Alphonse Mucha is widely regarded as the father of the Art Nouveau movement and achieved international fame in his lifetime, being hailed by the New York Daily News as “The greatest artist in the world.” At this signature lecture at the Driehaus Museum Marcus Mucha, the artist’s great-grandson, will tell the story of the artist’s life and work, as well as discuss the family’s efforts to preserve and promote Mucha’s legacy in the years since his death.

The ANNUAL is the Chicago Artists Coalition's yearly sales exhibition celebrating cutting-edge Chicago-based artists. This year's guest curator is Caroline Picard. The exhibition runs through September 28.

Based in Chicago, Iraqi-American artist Michael Rakowitz makes work that explores recent contested social, political, and cultural histories. The artist's first US museum survey at the MCA features early works, a new commission, and major installations, such as Enemy Kitchen (2003-ongoing), a pop-up food truck that serves Iraqi dishes made from recipes that Rakowitz and his mother collected through workshops and extensive community liaisons. On view now at the Museum of Contemporary Art. 

Newspapers, magazines, and websites frequently offer lists: the 10 best new restaurants, the 50 top places to see in the world, the 100 best movies of all time. Chicago-based artist Cauleen Smith (American, born 1967) has created another kind of list, a new canon of humanistic literacy presented as a series of drawings. On view now at the Art Institute of Chicago. 

Richard Gray Gallery opened two exhibitions of work by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa on September 14.

Located at Gray Warehouse, Secret Garden presents recent sculptures in wood, stainless steel, and bronze, in conjunction with a suite of drawings. The exhibition continues at Richard Gray Gallery’s Hancock space with a portrait series carved in alabaster, as well as a selection of historical works in a second exhibition titled One Thought Fills Immensity. Featuring works from 1989 to 2002, One Thought Fills Immensity offers a deeper view into the artist’s prolific career.