Schroeder Cherry

Pronouns: he/him

A native of Washington, D.C., Schroeder Cherry played with puppets as a child. In college, he apprenticed to a puppet master in Chicago, and then joined a troupe before setting out on his own. Cherry earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from The University of Michigan and a doctorate in museum education from Columbia University. Dr. Cherry has performed original shows with puppets in museums, libraries, and cultural centers for adults and children across the U.S. Performances include “Can You Spell Harlem?,” “The Land of Primary Color,” “Underground Railroad, Not A Subway,” and “Civil Rights Children’s Crusade.” PBS features Dr. Cherry in the 2024 episode, “Play,” by Craft in America.

Artist Statement

“Made from wood, metal, and fabric my puppets are mixed media performance sculptures. The performance styles are inspired by traditional Bunraku and African puppetry, as I perform in plain view, often dressed in all black. I create stories based on historic facts to both entertain and inform audiences ranging from children to adults.”