About Schroeder

Baltimore City
Originally from Washington, DC, Schroeder Cherry is an award- winning Maryland-based painter and puppeteer whose art for decades has captured everyday scenes of African diaspora life. He has performed puppetry in museums, cultural centers, libraries and schools across the United States, and his art is in numerous private and public collections. As a museum professional, he has worked in seven U.S. museums, including the Studio Museum in Harlem; The J. Paul Getty Museum; The Art… more

Barber Shop Series

The Barber Shop Series is inspired by those places men go to get shaves and their hair cut.  While waiting to be serviced, and later in the chair, customers share an environment ripe with conversation, political views, and perspectives on every day events.  Some men visit their shop weekly or bi-weekly, making it a communal space. The series depicts shops in Baltimore and surrounding areas.

These works are acrylic with objects on wood.
  • Barbershop Series #42 Cuts
    Barbershop Series #42 Cuts
    Acrylic, glass, thread, metal with objects on wood. 26 x 27 inches Private collection
  • Barber Shop Series #53, Tight
    Barber Shop Series #53, Tight
    Acrylic, glass, thread, metal with objects on wood. 25 x 30 inches
  • Barber Shop Series # 55
    Barber Shop Series # 55
    Acrylic, glass, thread, metal with objects on wood. 32 x 29 inches
  • Barber Shop Series # 58
    Barber Shop Series # 58
    Acrylic, glass, thread, metal with objects on wood. 33.5 x 31.5 inches
  • Barber Shop Series #35, Shoot
    Barber Shop Series #35, Shoot
    Acrylic, glass, thread, metal with objects on wood. 29 x 39 inches
  • Barber shop Series#37
    Barber shop Series#37
    Acrylic, glass, thread, metal with objects on wood. 30.5 x 22 inches. Private collection
  • Barber shop Series#36 Side
    Barber shop Series#36 Side
    Acrylic, glass, thread, metal with objects on wood. 31 x 25.5 inches
  • Barber Shop Series#50,  Prey
    Barber Shop Series#50, Prey
    Acrylic, glass, thread, metal with objects on wood. 27 x 24 inches Private collection
  • Barbershop Series #48, Trim
    Barbershop Series #48, Trim
    Acrylic, glass, thread, metal with objects on wood. 30 x 20 inches Private collection
  • Barbershop Series #47, Own  28.5 x 21 inches-1.jpg
    Barbershop Series #47, Own 28.5 x 21 inches-1.jpg
    Acrylic, glass, thread, metal with objects on wood. 28.5 x 21 inches

Assemblage Portraits

Assemblage Portraits use acrylic and objects on wood to depict people, real and imagined.  
  • Song
    Song
    Door Open private collection
  • I've Watched
    I've Watched
    door closed text by Thomas Estler Private collection
  • No Touch
    No Touch
    door open Text by Thomas Estler.
  • Word
    Word
  • Reclaiming My Time
    Reclaiming My Time
    door open , 21.5 x 9.5 x 8 Private collection
  • Graduate
    Graduate
    door open private collection
  • Family Tree door open-1.jpg
    Family Tree door open-1.jpg
    Mixed media on wood. Private collection
  • Joker
    Joker
    30.5 x 10.5 x 1.5 inches Acrylic, wood, objects on glass washboard
  • No Labels
    No Labels
    24“ x 10”
  • Two Dads
    Two Dads
    31 x 31 inches photo by Minas Konsolas

Schroeder Cherry and His Puppets

Schroeder Cherry played with puppets as a kid.  In college he tried puppets again and was hooked. He apprenticed to a puppet master in Chicago and joined a troupe before setting out on his own.   Working with sculpted rod puppets and wood cut outs that he designed,  Schroeder has performed original shows with puppets in museums, libraries, schools, and cultural centers across the United States.  Performances include: "Can You Spell Harlem?," "The Land of Primary Colors," "Underground Railroad, Not A Subway," "Tuskegee Airmen," "How The Sun Came To The Sky," and "Civil Rights Children's Crusade."  Puppet Docent Ms. Lily was designed specifically to lead adult tours in museums and art galleries. 

  • Puppet Jamahl with drum
    Puppet Jamahl with drum
    Jamahl. Rod puppet with drum.
  • Puppet Ms. Lily
    Puppet Ms. Lily
    Ms. Lily at Wits End Puppet Slam, Takoma Park, MD
  • Puppet Curtis Entrepreneur
    Puppet Curtis Entrepreneur
    Rod puppet singing blues song
  • How The Sun Came To The Sky
    How The Sun Came To The Sky
    Set for How The Sun Came To The Sky. Rod puppet with wood cut-outs.
  • Puppet Tevin
    Puppet Tevin
    Puppet Tevin at Smihsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum, talking about Tuskegee Airmen.
  • Underground Railroad Not A Subway
    Underground Railroad Not A Subway
    Cabin scene of rRailroad, Not A Subway.
  • Puppet Ms .Maya O'Pinion
    Puppet Ms .Maya O'Pinion
    Ms. Maya O'Pimion, rod puppet.
  • Mr. Bojangles
    Mr. Bojangles
    Puppets Mr. Zeke and Smooth Earl perform "Mr. Bojangles."
  • Puppet Dallas Dan w guitar
    Puppet Dallas Dan w guitar
    32 x 10 x 4 inches
  • Ms Lily
    Ms Lily
    Puppet Ms. Lily, museum docent.