Art on Our Walls at Toast Cleveland
At Toast Cleveland, great food and drink come together with an ever-changing visual art program, so diners can take in works by local artists while they eat. The exhibit on view now showcases paintings by Cleveland artist Laurel Herbold, curated by Dott Von Schneider.
About Laurel Herbold
Laurel Herbold is a freelance artist living in Cleveland, Ohio, who has shown her work and offered custom art and mural services throughout Northeast Ohio and the surrounding region since 1994. Often collaborating with interior designers, engineers and architects on site-specific pieces, she starts with conceptual design and then delivers carefully tailored artwork, murals and faux or specialty finishes for homes and commercial spaces. Since March 2011 her studio and gallery have been based at the renowned West 78th St. Studios, where she welcomes consultations and private tours of her gallery collection.
Laurel also created The Wee People, a collection of stylized paintings and ink drawings depicting tiny silhouetted figures. It has grown into a wide-ranging body of fine art as well as a growing line of merchandise and collectables. Because the work carries a universal message of unity and a playful spirit, it lends itself well to custom designs and public installations.
The paintings on display here fall somewhere between abstract and surreal, showing Laurel's love of precise organic form and her distinctive, captivating use of color.
"I am considered a painter, but I believe that striving to be a well rounded artist involves being familiar with as many mediums as possible. Due to the varied nature of my custom work, over the years I have found myself becoming educated in the applications of ceramics, jewelry fabrication, stained glass, gold leaf application, oil, acrylic, watercolor painting and some 3D work. Being faced with an array of creative challenges from my clients leads to a great deal of experimentation with many different materials and continually expands my creative process. Viewers will notice a strong abstract or surreal quality to my work, but I am almost always inspired by the unparalleled design and elements of nature."
Stop by Laurel's studio and gallery, #107, at 78th St. Studios on Cleveland's west side. Every third Friday of the month, the building hosts a huge indoor art walk. To learn more or to set up a consultation, email Laurel at [email protected].
Meet Our Curator: Dott Von Schneider
For years, Toast has been a beloved spot for open conversation on every topic imaginable, enjoyed over excellent food and drink. The kitchen and front-of-house teams genuinely care about this place, and it shows. It's uncommon to step into a room and feel at ease right away — snug and comfortable, like your favorite sweater. I feel privileged to be part of the Toast family through the visual art program, which lets guests feast with their eyes as well as their minds. Jill gave me a dream opportunity to put my curatorial skills to work, and I'm endlessly thankful for it.
In my own practice, I preserve memories of place and time through printmaking, painting, drawing and installation. Working with unconventional materials, I bring a physical sensibility to an ongoing exploration of the vibrations and spiritual essence of the Earth. A personal iconography is woven into each piece through objects I gather from the ground in particular locations, then place into a new context. Soil, rocks, bone, rock salt and other natural matter are mixed with man-made products like glitter, primer, motor oil and industrial foam, and some art media are used in unexpected ways. The pieces are meant to feel tactile and gestural. Grounded in landscape and abstraction, the images often summon a sense of wandering and open space. Having lived and traveled widely both inside and outside the United States, I'm drawn to the spoken history and physical traces that represent a community.
Beyond my studio work, I curate exhibitions across Cleveland and write about the visual arts as a freelancer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan Your Visit
Toast welcomes guests Wednesday through Saturday, 4–11p, and Sunday, 11a–3p. Toasty Hours are Wednesday through Friday, 4–7p.
- Wednesday – Saturday: 4–11p
- Sunday: 11a–3p
- Toasty Hours: Wednesday – Friday, 4–7p
Stay Connected
Whether you're joining us for dinner, brunch or cocktails, the art on our walls adds another layer to the experience. Take a moment to enjoy the current exhibit, then ask our team about the artist or the curator behind it — we're always glad to talk about the work on display.