Kenn Hetzel

Kenn Hetzel was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1948 and grew up in Maple Heights, where he attended Maple Heights High School. His early studies in art and drafting—three years of art and four years of drafting—strengthened his ability to see and think three-dimensionally and sparked his interest in sculpture.

After graduating in 1966, Hetzel began a career in retail display with Sears & Roebuck. In 1979, he became a display manager for JCPenney, a position he held until an on-the-job injury prompted a career change. He went on to study at Kent State University, earning a B.A. in Art Education in 1995, a B.F.A. in Studio Art with a sub-major in sculpture in 1996, and a Master’s degree in Sculpture in 2004. From 1998 to 2015, he oversaw the three-dimensional art program at Chagrin Falls High School in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.

Over the years, Hetzel’s approach to sculpture has evolved beyond a commitment to any single material. While wood and stone remain his primary mediums, he works across a range of materials in exploring form and three-dimensional space.

His work has been exhibited at venues throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania, including the Mansfield Art Center, Rosewood Art Center, Hoyt Art Center, Heights Arts, Fuller House Sullivan Gallery, Rooms to Let, The Sculpture Center, The Gallery at Lakeland, Summit Artspace, Cleveland State University Art Gallery, the Cleveland Museum of Art, Fairmont Art Center, Elevation Gallery, and Valley Art Center.