School of the DAI Alumni Retrospective

School of the DAI Alumni Retrospective August 14 - September 5, 2026 Opening Reception: Friday, August 14, 6:00-8:00 PM Closing Reception: Saturday, September 5, 12:00-3:00 PM The Dayton Society of Artists is pleased to present School of the DAI Alumni Retrospective, a special exhibition celebrating the artists, history, and lasting influence of the School of the Dayton Art Institute. For generations, the School of the Dayton Art Institute played an important role in fine arts education in the Dayton region, providing rigorous artistic training and helping shape the careers of artists who would go on to contribute to the cultural life of Dayton and beyond. Although the school closed in 1975, its influence continues through the artists who studied there, the work they created, and the artistic communities they helped build. Bringing together work by more than 40 alumni, this retrospective offers a rare opportunity to experience the breadth of artistic practices that emerged from the school. Spanning generations, media, and individual approaches, the exhibition celebrates both the accomplishments of its alumni and the enduring legacy of arts education in Dayton. The exhibition also highlights an important connection between the School of the Dayton Art Institute and the Dayton Society of Artists. Founded in 1938 by artists associated with the Dayton Art Institute, DSA shares a history rooted in the development of Dayton's visual arts community. Nearly nine decades later, th