kristen Mimms Scavnicky, as well as rising star Nick Lee. All pieces are free to view until July 18.

Josh Maxwell – Working Woods: Altered But Not Erased

Maxwell’s collection mixes sculptures and paintings that draw from Northeast Ohio’s forests. A Cleveland native, he blends art with design, education, and a passion for tree care. His background in biomedical art adds a unique scientific edge to his natural themes.

Kristen Mimms Scavnicky – Siting Ritual: Holding Renewal, Inscribing Resilience

Scavnicky’s project looks at how daily practices keep cultural memories alive. She uses drawings, installations and design to explore memory, identity and the emotional impact of our surroundings. With degrees in architecture from Cincinnati and Kentucky, she now teaches at Kent State University.

Nick Lee – Through Our Nikkei Eyes

Lee brings a different perspective in the CapSOUL Gallery. His exhibition showcases artists of Japanese heritage across the U.S., mixing painting, sculpture, animation, printmaking and documentary work to examine layered identities. Lee’s own pieces sit beside those of Gwen Waight, Joey Leppo, Akira Maynard, Matthew Hashiguchi and Ritsuko Lee. A local painter from Akron, he earned a BFA at Kent State and is working toward an MFA in Iowa.

The gallery itself sits at 191 S. Main St., offering a welcoming space for art lovers to explore these varied voices.