Barbara Stanczak

Sculptor and Arts Educator
2026 Special Citation

Working primarily in wood and stone, her sculptures explore the relationship between natural and crafted forms. They have been exhibited in more than 40 exhibitions across the country, including a solo exhibition at the Akron Museum of Art and the Medici Museum (formerly the Butler Institute Extension) in Warren.

Born into a German family with a centuries-long artistic tradition, she moved to Cleveland in 1963 after marrying renowned painter Julian Stanczak (CAP 1969). While helping guide his distinguished career, she established her own legacy as a sculptor and as a beloved educator, leading the Cleveland Institute of Art’s Foundations program for 36 years.