Release Date: August 27,2026
Internationally Acclaimed Sculptor Chakaia Booker to Create Monumental Sculpture for Akron’s Lock 3
Commission Marks Akron’s First Major Contemporary Outdoor Sculpture by a Woman Artist; Unveiled Work Will Launch A Celebration of Public Art Highlighting Regional Artists
August 27, 2026, AKRON, Ohio — Today, the City of Akron, Curated Storefront, and the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition are announcing that a sculpture by internationally acclaimed artist Chakaia Booker will be installed at Lock 3 this fall. Made primarily from recycled racing tires donated by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, the work honors Akron's industrial heritage in the tire industry while reflecting the region's leadership in polymer innovation. The artist was selected by the Lock 3 Art Task Force, and the proposed concept of the sculpture was approved by the City of Akron Public Art Commission. It was commissioned by the nonprofit arts organization Curated Storefront, with additional support from individual donors to Curated Storefront, VIA Art Fund, including generous partial support from Maja Kristin through the Women Moving Millions Art Catalyst Fund, the City of Akron, and the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition.
Preparation work for the sculpture’s installation is happening now in Lock 3. The installation will take place Monday and Tuesday, October 26 and 27.
The Public Is Invited To Celebrate The Arrival Of The New Sculpture
Artist Talk With Chakaia Booker
Wednesday, October 28 | 6 PM
Akron Art Museum, 1 South High Street, Akron
Naming And Dedication Ceremony
Thursday, October 29 | 1 PM
Lock 3, 200 South Main Street, Akron
Both events are free and open to the public. Use this link to learn more about Chakaia Booker and to register to attend these events.
Historic And Local Significance
Beyond these dates, the sculpture's placement carries deeper meaning for Akron.
Rising 17 feet near the Main Street entrance of Lock 3, the sculpture’s twin petals crafted from stainless steel and recycled Goodyear Racing Eagle tires will frame the pathway through the Cynthia and Landon Knight Hemlock Walk.
Positioned in Lock 3 overlooking the Ohio & Erie Canal, the sculpture connects Akron’s past as a manufacturing hub with its present and future as a center for innovation. This commission marks a milestone as Akron’s first major contemporary outdoor sculpture by a woman artist.
“Booker’s striking installation transforms one of Akron’s signature materials into a symbol of the city’s industrial and creative evolution,” said Heather Meeker, Executive Director of Curated Storefront. “The commission celebrates an artist whose work deeply connects with Akron’s identity.”
Looking ahead to the fall celebration, Meeker added: “This dedication is about more than a single installation. Alongside Booker’s work, downtown storefronts will feature regional artists working in Akron today. We invite the public to experience the dedication, explore the art revitalizing our historic spaces, and discover more about the public art and artists — past and present — who have helped shape Akron’s cultural life.”
Artists connected to Akron and the region who will be on view in Curated Storefront’s Contemporary Arts District include Josh Azzarella, Hannah Bates, Emily Bartolone, Ian Brill, Theron Brown, Alexandria Couch, Avery Duff, Aethelred Eldridge, Sarah Esposito, Kasumi, Liam Kidd, Catherine Lentini, Natalie Petrosky, and Thomas Spoerndle.
About Chakaia Booker
For more than four decades, Guggenheim Fellow Chakaia Booker has transformed discarded tires into powerful sculptural forms. Her work is held in more than 40 major collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Whitney Museum of American Art, National Gallery of Art, and the Library of Congress. Booker has maintained a 25-year connection to Northeast Ohio, including exhibitions at the Akron Art Museum (2000), Cleveland Institute of Art (2015), and FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art (2022).
Project Support
The sculpture was made possible through the generosity of Curated Storefront's individual donors and VIA Art Fund, including generous partial support from Maja Kristin through the Women Moving Millions Art Catalyst Fund. The City of Akron and the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition provided funding and staff resources for the sculpture's foundation and installation. Racing tires used to create the sculpture were donated by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. The total cost of the project is estimated at $550,000.
“VIA Art Fund is very pleased to invest in the City of Akron’s public art program, and especially thrilled to support Chakaia Booker’s artwork, as realized in partnership with Curated Storefront. The potential opportunity to encourage audiences to visit the new Lock 3 site, to consider the unusual sculptural textile of rubber tires, and then explore the unforeseen beauty of such material — we believe — can make the space a destination for the community,” said Brooke Davis Anderson, Executive Director, VIA Art Fund.
“This investment reinforces downtown Akron as a destination for culture and creativity,” said Akron Mayor Shammas Malik. “Elevating public spaces, supporting artists and businesses, and attracting new audiences strengthens the foundation for long-term economic development, positioning downtown as a place where people want to live, work, and spend time.”
Project Collaboration
The project reflects collaboration across City departments, Curated Storefront, the Lock 3 Art Task Force, and the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition.
Since reopening in November 2024, Lock 3 has welcomed visitors from across the region, contributing to the vitality of downtown Akron and generating significant economic impact for local businesses and the community.
Catherine Timko, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, said, “Chakaia Booker’s work commands attention well beyond Northeast Ohio. Her presence at Lock 3 will bring new visitors to the park and introduce this world-class public space to new audiences along the Ohio & Erie Canalway and Towpath Trail.”
Members of the Lock 3 Art Task Force: Ryanaustin Dennis, Summer Hall, Dara Harper, Mike Hoffman, Nicole Mullet, Olin Studio representatives (Demetrios Staurinos, Jamee Kominsky, and Lucinda Sanders), Howard Parr, Dan Rice, Rick Rogers, Catey Scanlon, Sean Vollman, Lucy Whitacre, Ramahn Wilder, and Annie Wischmeyer.