Fall is always an incredibly busy&nbsp;season in Chicago’s art world, with new&nbsp;exhibitions opening across galleries and museums.&nbsp;Behind the scenes, many people in the community&nbsp;are working tirelessly to support artists and bring&nbsp;fresh perspectives to the public. We spoke&nbsp;with five insiders about what excites them now&nbsp;and what they anticipate next. To receive a copy of the print edition&nbsp;<a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://835ba3.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">click here.</a> <h3> </h3><h3><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756792195/hefipww9r8jribf9lh5b.jpg"></h3>Photo by: Sandro <h3>Bob Faust – Artist</h3> “It has been a busy season in the studio as I continue to self define exactly what my practice is. Where I have landed is a statement that is actually an example of my work its own right, “Art is Design is Art is Design is Art is Design and so on.” It’s my acknowledgement of design as an equal to art, as well as informative to each another. It’s about language and text, pattern and image, as well as installation and object.&nbsp; To that end I have a few projects I am thrilled to be working on and toward. On September 5, I open a two-person show with Mayumi Lake called “Shakkei” at the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/shakkei-work-by-mayumi-lake-and-bob-faust" target="_blank">Elmhurst Art Museum</a>. Shakkei means “borrowed scenery” and for me it’s the acknowledgement of a works connection and conversation with the space and all who have an encounter with it. You will see work that sits squarely in the design space but is without question art, and work that sits in the art space that is unquestionably designed. This is a show that is allowing me to comfortably own my space in the center of both. Additionally, I am designing a new book about Nick Cave’s upcoming show at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, titled “<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/nick-cave" target="_blank">Mammoth</a>”, that will share the entire making process inspired by field guides. It is a very special book, as it has much personal attention across every page, making it unlike any other book we have done before.” <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.bobfaust.com/" target="_blank">bobfaust.com</a>

Interview with artist Bob Faust Fall 2025

Anticipating a Season of Art: Five to Talk to – Bob Faust

Curated Highlights for What’s Ahead in Chicago’s Art Scene September is here and it's a very busy, full, exciting month of art. With the arrival of our new fall issue of CGN, covering September-December, we have been sharing several seasonal previews&nbsp;–&nbsp;some that offer highlights through December as well as weekend previews of openings. We hope you enjoy all the coverage and see what you can in the coming days and weeks. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicagogallerynews.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> here to receive a print copy in the mail and be sure to share all the events and news with friends. – CGN <h3>• Exhibitions</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756790680/n5wbpkimf7cvi4k64ghd.jpg"> <h3>Channeling: body ← Image → viewer</h3><h4> </h4>Sep 2, 2025 - Dec 20, 2025<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/museum-of-contemporary-photography-mocp" target="_blank">Museum of Contemporary Photography (MoCP)</a> This exhibition features eleven international artists whose work communicates through and with the body, positioning the viewer to a consciousness of their body and self, or how bodies channel and defy societal oppression and malevolence. Gestures such as crawling, lying, climbing, kneeling, pointing, running, and walking backward evoke memory, history, and rhetoric. This exhibition situates the body politic and ways in which history imprints upon us as a reminder that we are human, both in and out of the body. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/channeling-body-image-viewer" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756790681/dljduo3m9bbvameca0gh.jpg"> <h3>Diego Marcon: Krapfen</h3><h4> </h4>Sep 13, 2025 - Nov 23, 2025Opening: Saturday, Sep 13, 2025 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/the-renaissance-society" target="_blank">The Renaissance Society</a> Diego Marcon, an artist known for his radical rethinking of cinema, sound, and space, makes his U.S. debut at the Renaissance Society this September. Marcon’s practice is rooted in entertainment and structural cinema—eschewing traditional storytelling to explore the mechanics of filmmaking itself. His works challenge the hierarchy between subject and image, dissolving narrative into abstraction. For this exhibition, Marcon presents&nbsp;Krapfen, a newly commissioned musical dance film that stages an encounter between the kid, performed by dancer Violet Savage, and four characters represented by costume props: gloves, foulard, trousers, and pullover.&nbsp;Krapfen&nbsp;is also an encounter between the golden age of American animation and Italian opera. The choreography—a mix of contemporary dance, classical ballet, and popular entertainment forms—reflects the juxtaposition of traditional and digital filmmaking processes, a hallmark of Marcon’s practice. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.hydeparkart.org/exhibition/mark-me-too-five-artists" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756790683/rr5bexl1yibjnjemrkct.jpg"> <h3>Luke Agada: To Translate is to Move Across</h3><h4> </h4>Saturday, Sep 20, 2025 4:00 PM – 7:00 PMOpening: Saturday, Sep 20, 2025 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/moniquemeloche" target="_blank">moniquemeloche</a> Luke Agada’s&nbsp;practice examines themes of globalization, migration and cultural dislocation within the framework of a postcolonial world and its impact on neo-cultural evolution. Agada's surrealist paintings of disembodied figures and dream-like grounds reference identity and the transformation of the postmodern human, where both time and space produce complex bodies of difference. Overlapping the past and present, the other and the self-reflect the ambiguity of our identiy within post-structuralist theory. Agada's work has been inspired by the postcolonial writings of Homi Bhabha, Edward Said, and literary works by Nigerian authors Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. His work is a continuous reflection of his investigative approach to history and critical theory with regards to the examination of the culture of dominance through globalization. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/luke-agada-to-translate-is-to-move-across" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756790684/be36selidwmvtfvpm1k6.jpg"> <h3>You're All Dead to Me: Guest Curated Show by Marc LeBlanc</h3> Sep 26, 2025 - Oct 30, 2025Opening: Friday, Sep 26, 2025 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/circle-contemporary-arts-of-life" target="_blank">Circle Contemporary (Arts of Life)</a> To celebrate M. LeBlanc’s 8th anniversary, the gallery has collaborated with local non-profit Arts Of Life on an extraordinary exhibition/event.&nbsp;Over twenty artists have generously donated their work for an exhibition and raffle to be held on Devils Night at Midnight in support of the Arts of Life studio and program. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/youre-all-dead-to-me-guest-curated-show-by-marc-leblanc" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756790685/y9yhnup2uiogxn2vir28.jpg"> <h3>Erosion: Olivia Petrides</h3> Sep 5, 2025 - Sep 26, 2025Opening: Friday, Sep 5, 2025 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/chicago-grand-gallery" target="_blank">Chicago Grand Gallery</a> Erosion&nbsp;explores the intersection of politics, ecology, and the fragility of the human condition through abstract, gestural works that blur the line between atmospheric and political realities. Using simple materials—ink, paper, watercolor, gouache, and fragments of newspapers—the artist creates layered, visceral images that echo both the turbulence of the natural world and the chaos of contemporary social discourse. <a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/erosion-olivia-petrides" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756790686/bk3pnsrqasfdaifyhjfe.jpg"> <h3>Tiffany Lamps: Beyond the Shade</h3> Sep 12, 2025 - Mar 15, 2026<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/the-driehaus-museum" target="_blank">The Driehaus Museum</a> From the 1890s to the 1920s, Tiffany Studios created a captivating range of decorative lighting fixtures that embraced the technological shift from oil lamps to electricity and simultaneously met the styles and tastes of nineteenth and twentieth century consumers. Drawn from the expansive collections of the Museum and the private art collection of Richard H. Driehaus (now in the Art Exhibition Lending Foundation), the exhibition explores how the artisans at Tiffany Studios used a range of materials—including bronze, enamel, pottery, and glass—to bring Tiffany’s innovative lighting designs to life.&nbsp; <a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/tiffany-lamps-beyond-the-shade" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <h3>• Markets &amp; Auctions</h3> <h3> </h3><h3><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756790688/kqdyjs4kpuoqjo0gwz2m.jpg"></h3> <h3>The Maloof Collection of Vivian Maier Gallery Talk and Photographs Reception</h3> Wednesday, Sep 10, 2025 5:00 PM – 7:00 PMOpening: Wednesday, Sep 10, 2025 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/heritage-auctions" target="_blank">Heritage Auctions</a> Heritage Auctions Director Sarahjane Blum gives a gallery talk about collector John Maloof’s journey and passion&nbsp;to protect and celebrate the legacy of Vivian Maier. Accompanying this Gallery Talk is a Preview of Photographs and The Maloof Collection. Enjoy this deeply personal look into the life and work of Maier consisting of ephemera and gallery prints accompanied by works from iconic names like Ansel Adams, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Nan Goldin, and more. <a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/the-maloof-collection-of-vivian-maier-gallery-talk-and-photographs-reception" target="_blank">More info ›</a><h4> </h4> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756790689/w0hyq9f8wcp7hiyak7f8.jpg"> <h3>Fall Fashion</h3> Wednesday, Sep 10, 2025 10:00 AM<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/freemans-hindman" target="_blank">Freeman's | Hindman</a> Highlights from the auction's house's latest fashion offerings. <a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/fall-fashion-25" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756790690/smaqhpuzgclu1gk5dqgm.jpg"> <h3>Randolph Street Market Festival</h3> Sep 27, 2025 - Sep 28, 202510am to 5pm both days<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/randolph-street-market" target="_blank">Randolph Street Market</a> Chicago’s world-famous European style antique and vintage market festival returns September 27+28, 2025! Named Top Ten USA Markets by Travel &amp; Leisure, Architectural Digest, goop, USA Today and more! <a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/randolph-street-market-festival" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <h3>• Fundraisers</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756790691/nihegofyzgffpt2uieyw.png"> <h3>WMG Fundraiser 2025</h3> Friday, Sep 5, 2025 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/woman-made-gallery" target="_blank">Woman Made Gallery</a>22 W. Washington St, Morningstar's venue &amp; patio <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://womanmade.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=77610ec6940e4a7c0d652a863&amp;id=f1df8847ca&amp;e=a3993dd90f" target="_blank">ART AND THE CITY</a>&nbsp;is Woman Made Gallery’s largest annual fundraiser, supporting the underrepresented voices of women and non-binary artists. Surprises and delights await on Morningstar’s sleek 7th-floor venue and outdoor patio: Silent auction, drinks and bites, mystery bags, music and unique performances and guests experiences. <a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/wmg-fundraiser-2025" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <h3>• Tours</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756790691/pqshlqrfwz8d1zcafg9w.jpg"> <h3>Weekend Art Walk: West Chicago Avenue Galleries</h3> Saturday, Sep 20, 2025 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/art-encounter" target="_blank">Art Encounter</a> Explore Chicago’s West Town gallery scene with Art Encounter co-founder Joanna Pinsky. Visit Patron Gallery's a solo exhibition by Bethany Collins, then Volume Gallery for an exhibition of weavings by California based artist Porfirio Gutiérrez, see large scale representational graphite drawings by Journie Cirdain at Western Exhibitions as well as work by New York based artist Simone Mantellassi. End the tour at Document Gallery with a two person show of sculptors Kiah Celeste and Gordon Hall. <a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/weekend-art-walk-west-chicago-avenue-galleries" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756790693/gwa573jt5xiamxvyavpq.jpg"> <h3>Special McCormick House Tour</h3> Sunday, Sep 21, 2025 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/elmhurst-art-museum" target="_blank">Elmhurst Art Museum</a> Join expert guest docent&nbsp;Bobbi Pinkert from the Chicago Architecture Center&nbsp;for a special McCormick House tour in celebration of the 2025 Chicago Architecture Biennial. As a self-named “archiholic,” Bobbi Pinkert has been a CAC docent since 1999. She is the leader of many tours including the First Lady, Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise. Pinkert will share her expertise about the McCormick House, Mies van der Rohe, and modernist architecture. The McCormick House is a single-family home designed in 1952 by Mies van der Rohe, one of the great architects of the 20th Century. It is one of only three free-standing residences designed and built by Mies in the United States--and one of only two open to the public.&nbsp;Advance tickets recommended due to limited capacity. <a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/special-mccormick-house-tour" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <h4> </h4> <h4> </h4><h2> </h2>

CGN Art Preview: September 2025

Jacqueline Surdell: An Artist’s Voice Helps Scale Her Art

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756792275/ede20d6h7rc3uwpveqe8.jpg">Pictured: the fall 2025 cover of CGN featuring art by Jacqueline Surdell <h4>﻿To subscribe to receive a print copy of the fall 2025 issue of CGN <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicagogallerynews.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">click here</a>.</h4> By GINNY VAN ALYEA I say it regularly, but I am an optimist. I am not, however oblivious. I have worked at CGN for 23 years, through many market ups and downs, neighborhood changes, art fair evolutions and more. I go back through Chicago’s art world history often, and when I look to CGN’s founding in 1982, we have weathered a lot. I have been privy to several conversations this year about the current art market’s slower sales, high overhead and tightening margins. One question looms largest: where is the next generation of collectors? Today’s likely pool of art buyers doesn’t hesitate to snap up concert tickets or plane tickets. They go big for innovative experiences and dining instead of acquiring a lot of ‘stuff.’ However, plenty of people engage with artists on Instagram and tune in to the world’s current events through a conceptual lens. A young generation’s buying power has the potential for lasting impact: to put it in perspective, a month’s worth of $30 salads and $15 smoothies could instead be $800 towards a work on paper by a young artist. Thoughtful saving and spending can start an art collection, launch an artist’s career and sustain a new gallery.&nbsp; The money is out there. And so is the generational engagement. New collectors will still emerge—not from traditional wealth pipelines, but from creative industries, tech, and mission-driven professions. Entry-level collecting often begins with drawings, prints, photography, emerging art—mostly (hopefully) under $5,000. It also begins with love–when you find something you just have to have and will cherish for years to come. Also like falling in love, art shouldn’t be a trophy, it is a commitment—to the person who created it, and also a declaration to yourself to live with art and explore it.&nbsp; The art world is working towards meeting collectors where they currently are–improving pricing transparency and online buying, offering flexible payment options and outreach. Events that prioritize education, access and fun—not just exclusivity—go a long way towards making any potential buyer feel welcomed rather than intimidated. And buyers need to spend the time, speak up, and ask questions. Long-term sustainability means collectors and galleries supporting each other. This will depend not just on high-net-worth clients, but on broader audiences who see collecting as part of their cultural life—not just as luxury.&nbsp; This fall issue of CGN offers so many ways to discover and engage with art, from reading about our cover artist Jacqueline Surdell's September exhibition at Secrist | Beach, to following contributor Susan Gescheidle on her journeys to new and upcoming spaces. We interviewed Melissa Weber and Jay Dandy about their shared passion for supporting local artists and we also asked other area collectors to share their own stories and lessons. We also spoke with five people in the art world to see what they are looking forward to. And we have put together lists of highlights happening this season, from the return of Chicago Exhibition Weekend to a slate of dynamite exhibitions, art fundraisers and galas you won't want to miss. Future collectors–we know you’re out there and we encourage you to partake! CGN is always here as a friendly resource. We welcome you to the art world! # <h4>To subscribe to receive a print copy of the fall 2025 issue of CGN <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicagogallerynews.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">click here</a>.</h4> <h4>Read CGN's fall 2025 cover interview with artist Jacqueline Surdell <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/articles/jacqueline-surdell-an-artists-voice-helps-scale-her-art" target="_blank">here</a></h4> Top cover image: Jacqueline Surdell, Suddenly,&nbsp;she was hell-bent and ravenous (after Giotto), 2024. Nylon cord, steel, polyester fabric, steel spool top,&nbsp;steel chain and meat hooks. 65 (body) x 252 (pole to pole) x 7 inches.

Publisher’s Letter: Fall 2025

Fall is always a busy&nbsp;season in Chicago’s art world, with new&nbsp;exhibitions across galleries and museums opening every week.&nbsp;Right after Labor Day many new exhibition will be open, often through October and beyond. Listed here are a few highlights we are looking forward to seeing through the city, the suburbs and an hour or two away in Michigan and Wisconsin. Soon we will also share more features about events and exhibitions happening this fall, from the return of the Chicago Architecture Biennial to the 3rd Chicago Exhibition Weekend, as well as many upcoming benefits and galas – all excellent ways to see art and support the dynamic institutions in our region. Our fall magazine covers events taking place from September-December, and it also includes interviews with many area artists, collectors and other members of the art community. To subscribe to CGN in print <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicagogallerynews.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">click here</a>. – CGN <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756792321/y58ezgheccantc17ugi7.jpg"> <h4>The Opening of the Chicago location of the Illinois Holocaust Museum</h4> Illinois Holocaust Museum presents Experience360&nbsp;provides a panoramic view through history and truth, inviting visitors of all backgrounds to&nbsp;witness stories of survival, ask questions, and reflect on the past in ways that inspire empathy, respect, and hope. Featuring cutting-edge technology and immersive storytelling,&nbsp;Experience360&nbsp;offers visitors an opportunity to engage with history in deeply personal and interactive ways.&nbsp;Now open in downtown Chicago 360 N. State Street, Chicago<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ilholocaustmuseum.org/experience360/" target="_blank">ilholocaustmuseum.org/experience360</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756792321/utqnlf3lfgvmahfovkvr.jpg">Jaume Plensa. Hortense in Slumberland, 2021. Bronze, Edition of 11.&nbsp;30 x 22 x 20 cm. Photo: Roberto Ruiz © Plensa Studio Barcelona <h4>Jaume Plensa: A New Humanism –</h4><h4>Frederik Meijer Gardens &amp;&nbsp;Sculpture Park</h4> This exhibition in Michigan explores Jaume Plensa’s career-long engagement with themes common to our shared humanity such as dreams, desire, justice and mortality. While Plensa’s oeuvre is marked by diversity in format and media, the human condition remains the primary subject of his art. Featuring both monumental and intimate-scaled sculptures and select two-dimensional works that span three decades, this is the first retrospective of this internationally acclaimed artist in the United States. Oct 24, 2025–Mar 15, 2026&nbsp;•&nbsp;Grand Rapids, MI<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.meijergardens.org/" target="_blank">meijergardens.org</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756792322/nyjsd6ah7ynhgcqsl6vf.jpg"> <h4>Roger Brown Study Collection–</h4><h4>The Art Preserve, John Michael Kohler Art Center</h4> The Chicago home collection of Roger Brown contains more than 2,000 artworks by other Chicago Imagists and non-mainstream artists. A dedicated student of artist Ray Yoshida, the collection echoes many of Yoshida’s sensibilities—folk and Indigenous art, objects from material and popular culture, costumes, souvenirs, and fine art. Brown’s southern heritage, sense of humor, and love of the silhouetted form are also evident throughout the collection. Operated as a semi-private house museum, the collection was acquired by the Arts Center from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) by Kohler Foundation, Inc. This introductory installation of a portion of Brown’s collection at the Art Preserve, will give visitors a sense of the rich trove of objects he collected. Oct 11–Spring 2026 • 3636 Lower Falls Rd., Sheboygan, WI • <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.jmkac.org/" target="_blank">jmkac.org</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756792322/o8tpyhbxxmgsrwwwfqn6.jpg"> <h4>Silver Lining:&nbsp;The Prints of Derrick Adams–</h4><h4>Tandem Press</h4> Derrick Adams (b. 1970, Baltimore, Maryland) is a multidisciplinary artist who closely considers the influence of popular culture on the formation of self-image. His work also questions how African American experiences intersect with art history, American iconography, and consumerism. Oct 8–Dec 19&nbsp;•&nbsp;1743 Commercial Ave.Madison, WI (53704)<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://tandempress.wisc.edu/" target="_blank">tandempress.wisc.edu/</a>

This Season’s Highlights: Fall 2025 Part II

Fall is always a busy&nbsp;season in Chicago’s art world, with new&nbsp;exhibitions across galleries and museums opening every week.&nbsp;Right after Labor Day many new exhibition will be open, often through October and beyond. Listed here are a few highlights we are looking forward to seeing through the city, the suburbs and an hour or two away in Michigan and Wisconsin. Our fall magazine covers events taking place from September-December, and it also includes interviews with many area artists, collectors and other members of the art community. To subscribe to CGN in print <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicagogallerynews.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">click here</a>. – CGN <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756353253/uznbgsi6clp7p8e0ecih.jpg">Yoko Ono with Glass Hammer, 1967, from Half-A-Wind Show, Lisson Gallery, London, UK, 1967. Artwork © Yoko Ono. Photo © Clay Perry.<h4> </h4> <h4>Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind –</h4><h4>Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago</h4> The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Chicago will become the exclusive U.S. venue for Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind, a comprehensive solo exhibition dedicated to the artist, musician, and activist Yoko Ono. Traveling from Tate Modern in London, where it achieved record-breaking attendance, and developed in close collaboration with Ono’s studio, this groundbreaking retrospective spans 70 years of Ono’s innovative career. The exhibition features over 200 works, including participatory instruction pieces and scores, installations, a curated music room, films, music, photography, and archival materials. The exhibition highlights significant works from throughout Ono’s decades-long career, including the landmark performance work Cut Piece (1964); her collaborations with prominent musicians such as John Cage, Ornette Coleman, and her late husband, John Lennon; artwork activations, films, public artworks and more.&nbsp; Oct 18, 2025–Feb 22, 2026220 E. Chicago (60611)&nbsp;•&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://mcachicago.org/" target="_blank">mcachicago.org</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756353253/qmenwpion9lqmsr0qeor.jpg">Bob Faust,* heavy wait* (detail), 2025, wallwork on paper, dimensions variable, courtesy of the artist. <h4>Shakkei: Work by Mayumi Lake and Bob Faust–&nbsp;</h4><h4>Elmhurst Art Museum</h4> Shakkei: Work by Mayumi Lake and Bob Faust is the first major museum exhibition for Chicago-based artists Mayumi Lake and Bob Faust, who are mutually inspired by the Japanese principle of Shakkei (“borrowed scenery”), a design philosophy that incorporates organic features and architectural designs. The artists’ kaleidoscopic works use color and pattern to create immersive optical experiences, interpreting the Eastern concept broadly as a metaphor for empathy, adaptability, and the ability to hold multiple viewpoints simultaneously. The exhibition will feature recent large-scale artworks by Lake and Faust in separate galleries, as well as a collaborative new work combining their design languages.&nbsp;For this exhibition, each artist will bring their own perspective to the concept of Shakkei, reflecting their unique experiences and history. While Lake’s imagery is based on the symbolic floral motifs found in antique Japanese girls’ kimonos, Faust often incorporates the surroundings of the project or exhibition venue into his “wallworks,” creating site-specific perspectives manipulated from digital photographs. Sept 6–Jan 5, 2026150 Cottage Hill Ave., Elmhurst (60126)&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://elmhurstartmuseum.org/" target="_blank">elmhurstartmuseum.org</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756353254/hkoqhgvjgkpegwkvf8q2.jpg"> <h4>CAB 6–</h4><h4>Chicago Architecture Biennial</h4> Over the past decade, the Chicago Architecture Biennial (CAB) has sustained an international forum on architecture and urbanism centered in Chicago and has continued to produce the largest exhibition of contemporary architecture in North America every two years. This year marks CAB’s tenth anniversary with CAB 6 and it will be led by Artistic Director Florencia Rodriguez. Titled SHIFT: Architecture in Times of Radical Change, CAB 6 will present an expansive and multi-faceted exploration of the field of architecture and the built environment globally, specifically as they respond to and are remade by a rapidly changing world. September 12, 2025–February 28, 2026 •&nbsp;Chicago Cultural Center and city-wide locations<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org/" target="_blank">chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756353255/ehzlhvtrmlkt7uvchqfz.jpg">Temitayo Ogunbiyi, You will feel out of many one people, 2019. Varnished Japanese ink and acrylic on found fabric, 54 x 36” <h4>Temitayo Ogunbiyi: You will have revelations along felled branches and longer roots/routes –&nbsp;</h4><h4>The Arts Club of Chicago</h4> Lagos-based artist Temitayo Ogunbiyi draws attention to the medicinal capacities and visual complexities of local flora, showing drawings, paintings, and sculpture that respond to Chicago’s social and natural environments. The exhibition considers exchanges of friendship and translations of language by referencing places the artist has visited. Various community programming is planned, including bespoke ice cream!&nbsp; Sept 17–Dec 19, 2025 • 201 E. Ontario (60611) • <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artsclubchicago.org/" target="_blank">artsclubchicago.org</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756353256/ebknkieig3v9f9quoqi6.jpg">Helen Frankenthaler, Altitudes, 1978. Lithograph on paper, 22 × 31 in. Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art, Northwestern University, gift of the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation. 22 1/4 x 30 5/8 inches (56.5 x 77.8 cm) © 2024 Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, Inc. / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / Universal Limited Art Editions (ULAE), West Islip, New York Photograph by Thomas Barratt, courtesy Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, New York <h4>Pouring, Spilling, Bleeding: Helen Frankenthaler&nbsp;</h4><h4>and Artists’ Experiments on Paper –&nbsp;</h4><h4>The Block Museum of Art</h4> Helen Frankenthaler (American, 1928–2011) began printmaking in 1961, working across lithography, woodcut, and etching for the next 50 years. Frankenthaler is known for her abstract paintings and especially her signature “soak-stain” technique—allowing paint to sit, spread, and pool on untreated canvas. She brought this same sensibility, what she described as a “pouring, flooding, spilling, bleeding one,” to works on paper.&nbsp;&nbsp; While printmaking is often characterized by precision and control, Frankenthaler’s prints allow for chance encounters between pigment and surface—unintentional effects that emphasize the agency and alchemy of materials. The exhibition will focus on her print practice and call attention to the unpredictability, chance, and accident in Frankenthaler’s work. The exhibition will include works by other artists in The Block’s collection who similarly have embraced chance, accident, or aesthetic surprise in their artworks–Joan Mitchell, Grace Hartigan, and Robert Motherwell—and many others. In 2023, The Block Museum was one of ten university museums to receive artwork as part of the Frankenthaler Print Initiative. The exhibition will feature this extraordinary gift and bring it into conversation with prints in the collection. Sept 17–Dec 14&nbsp;•&nbsp;Northwestern University, Evanston, IL<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.blockmuseum.northwestern.edu/" target="_blank">blockmuseum.northwestern.edu</a>

This Season’s Highlights: Fall 2025 Part I

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756482746/x70sia8lakp1bmz2wobj.jpg">Installation view of deathmatch By SUSAN GESCHEIDLE Photos by Mikey Mosher <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://bgfa.us/" target="_blank">Bert Green Fine Art</a> (BGFA), directed by its namesake, Bert Green, sits in Chicago’s historic Willoughby Tower.&nbsp;The gallery, says Green, is dedicated to thought&nbsp;provoking and timely exhibitions that push boundaries, in compliment to a print publishing division, which makes affordable limited editions for new and established collectors.The small venue complements its latest exhibition, Mac Pierce’s deathmatch, which explores themes of combat, war, and mortality, and is particularly well-suited to a more intimate environment.&nbsp; Fueled by his passion for technology, Chicago artist Pierce, a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Art &amp; Technology Studies program, explores the complex and often troubling relationship between technological advancement and warfare. Pierce observes a disconnect between simulated and actual conflict. This phenomenon, he argues, has led to the erosion of social trust through the proliferation of misinformation. The artist describes himself as a “tinkerer and maker,” and his artistic approach is hands-on and experimental. He utilizes cutting-edge tools like AI, 3D printing, coding, and modding to deconstruct and critically examine the mechanisms of emerging weaponized technologies and surveillance. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756482747/ftjrssgbybegjbwphwf0.jpg">Mac Pierce, Untitled (army man), 2025 - 3D printed PETG, Loctite® 4070,&nbsp;Nylon threaded rod, 65 x 48 x 18”. This innovative spirit shines through in Pierce’s third solo exhibition at BGFA. The exhibition includes an eclectic mix of works, including found objects, combat games, drone footage, and even classic toys, all serving to explore the multifaceted impact of technological advancements on conflict and societal control. Gallery owner Bert Green said of the artist, “Mac Pierce caught my eye as a young and up and coming artist who has a brilliant conceptual approach to his work that resonates beautifully with our current era of disruptive technologies. “ The show’s title, deathmatch, comes from video game terminology referring to a competitive game mode where players score points by defeating opponents, popularized by Doom in the early 1990s and still common in first-person shooter games. Pierce’s early understanding of conflict and war was significantly shaped by his grandfather, a World War II veteran. His grandfather introduced him to Army Men miniatures, a popular children’s toy that Time Magazine recognized in 2011 as one of the top 100 toys of all time. These small figures, coupled with a hand-carved wooden rifle from his grandfather and playing “Cowboys and Indians”—a game now viewed as culturally insensitive—instilled in Pierce his initial understanding of combat. However, contemporary perspectives now scrutinize these influences for two key reasons: the history of Native American genocide and concerns about violent games affecting children. Still, playing with miniature soldiers and enacting combat scenarios might, for some, stimulate imagination and strategic thinking. This exhibition features two artworks by Pierce, directly informed by these formative experiences, illustrating a journey from childhood play to artistic expression. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756482748/kpfa9bw2plkaeqvgx9zi.jpg">Mac Pierce, Real Toys for Real Boys, 2024, Plywood, edition of 6, 44 x 8 x 1”. Upon discovering a damaged, discarded Army Men toy on a Chicago sidewalk, Pierce was inspired to create a scaled-up replica of the compelling footless soldier. A local engineering firm that conducts industrial scans performed a CT scan of the toy soldier, enabling Pierce to create an identical larger 3D-printed version. Untitled (army man,) is a green 3D-printed sculpture (65” x 48” x 18”) stamped with CHINA, referencing its origin and themes of global production and commodified war imagery. Pierce regards the human-sized sculpture as commentary on the monstrosity of war and its consequences. The nearby display of the original toy prompts viewers to consider its role as a symbol of conflict. Real Toys for Real Boys is a piece consisting of six life-sized replica firearms crafted from plywood. The title originates from a former website, which advertised its wooden toy guns with the slogan “Real Toys for Real Boys.” Placed haphazardly around the gallery, the guns blend playful innocence with real firearm symbolism. Each wooden gun features an edition number mirroring a firearm serial number. The installation critiques the normalization of guns by displaying them as scattered toys. I really like C/S/TS (Confidential, Secret, Top Secret,) a modestly sized linoleum print on paper (12 x 9 inches) created by Pierce in 2023. Though small in scale, it has a big impact within the exhibit because of the subject matter. It incorporates text from classified Pentagon documents leaked by Jack Teixeira in 2022 on the Discord platform. Teixeira, an IT specialist in the Massachusetts Air National Guard, shared sensitive details—like Ukraine troop movements, data on Chinese spy balloons, and weaknesses in Taiwan’s air defenses. The print visually mimics the original documents, showing creases and folds from pages Teixeira smuggled out. He stated that his actions were intended to address misinformation, but reports indicate his motivation was to impress online friends; he received a 15-year sentence in November 2024. The artwork draws on this event (that mirrors similar leaks, like the Pentagon Papers, WikiLeaks, Manning, and Snowden) to highlight ongoing issues of surveillance, data security, and misinformation. By using text of actual leaked material, C/S/TS prompts viewers to reflect on trust, accountability, and the complexities of information warfare and secrecy in the digital age. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756482749/w9tjf3wgecyrdsgwucwj.jpg">Mac Pierce, We’re So Over, We’re So Back, 2025. (Detail pictured below) <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756482750/es94nodzxq4b4zzhdh59.jpg"> Creative Technologist Pierce incorporates digital technology to craft engaging experiences. For The Effects of Terrestrial Events upon Celestial Mechanics, he uses recovered footage from a damaged drone found at the intersection of Monroe and S. Wabash streets, with scenes appearing to be shot in Chicago and Brazil. This footage is displayed on a wall-mounted Steam Deck alongside the drone, mounted on a stick on the wall. Pierce integrated drone footage from Ukrainian Telegram channels but deliberately excluded Russian footage due to Telegram’s perceived association with pro-Kremlin propaganda. In a corner of the gallery sits Pierce’s&nbsp;KDR (Kill-Death-Ratio): an acrylic tombstone featuring a faint message,&nbsp;“YOU DIED,” in big block letters, burned into an embedded OLED monitor. Pierce kept the single text image on the monitor 24-7 for six months to create the ghosting. The piece, etched with a skull, rests on a polished concrete base atop a pedestal, mimicking a cemetery plot. This piece is one of my favorites—it’s intimate, and everyone has experienced loss and visited cemeteries. Pierce describes it as both a tribute to endless virtual gaming deaths and a stark reminder of mortality, especially in the context of war. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756482751/w0gczxszixlggbfcupxv.jpg">Top: KDR, 2025, OLED gaming monitor, acrylic, polished concrete, laser cut aluminum, vacuum formed ABS, 3D-printed ABS, modified monitor mount, Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W, stainless steel hardware, HDMI cable, USB-C Cable, 20v AC adapter, DC step-down converter, heat-set inserts, wiring, ghosts, 25 x 17 x 11”. We’re So Over, We’re So Back is a stunning 28 x 24 x 6-inch aluminum sculpture of a tech-ouroboros—a gleaming serpent caught in an eternal snack of its own tail. A blood red, water-cooled PC as its belly transforms its scales into a high-tech radiator, blurring the lines between human, machine, and reptile. The serpent’s gaze is fixed on an attached, adjacent monitor where a modified Counter-Strike game has gone rogue! Bots battle on ever-changing landscapes, hinting at technological and warfare loops. Pierce spent nine months learning the necessary skills through YouTube tutorials to construct the ouroboros sculpture, which runs the video game. A public build log documents his process, highlighting the power of self-learning and encouraging others to embrace their creative spirit. Pierce’s creation, like a perfectly executed move by a Counter-Strike professional, is brilliant and thought-provoking, sparking discussions on hacking, surveillance, and firearms. In the digital realm, the end is merely the beginning, and the game is always afoot!&nbsp; deathmatchThru October 18, 2025&nbsp;Open Friday 12–4PM, and by appt.Bert Green Fine Art, 8 S. Michigan Avenue, Ste. 620, Chicago<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://bgfa.us/" target="_blank">bgfa.us</a> #

deathmatch by Mac Pierce at Bert Green: An Intimate Artistic Exploration of War and Games, Both Real and Pretend

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755789370/c1yucihdx3cxjfq2pwqt.jpg"> Via PR ROMAN SUSAN ART FOUNDATION NFP4750 N Sheridan Road #534, Chicago 60640(773) 270-1224 | <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://romansusan.org/" target="_blank">romansusan.org</a> Open Hours1224 W Loyola Ave, Chicago ILSeptember 18, 2025 - September 30, 2025 We’re open! Join us for the last thirteen days of our thirteenth and final year at 1224 W Loyola Ave. Let’s celebrate what you bring to the space. Show up, sign up, and share. Days will have broad themes, and responsive updates – recurring elements will include drawing the walls, making columns, and holding forth. We will be open daily at 5 PM (starting a little earlier, or staying a little later, depending on the day). Check our calendar for daily iterations, and visit while we’re here. We’re excited to share open participatory events with Marc Fischer, Siobhan Leonard, AJ McClenon, Carole McCurdy, dj peripheral, Gwyneth Zeleny Anderson, and others – and to be a platform for people to show up and express themselves. This space is an artwork we’ve made together. Come help add the final touches! 1224 W Loyola Ave has been the site of 185 projects with the contributions of 913 artists from November 2012 through September 2025. Help us carry this spirit forward by supporting our future(s) beyond Loyola Ave. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755789382/xg99lfpm6gpexkmnibuu.jpg"> We are incredibly humbled and grateful to have shared this space together in Rogers Park since November 2012. In particular, we’re taking this time to thank all of the artists who have gifted us their curiosity and their work: Kristin Abhalter Smith, Nathan Abhalter Smith, Jeremy Ackman, Alejandro T. Acierto, Stephanie Acosta, Justine Adeboyejo, Madeleine Aguilar, ebere agwuncha, Elena Ailes, AJ (Quing of Arts Photography), Anyah Akanni, Wiley Aker, Bimbola Akinbola, Muhammad Habib Akram, Adriana Kuri Alamillo, Mark Alcazar Diaz, Darko Aleksovski, Daniel Alfredo Suarez, Hiba Ali, Christopher Corey Allen, Leana E Allen, Kristin Allmer, Pepe Álvarez, Dylan Alverson, Andre Alves, Kayla Anderson, Joni Anderson, Elinor Anderson-Genné, Yana Andriesh, Kanyinsola Anifowoshe, Haylee Anne, Alexandra Antoine, Kioto Aoki, Inés Arango-Guingue, Kate Arford, Carla Argueta, James Arhelger, Jill Armstrong, Lisa Armstrong, Caitlin Arnold, Oscar Arriola, Ashina, Alice Kiwako Ashiwa, Aram Atamian, Erin Austin, Ceyda Aykan, Soheila Azadi, Dennis Baburov, Linden Baierl, Mara Baker, Jess Baldissero, Melis Baloglu, Katarina Balunova, Whitney Bandel, Yaro Banduro, Audrey Barcio, Lorena Barrera Enciso, Lindsey Barlag Thornton, Nina Barnett, Jess Bass, Sarah Bastress, Joann Bates, Jonathan Baude, Michael Bauer, Rebecca Beachy, Laurel Beckman, Meghan Moe Beitiks, Annita Benjamin, Nancy Benjamin, Eli Bensusan, Daryl Lynn Bergman, Sarah Berkeley, Amy Beste, Ruth Biene, Lauren Bina, Jessica Bingham, Sandra Binion, Lauren Bishop, Zaelia Bishop, Dan Bitney, Katina Bitsicas, Taykhoom Saifuddin Biviji, Araidia Blackburn, Thomas Georg Blank, Jerry Bleem, Matt Bodett, Zak Boerger, Sonya Bogdanova, Mark Boldizsar, Michelle Bolinger, Joanna Booth, Gabriella Boros, Cidgy Bossuet, Dan Boyd, Rine Boyer, Beth Bradfish, Patrick Brady, Alexis Brocchi, Kara Brody, Judith Brotman, Georgia Brown, Jared Brown, Jason Brown, Stella Brown, Maddie Brucker, Jan Brugger, Paulina Budzioch, Gabriel Bump, Michael Burmeister, Robert Burnier, Eileen Burns, Nicholas Burrage, April Butcher, Beatriz Caballero, Elise Cabral, Josephina Cabrera, Holly Cahill, Ava Calabrese Grob, Liz Cambron, Mia Capodilupo, Jacobus Capone, Jessica Caponigro, Eric Capper, Vanessa Capshaw, Nick Carbuto, Jay Carlon, Stephanie Del Carpio, Tallulah Cartalucca, Kate Casanova, castroduperly, CEW Design Studio, Stephanie Chamber, Michael Chambers, Isabella Chamberland, Karen Y. Chan, Vienne Chan, Methas Chantawongs, Li Chao-Ping, Vivian Charlesworth, Salome Chasnoff, Jiayi Chen, Tate Won Chen, Ashwaty Chennat, Julietta Cheung, Inah Choe, Chanhee Choi, Judith Holo Lue Choy, James Chrzan, Courtney Cintrón, Hugues Clément, Alexis Clodfelter, Ashley Clodfelter, Jessica Cochran, Joe Cochran, Alex Bradley Cohen, Barrie Cole, Lauren Coleman, Collective Cleaners, Paté Conaway, Katie Condon, Alex J. Cope, Coppice, Sofía Córdova, Elisa Corena, Molly Costello, Derek Coté, Elise Cowin, Max Cozzi, Molly Crabapple, Ben Creech, April Crescia, Anton Crescia, Soledad Crescia, Emilie Crewe, Sarah Crow, Andres Cuartas, Jernej Čuček Gerbec, Sarah Curl-Larson, Jennifer Curth, Furen Dai, Sara Dambrowski, Rachel Damon, Erin Kyle Danna, Sage Dawson, Melanie Deal, Leigh Anthony Dehaney, Santiago Delgado Escribano, Daniel DeLuna, Lindsey Dezman, Alessandro Diaz, Erika Diaz, Natacha Diels, Micah Dillman, Caitlin Dippo, Daz Disley, Predrag Djordjevic, Yewen Dong, Christa Donner, Stella Donner-Yang, Lindsey Dorr-Niro, Germel Dossie, Carrie Drapac, Jory Drew, Benjamin Duax, Meg Duguid, Jim Duignan, Elena Duque, Nir Dvorai, Nadine Dyskant-Miller, Heidi Eckwall, Rebecca Edmonson, Mohamed Ibrahim Elmasry, Shir Ende, Sophia English, Taylor Ervin, Chad Eschman, Paul Escriva, Iván-Daniel Espinosa, Veronica Espinosa, Elena Esquibel, McLean Fahnestock, Adam Farcus, Gabriela Farías, Jessica Fenlon, Carlos Ferguson, Eliza Fernand, Carolina Fernandez Del Dago, Omari Ferrell, Sara Ferro, Peter Ferry, Lydia Feuerhelm, Dasha Filippova, Taylor Finke, Marc Fischer, Lauren Flaaen, Mary Flack, Dustin Flemming, Elizabeth Flood, Flor, Laurel Foglia, Corbett Fogue, Ryan Fontaine, Paige Fors, Jenn Freeman, Tyran Freeman, Lindsey French, Sarah Friedland, Yoav Friedländer, Kandis Friesen, Joanna Furnans, Wanbli Gamache, Eddie Gamboa, Ricardo Gamboa, Chris Gans, Gabriel Garcia, Noelle Garcia, Julia Garfield, Alex Garza, Cy Gavin, Julia Gavin Bither, Ben Lamar Gay, Rami George, Daniel Giles, Didi S. Gilson, Amber Ginsberg, Anna Goetz, laaura goldstein, Ronen Goldstein, Carley Gomez, Carlos Gonzalez, Clay Gonzalez, Graciela Gonzalez, Javier González Pesce, Anna Goraczko, Justyna Górowska, Becky Grajeda, Will Greene, Tia Greer, Alyssa Gregory, Malakai Greiner, Mat Greiner, Spencer Grogan, Maëlle Gross, Ben Grosser, Kim Guare, Michael La Guerra, Sare Güneş, Max Guy, Tom Hack, Maria Hadden, Pamela Hadley, Chad Hagedorn, Tao Haiyue, Michael Hall, Rosemary Hall, Yhelena Hall, Max Halperin, Raja Halwani, Anthony Hamilton, Rory Hamovit, Sanglim Han, Aram Han Sifuentes, Shir Handelsman, Jillian Hansen-Lewis, Mariel Harari, Diamond Hardiman, Judith Harding, Katie Hargrave, Diana Harper, Nichole Harrod, Gretchen Hasse, Ian Hatcher, Sarah Haug, Teri Havens, Erin Hayden, Kelly Hayes, Tracie Hayes, Armin Hayrapetian, hemlock, Nick Hennessey, Jon Henry, Timo Herbst, Traci Hercher, Rosé Hernandez, Heather Higgins, Sara R. Hill, Wendi Hill, Jennifer Hines, Stevie Hnilicka, Ruth Hodgins, Lisa Hoffmann, Elisabeth Hogeman, Sara Holwerda, Brian Holmes, Sam Hoolihan, Iu Chung Hong, Lindsay Hopkins, Maryam Hoseini, Steven Hou, Kasia Houlihan, Elizabeth Housewright, Billie Howard, Brandon Howe, Cynthia Hsieh, Deidre Huckabay, Brandon Jacob Hudson, Jade Huell, Taylor Hughes, Gina Hunt, E.L. Hunter, Lynn Hunter, Sanja Hurem, Steven Husby, Robin Hustle, Regin Igloria, Kate In, Laura Ingram, Josh Ippel, Jessica Jacobs, Maria Jacobson, Michael James, Linda Jankowska, Patrick Jenkins, Salvador Jimenez, Anna Johnson, Jonathan Johnson, Keiko Johnson, Vincent Galen Johnson, Chloe Johnston, Nathanael Jones, Joanne Jongsma, Jasmine Jordan, Ross Jordon, Jacob Juache, Maria Juache, Steve Juras, Mariame Kaba, Kevin Kaempf, Felicia Kaplan, Venkata Sivakumar Kappala, Vasilis Karvounis, Johanna Kasimow, Amay Kataria, Hoda Katebi, Toby Kaufmann-Buhler, Jennifer Keats, Colleen Keihm, Mel Keiser, Lisa Kemp, Millicent Kennedy, James Kenny, J. Kent, Tynan Kerr, Em Kettner, Misha Khokhlov, Juneer Kibria, An Na Kim, Bobae Kim, Danbee Kim, Houneyh Kim, Wednesday Kim, Jeff Kimmel, Rob Kimmel, Jamila Kinney, Kiril Kirchev, Brian Kirkbride, Julia Klein, Katie Klocke, Jordan Knecht, Kelsey Knutson, Haruhi Kobayashi, Marlo Koch, Stephanie Koch, Lia Kohl, Thomas Kong, Karin S. Korth, Fenia Kotsopoulou, Juliane Kowalke, Brandy Kraft, Ginger Krebs, João Krefer, Claire Krueger, Daniel Kukla, Amy Kuttab, Allison Lacher, Tulika Ladsariya, Gigi Lage, Nathan Lamp, Mira Lane, S. Nicole Lane, Gary LaPointe Jr., Amaranta Isyemille Lara, George Larson, Nate Larson, Camille Laut, Aaron Lawson, Anastasia Lebedev, Kasper Lecnim, Charles Lee, Helen Lee, Lindsey Lee, Marissa Lee Benedict, Matt Lee, SJ Lee, Herbert Lee Jones, Caroline Lee Liu, Cristen Leifheit, Dillon Lemon, Matthew Lemus, Siobhan Leonard, Lauren Leving, Li Zeyi, Maria Lichtenegger, Jasmine Lin, Karin Lindholm, Emily Lindskoog, Caldwell Linker, Lion vs. Gorilla, Louise Yingduo Liu, Sarah Anne Lobb, Norman W. Long, Angela Lopez, Brian Lopez, Mauricio López, Zion Lopez, Nazafarin Lotfi, Maddy Low, Dan Lowe, Lienne Loy, Cole Lu, Jessica Lucas, Benjamin Luebkemann, Daniel Luedtke, Ro(b)//ert Lundberg, Lorette Luzajic, Ellie Lynch, David Lytzhøft, kee mabin, Michael Mac, Dan MacDonald, Courtney Mackedanz, Kera MacKenzie, Lauren Macklin, Garrett MacLean, Perry Maddox, Leonardo Magrelli, Jesse Malmed, Tricia Malorey, Eugene Maltez, Deanna Mance, Jorge Mañes Rubio, Amanda Maraist, Ahmed Mohsen Mansour, Liz Mares, John Marks, Chrissy Martin, Matt Martin, Jonatan Martinez, Colin Marx, Henning Marxen, Annalaura Masciave, Katrina Matejcik, Nate Mathews, Nicole Mauser, Andrew Mausert-Mooney, Christopher Maves, Carlye Mayan, Yvette Mayorga, Andrew Mazorol, Marissa McCants, Liz McCarthy, Margaret McCarthy, Frank McCauley, AJ McClenon, Erick McCree, Angus McCullough, Carole McCurdy, Ben McElroy Fuqua, John McLaughlin, Derrick Meads, Richard Medina, Jaclyn Mednicov, Luis Medrano, Charlie Megna, Emanuela Meloni, Jeff Mendenhall, Aruna Mendon, Tejaswini Mendon, Jasmine Mendoza, Joelle Mercedes, Patrick Merrill, Stephanie Merrill, Nick Meryhew, Emily Michaels King, Sea Michell, Miller &amp; Shellabarger, Dan Miller, Mari Miller, Sarah Ellen Miller, Tracy Miller-Robbins, Marina Miliou-Theocharaki, Yunhee Min, Ruxandra Mitache, Carisa Mitchell, Shanae Mitchell, Juan Molina Hernández, Julie Molter, Ricardo Mondragon, Mitch Monroy, Kyle Montemurro, Emily Moorhead, Ignacio Morales, Allen Morris, Tannaz Motevalli, Alyssa Moxley, Erick Msumanje, Eileen Mueller, Milda Muktupāvela, Alvin Muniz, Anna Munzesheimer, Gülşah Mursaloğlu, Jillian Musielak, Crystal Myslajek, Magritte Emanuel Nankin, Sebastian Napoli, Emanuele Napolitano, Paige Naylor, blake nemec, Marina Nemtseva, Moira Ness, Leah Netsky, Marissa Neuman, Dao Nguyen, Natalia Nicholson, Zachary Nicol, Rick Niebe, Clara Nizard, April Noga, Kevin Norris, Jon Notwick, Connie Noyes, Ej Nussbaum, Kathleen O'Connor, Liam O'Connor, Joseph O'Neill, Tamara Ober, Abigail Ockenfels, Betsy Odom, Aimee Marie Odum, Alys Ayumi Ogura, Duncan Oja, Labkhand Olfatmanesh, Dan Olvera, Sabeen Omar, Lara Oppenheimer, Marco Ordonez, Melissa Oresky, Monica Ortega, Christian Ortiz, Ladan Osman, Brandon Oswalt, Julian Otis, Peixuan Ouyang, Hanna M. Owens, Kasia Ozga, Seda Öznal, Jared Packard, Cheryl Pagurek, Yu-Tzu Pai, Ethan T. Parcell, Israel Pate, Steph Patsula, Sally Paul, Coya Paz, Lauren Paz, Lindsey Pearson, PEEJAYEL, Matthew Pell, Josué Pellot, Greg Penrice, Jeannette Perkal, Katherine Perryman, Miloš Peškir, Judy Petacque, Susanne Layla Petersen, Marina Pfenning, Heather Phillips, Sasha Phyars-Burgess, Raffaele Piano, Cole Pierce, Jessica Pierotti, Wannapa Pimtong-Eubanks, Klaus Pinter, Jacob Platt, Colleen Plumb, Rhett Gérard Poché, Michael Robert Pollard, Diane Ponder, Alison Postma, John Preus, Caroline Preziosi, Jill Pridemore Matthews, Zhao Qian, Will Quam, Ruby Que, Cathy Quintero, Paul Rabe, Erika Råberg, Peyton Rack, Eshan Rafi, Ron Ragin, Shelby Ragsdale, Amanda Ramirez, Chris Ramsey, Izah Ransohoff, Mike Rea, Mark Reamy, Risa Recio, Ellen Redshaw, Chris Reeves, Craig Reger, Mark Regester, Johanna Reich, Clemens Reinecke, Einxel Reyes, Patrick Reynolds, Charles Rice, Pat Rice, Nicholas Ridder, Michael Ridge, Haynes Riley, Kayla Risko, Earl Ritchie, Shoniqua Roach, Cole Robertson, Amber Robinson, Jeff Robinson, Louie Robinson, Lauren Roche, Maggie Roche, Liz Rodda, Charlie Roderick, Diego Rodriguez, Leyla Rodriguez, Tony Rodriguez, Amal Rogers, Emilio Rojas, Peter Ronan, Travis Roozée, Clare Rosean, Douglas Rosenberg, Kit Rosenberg, Nancy Lu Rosenheim, Jordan Rosenow, Andrew Rosinski, Amina Ross, Danielle Ross, Marina Ross, Molly Roth Scranton, Maggie Rothberg, Ramona Rouse, Kate Rowekamp, Emma Rozanski, Miles Rufelds, Greg Ruffing, Breanna Ruiz, Jennifer Rumberger, Mo Bella Russo, Vida Sačić, Cristal Sabbagh, Olim Saeki, Cecilia Salinas, Mark Salvati, Dalila Sanabria, Bryan Saner, José Santiago Pérez, Hannah Santistevan, Emma Saperstein, Hiroya Sakurai, Jake Saunders, Craig Sayduh, Matt Schaefer, Kathryn Schaffer, Elyse Schauer, Maya Schenwar, Roberta Schmatz, Daniel Schmid, Kadie Schmidt-Hackenberg, Maxine Schoefer-Wulf, Emily Schulert, Derek Schulze, Kathleen Scott, Rory Scott, Sam Scranton, Danielle Scruggs, Casey Searles, Leonardo Selvaggio, Olga Selvashchuk, Rui Sha, Mazdak Shadkam, Christine Shallenberg, Leviticus Shand, William Shanley Aron Sharp, Luke Shemroske, Karen Sherman, Levi Sherman, Marni Shindelman, Anna Marie Shogren, Ashley Allen Short, Madhuri Shukla, Olga Sidilkovskaya, Hannah Siegfried, Emerson Sigman, Johannah Silva, Anthony Sims, Tyrone Simon, Federico Simone, Paulius Sliaupa, Charles Joseph Smith, Christopher Smith, Corey Smith, Enid Smith, Greg Smith, Jessy Lauren Smith, Sarah Phyllis Smith, Janna Sobel, Sanaz Sohrabi, Deb Sokolow, Melissa Christine Sommer, Stu Sontier, Eric Souther, Kevin Sparrow, Melon Sprout, Paweł Stasiewicz, John Steck Jr., Olive Stefanski, Raychel Steinbach, Laura Stempel, Joe Steppan, Dana Stirling, Nick Stolle, Nicko Straniero, Kevin Stuart, Marc Sullivan, Leonard Suryajaya, Adia Sykes, SYZY GAL O00O, Aurora Tabar, Emily Taft, Maryam Taghavi, TAITAI xTina, Richard Talaber, Savneet Talwar, Allison Tanenhaus, Paige Taul, Tracy Marie Taylor, Dakota Temte, John Tennison, Chiffon Thomas, Erin Thomas, Michael Thomas, Corrie Thompson, Ryan Thompson, Wade Thompson, Will Thompson, Ruby Thorkelson, Sherwin Tibayan, Angie Tillges, Lynn Tomlinson, Fereshteh Toosi, Cassie Tompkins, Rory Tortensson, Breanne Trammell, Selina Trepp, Monica Trinidad, Vincent Troia, Giau Truong, Alan Yu Wah Tse, Hui-min Tsen, Daniel Tseng, Politimi Tsiftilis, Laura Tyler, Maria Tzeka, Sharon Udoh, Udita Upadhyaya, Piotr Urbaniec, Joél Valdez, Nancy Valladares, Nicolas Vamvouklis, Betsy van Die, Tricia Van Eck, Cedric van Eenoo, Jacob van Loon, Kristin Van Loon, Kenny Vang, Betsy Vandercook, A. P. Vague, Vales Madre, VAY sarolta, Rafael Vera, Hannah Verrill, Maceo Vidal-Haymes, Tasha Viets-VanLear, Hildegard von Bingen, Kasey Waas, Aaron Walker, Christine Wallers, Dongmei Wang, Jenyu Wang, Tianjiao Wang, Yuqi Wang, Kelly Wantuch, Marta Wapiennik, Erin Washington, Kelli Washington, Zuri Washington, Sally Waterman, Zach Waters, We Charge Genocide, Julie Weber, Zara Monica Wee, Chris Weil, Mike Weis, Simon Welch, Tony Werner, Dan Wetmore, Keegan White, Anna Martine Whitehead, Kevin Talmer Whiteneir, Loraine Wible, Arwen Wilder, Lauren Rose Wiley, Holly Wilkinson, Tina Willgren, Andy Willis, Tara Aisha Willis, Melinda Wilson, Emily Winter, Amanda Wirig, Adeline Wisernig, Magdalena Wistuba, Writing Group, Clark Woods, Sadie Woods, Yaloo, Makiko Yamauchi, Andrew Yang, Saebom Yang, Polly Yates, James Yearnd, Anne Yoder, bex ya yolk, Nao Yoshigai, Katherine Young, Avery Youngblood, Cherrie Yu, Jungyul Yu, Chien An Yuan, Gwendolyn Zabicki, Jameson Zaerr, Sara Zalek, Anders Zanichkowsky, Christopher Zanoni, Julia Zastava, Latham Zearfoss, Tobias Zehntner, Gwyneth Zeleny Anderson, Mary Zerkel, Tongyu Zhao, Yuge Zhou, Xiaoqing Zhu, Meredith Zielke, Hallie Zimmerman, and lots of other people who make the community. While this space is closing, Roman Susan will continue to be a part of Rogers Park, Chicagoland, and the Great Lakes. All our hearts to you, friends – again soon! Roman Susan Art Foundation&nbsp;celebrates and shares the work of artists in the Great Lakes region. We create cultural engagements that provide resources and paid opportunities for artists. We are Chicago-based. We are artist-led. We are experimental and learning. For more info, please visit romansusan.org. For further info: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://romansusan.org/open-hours" target="_blank">romansusan.org/open-hours</a> or contact art@romansusan.org This program is partially supported by grants from the Illinois Arts Council Agency through awards from the National Endowment for the Arts. This project is partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago&nbsp;Department of Cultural Affairs &amp; Special Events. Roman Susan Art Foundation NFP is supported in part by 175 individual donors,&nbsp;Gen Ops Plus Grants from The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, Hyde Park Art Center Artists Run Chicago Fund, The Reva and David Logan Foundation, The MacArthur Funds for Culture, Equity, and the Arts at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, 6018North, AD3 Innovation Bootcamp, An Sylvia Exhibitions, Foundation Source, Lucky Pierre, Story Luck, and in-kind support from Cargo Collective, Lawyers for the Creative Arts, and Sloane Communications. To support this ongoing work, please visit <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://romansusan.org/support" target="_blank">romansusan.org/support</a> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://romansusan.org/FUTURE" target="_blank">ROMANSUSAN.ORG/FUTURE</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755789383/uazhut3eiqusqcwxabld.jpg">

After Showing 913 Artists in 13 Years Roman Susan Announces Closure

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755612906/ygta84ajkyqdbntytthj.jpg">Rafael J. Miranda Mattei, Sin titulo (Vistas del Cerro Maravilla), 18 x 24”, solvent ink on paper, 2024 By SUSAN GESCHEIDLE <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.elschomburg.com/" target="_blank">El Schomburg</a> opened in October 2023 in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood. Founded by Brenda Torres Figueroa—artist, educator, and curator—the center serves as a contemporary art space and cultural hub rooted in Chicago’s Puerto Rican community and inspired by the legacy of Afro-Puerto Rican historian Arturo Alfonso Schomburg. Located in a storefront with a black brick façade, the site features a mural of Arturo Schomburg and a Puerto Rican flag above the entrance. “Grabaciones para un pais de memoria corta: Tracking Issues”, an exhibition curated by Alexis Figueroa of Trailer Park Proyects, presents the unique work of Puerto Rican artist Rafael J. Miranda Mattei, based in the United States. This exhibition celebrates a two-decade-long artistic and personal collaboration between Figueroa and Miranda Mattei. Notably, Miranda Mattei’s first visit to Chicago in 2013 was for a Trailer Park Proyects exhibition organized in Figueroa’s truck. Figueroa is interested in how Miranda Mattei’s artistic perspective has evolved over the past seven years, examining the impact of distance and new environments on his artistic journey. Miranda Mattei is a mid-career artist and educator, whose work has been exhibited at various venues and museums in San Juan, New York City, Chicago, San Franciso, Madrid, and Buenos Aires. Living in New Jersey, he acknowledges the difficulties associated with being apart from friends and family in Puerto Rico and says this separation shapes his perspective and informs his artistic work, which continues to explore issues of identity and political representation. Miranda Mattei is presenting work at El Schomburg with the aim of engaging the Puerto Rican community in Chicago and aligning with the venue’s emphasis on Puerto Rican and Diasporic art. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755612908/iyspjv9s4dalfiapyjea.jpg">Installation view<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755612909/pxcxxfibzddf4egzxu3y.jpg"> “Grabaciones para un pais de memoria corta” (Recordings for a Country With a Short Memory), offers a critique of the fragility of collective memory within colonial and diasporic contexts. Miranda Mattei ingeniously employs the term ‘Tracking Issues,’ referencing distorted VHS images, to symbolize fragmented and lost narratives. Building upon inspirations from Neo-Dada, Pop Art, and Neo-conceptualism, Miranda Mattei utilizes cynicism and satire to critically examine Puerto Rican society and government, addressing the profound impact of politics and media on collective memory. Miranda Mattei, Figueroa notes, is admired by peers as an “artist’s artist” for his singular vision and willingness to confront controversial subjects. While Miranda Mattei is wary of the political climate under Donald Trump, he boldly uses the environment to inspire more inclusive narratives of resistance and resilience. The exhibition’s relevance provides an astute commentary on the intersection of politics, media, and collective memory that resonates strongly within the current political climate. Miranda Mattei’s artwork investigates the interplay among memory, narratives of past experiences, personal identity, history, and the lasting influence of prior events. If you remember the days of “Be Kind. Please Rewind,” Blockbuster video rentals, VCR players, or capturing important moments on VHS tapes with bulky camcorders, then this exhibition will resonate. Anyone who has ever made a curated mix tape or CD will relate to this work as a means of revisiting the obsolete physical media from the mid-1980s to the early 2000s, a period that deeply informs Miranda Mattei’s artistic vision. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755612911/afl8pyhkvomytjistb0x.jpg">Rafael J. Miranda Mattei, Sin titulo (Entierro de Munoz Marin) 18 x 24”, solvent ink on paper, 2024 Miranda Mattei’s choice to explore collective memory via ubiquitous but outdated media, like VHS tapes and CDs that once served as revolutionary accessible tools for capturing memories of significant events also highlights this particular media’s historical, personal, and political significance to Puerto Rico. It’s a link to past and present. His nine solvent ink prints on paper of scanned flattened VHS boxes, function as archives of Puerto Rican history. The visually striking 18 by 24-inch framed VHS prints, with their vivid colors and geometric forms, showcase a cornucopia of classic brands like BASF, Maxwell, Panasonic, Polaroid, Sanyo, Sony, and TDK. The display may remind viewers of their own VHS collections, whether stored, recorded over, or lost. As Figueroa observes, taping over or losing VHS tape content symbolizes lost memories, echoing Miranda Mattei’s focus on the fragility of memory—a point supported by University of Chicago research on the malleability of memory, which explores forgetting and the creation of false recollections. Miranda Mattei reinterprets pivotal moments in Puerto Rican history through a unique artistic practice: hand-labeling VHS tapes with invented titles. These VHS prints bridge past and present, providing new insight into major events. Miranda Mattei’s work covers the devastating 1985 Mameyes landslide; the 1996 Humberto Vidal gas explosion; the funeral of influential political figure, Muñoz Marín; and the 1999 accidental death of David Sanes in Vieques from a United States military bombing error. He also captures the 1978 Cerro Maravilla massacre and its subsequent cover-up, where two young pro-independence activists were murdered in a police ambush; Karl Wallenda’s fatal high-wire walk in San Juan that same year; and Puerto Rican boxer Tito Trinidad’s triumph over De La Hoya. Through this artistic endeavor, Mattei visually reinterprets these events, fostering a connection between historical narratives and contemporary understanding. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755612913/vk1lymhgkxsaqw0lk8pg.jpg">Rafael J. Miranda Mattei, Man in Condado, 44 x 60”,&nbsp;India ink on hot press Arches paper, 2025 The exhibition features varied artworks, such as a 32.5 x 31.5-inch mixed media piece inspired by a CD mixtape. Another striking piece viewers will appreciate is an installation of&nbsp;twenty-two vivid-colored VHS tapes joined together with plexiglass, forming a dynamic half-rainbow arch across the wall. Several new large-scale black and white works (44 x 60 inches), meticulously created with India ink on hot press Arches paper, are on display. These pieces reference the VHS print of Karl Wallenda’s 1978 San Juan tightrope performance and fatal fall, drawing inspiration from photos of the fall taken by Gary Williams, a San Juan newspaper photographer. The photos were featured in the April 3, 1978, Time Magazine article, “Sit Down, Poppy, Sit Down!” Miranda Mattei’s drawings of Wallenda evoke Robert Longo’s “Men in the Cities” black and white series, portraying sharply dressed figures in mid-motion against a stark white backdrop — an aesthetic that mirrors both Wallenda’s attire and form during his fatal descent. “Man in Condado” depicts Wallenda plummeting from below, dressed in black trousers and white-soled shoes, one arm visible – a chilling foreshadowing of his death. Miranda Mattei’s drawings are powerful, elegant, yet terrifying, imbued with the knowledge of the tragic end to the story. The local television station WAPA in San Juan captured the moment live, indelibly engraving it in the collective memory of those who witnessed the fall. Miranda Mattei’s art beautifully revives this somber chapter of the island’s past. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755612915/wwquvuzzpoy28su0wtla.jpg"> The exhibition offers an unfiltered view of Puerto Rico’s history, highlighting both its strengths and flaws. Though living in New Jersey, Miranda Mattei maintains a deep connection to his Puerto Rican heritage, portraying the island’s complexities beyond the idealized image of a sun-kissed Caribbean paradise. In doing so, Miranda Mattei deliberately refrains from comparing Puerto Rico’s corruption to that on the mainland, just as he avoids drawing parallels to how mainstream media sensationalizes stories to distract from less desirable topics. The exhibition demonstrates a consistent and unwavering perspective on Puerto Rico, acknowledging that these issues resonate beyond the island. This multi-media retro-esque exhibit is a nuanced and heartfelt love story embracing Puerto Rico’s complexities. Don’t miss the chance to experience this candid homage to Puerto Rico’s cultural legacy: “Be Kind. Please Rewind!” # Grabaciones para un pais de memoria corta:&nbsp;Tracking Issues is on view thru September 19, 2025at <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.elschomburg.com/" target="_blank">El Schomburg</a>2538 W. Division, ChicagoHours by appointment.&nbsp;Call 15 minutes prior. 787–409–6983 <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755612916/ijx277xpjotihfluwnjm.jpg">Installation view

El Schomburg: Grabaciones para un pais de memoria corta: Tracking Issues by Rafael J. Miranda Mattei

<img width="206" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755211320/fgh88o059ldy0dchhwxm.jpg">Miguel A. Del Real ﻿By CGN Staff Art Encounter announced that its&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artencounter.org/murals" target="_blank">Evanston Mural Arts Program</a>&nbsp;has had a busy summer season and it shared two new projects: a first-ever ground mural in downtown Evanston designed and painted by artist Miguel A. Del Real, and an outdoor butterfly garden mural led by Mario Mena with students at Chute Middle School. All of the organization's&nbsp;30+ mural projects, artists, and partners&nbsp;on the Art Encounter website, and visitors are also able to use AE's&nbsp;Google map&nbsp;to visit murals in person. Details are included below. EMAP's first-ever ground mural project wrapped up just a few weeks ago, and we're thrilled with the results! The pedestrian plaza at 1603 Orrington Ave in downtown Evanston is now home to a vibrant, sprawling piece of art. Chicago artist&nbsp;Miguel A. Del Real&nbsp;used a colorblind-accessible palette to create the dynamic composition full of organic movement and art&nbsp;deco flourishes. This piece required the use of paint specifically created for ground murals, which adheres permanently to the concrete and provides a textured surface that ensure safety and longevity. The abstracted floral design creates an immersive, interactive experience for all who visit, and is equally striking whether viewed from ground level or from above by those in the Orrington Plaza building!&nbsp; Thank you&nbsp;to the sponsors and community partners who made this project possible: Downtown Evanston,&nbsp;Golub &amp; Company,&nbsp;Hagerty Consulting,&nbsp;Magnetar Capital LLC,&nbsp;UL Research&nbsp;Institutes, UL&nbsp;Standards &amp; Engagement, and the City of Evanston. <img width="570" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755211320/m2plobllijgkorwqoid2.jpg"><img width="570" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755211321/luwoe7yhksdzzgzfoayo.png">Celebrating Migration, Transformation, and NatureWith artist Mario Mena <img width="206" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755211322/nr7dqoxh7ofe63bluvu5.jpg"><img width="15" height="1" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755211323/uhrkfpcbaplbj2weict8.gif">From March to June, Chicago artist and teacher&nbsp;Mario Mena&nbsp;collaborated with 6th–8th graders at Chute Middle School to lead a striking outdoor mural project that beautifully complements the school's Okano Butterfly Garden. Chute's Green STEAM Club, 8th grade Advanced Art and Advanced Media Art classes, and additional 6th- 8th graders participated in all parts of the mural-making process with Mario, including conceptualizing the artwork's themes, designing the images, and painting the final product. Each section of the mural was painted on a synthetic mural fabric material called polytab, allowing students to work on the mural in the classroom before the pieces were adhered to the wall in early June. Mario then painted additional finishing touches directly onto the brick. The resulting mural evokes ideas of home, migration, and transformation, celebrating Chute's unique student population and their stories. Make sure to walk or drive by the school on Oakton Street to see it in person! Thank you&nbsp;to Chute teachers Sherri Kushner, Jamal Duncan, and Wendy&nbsp;Mohrenweiser&nbsp;for inspiring this mural and to Healing Illinois, which provided the grant that made this uplifting project possible. Extra thanks to Damon Lamar Reed and Terrence Haymer for their leadership with the polytab installation! <img width="570" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755211324/tqh7krvz4q1zsz1qouy2.png"><img width="570" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755211324/ikzwqka6lv7kfa7why8z.png"><img width="570" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755211325/cwftsupm6o8xexwfcazp.jpg">

Art Encounter's Evanston Mural Arts Program Shares Two New Projects

<h4><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1754966922/czy8bz5gmdajr3tmzrk0.jpg"></h4>Karl Wirsum, a prominent member of the Chicago artistic group The Hairy Who, was successful in life but less so in death.&nbsp;Courtesy Zack Wirsum<h4> </h4><h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://observer.com/2025/08/what-happens-to-an-artists-market-after-they-die/" target="_blank">What Really Happens to an Artist’s Market After They Die</a></h4> <a style="color: rgb(26, 26, 26);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://observer.com/person/alasdair-nichol/" target="_blank">Alasdair Nichol</a>, deputy chairman of Freeman’s | Hindman auction house, calls it a “ghoulish” area, but it is one that he knows exists: “There often is a death watch for older artists and those believed to be in poor health.” Auctioneers, art dealers and gallery owners and most especially art collectors pay close attention to obituaries, based on what he called a popular fallacy that the prices for artists’ works will rise significantly on their passing. “A person I know has been buying up Richters”—referring to the 93-year-old German painter&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(26, 26, 26);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://observer.com/person/gerhard-richter/" target="_blank">Gerhard Richter</a>—“I assume with the intention of selling these things when he dies,” Nichol told Observer, adding that he remembers “a mini-boom” for memorabilia related to the singer&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(26, 26, 26);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://observer.com/person/david-bowie/" target="_blank">David Bowie</a>&nbsp;“prior to his death” in 2016. Via Observer <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/architecture-design/2025/08/10/agora-abakanowicz-grant-park-iron-sculpture?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=081125%20Afternoon%20Edition&amp;utm_content=081125%20Afternoon%20Edition+CID_5258340f4346e7f3f892975857cc00cf&amp;utm_source=cst_campaign_monitor&amp;utm_term=Grant%20Parks%20Agora%20iron%20sculptures%20might%20have%20to%20relocate%20in%202026&amp;tpcc=cst_cm" target="_blank">Will Agora take a walk? Grant Park's iron sculptures might have to relocate in 2026</a></h4> The sculpture Agora — a striking work composed of 106 9-foot tall iron human figures — has been a fixture on the southern edge of Grant Park for nearly 20 years.But the artwork might have to take a hike next August.That’s when the Chicago Park District’s 20-year installation and maintenance agreement expires. The agreement allows Agora to occupy its Hutchinson Field location. The expiration doesn’t make the artwork’s relocation a certainty, but one of the proposals in the park district’s&nbsp;new Grant Park Framework Plan&nbsp;includes refashioning Hutchinson Field into a “neighborhood-oriented amenity” — and it doesn’t mention Agora sticking around. Via Chicago Sun-Times <h4><a style="color: rgb(0, 102, 204);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-real-estate/school-art-institute-president-buys-lincoln-park-home?share-code=17549667261641665-1989c4ac788&amp;utm_id=gfta-ur-250811" target="_blank">School of the Art Institute president buys $2.2 million Lincoln Park house</a></h4> Jiseon Lee Isbara, president of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, bought a house in Lincoln Park for a little over $2.2 million.Isbara,&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(29, 79, 216);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagobusiness.com/education/school-art-institute-names-jiseon-lee-isbara-president" target="_blank">who took the reins at the institution in July 2024,</a>&nbsp;and husband Melik Isbara bought the five-bedroom house on Halsted Street July 1, according to the Cook County clerk.An exhibited artist who previously was a top official at a California arts school, Lee Isbara would not comment on the purchase, a media representative at SAIC told Crain's. Via Crain's Chicago <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://news.artnet.com/multimedia/art-market-minute-jul-28-2671920" target="_blank">How Is A.I. Reshaping the Market?</a></h4> It’s clear the market for A.I. artworks is expanding, as are the applications for the tech as a tool within the trade. But behind all the hype are serious questions about market readiness and ethics. Artnet’s European news reporter&nbsp;Jo Lawson-Tancred discusses how A.I. is changing how the art world does business. Listen via Artnet

What We're Reading: August 12, 2025

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1754964817/qwtfuqawwi27ayxw5pab.jpg"> By CGN Staff&nbsp; We received news from <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://goldfinch-gallery.com/" target="_blank">Goldfinch</a> Director Claudine Ise that she is closing her much-loved gallery space. Below is the message she shared with clients and friends of the gallery this weekend. <h2 class="ql-align-center"> </h2><h2 class="ql-align-center">A FOND FAREWELL&nbsp;</h2><h2 class="ql-align-center">&nbsp;</h2>It is with some sadness but mostly,&nbsp;a deep sense of gratitude that I’m sharing the news that Goldfinch is closing. Over the past several months my&nbsp;priorities have shifted towards personal health and wellness issues, and so after much&nbsp;thought and deliberation I’ve decided that now is the right time to end this chapter of the Gallery’s history. The community formed around Goldfinch has meant the world to me, and I hope it has meant something positive to other people too. I know that if tended carefully, the relationships and communities we form can endure the transformations that come from both sudden changes and slow evolutions. Although the space may eventually evolve into a different sort of entity, I need to close this chapter and honor what is ending before thinking about what might come next.&nbsp;I want to thank our entire roster of gallery artists for believing in our program and for playing such vital roles in it, and thanks as well to every single artist we’ve mounted exhibitions with, included in our Flatfiles, or hosted as program speakers over the years. I’m so grateful to all of the beautiful collectors who have supported this small but ambitious gallery&nbsp;and its artists, and I’m equally beholden to the artists and regular gallery visitors who together formed our loyal and consistent core audience. I also want to thank Elizabeth Lalley for being a formative part of the gallery’s DNA and aesthetic spirit, JP Culligan for playing an integral&nbsp;role in the exhibition mounting and design process of the gallery from our very first&nbsp;shows onward, Ry Thiel and Tom Van Eynde for their beautiful photography, and most of all my husband Andrew, ‘the door guy’ who greeted everyone who came through our doors for openings and public talks, no matter how cold the hallways got.&nbsp;We are in the process of reaching out to the many&nbsp;artists with works in our Flatfiles to arrange for their artwork pickup. Our Instagram will remain an open&nbsp;channel for sharing news on the artists, organizations and events who have been part of our community. And, if and when there are updates on the evolution of the space itself—you’ll read it there first.&nbsp;&nbsp;With love, hope and gratitude,&nbsp;Claudine&nbsp;Claudine IséOwner and Director

Goldfinch Gallery Announces It's Closing

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1754585092/ou45j0tifpwef317hotz.jpg">John Seubert&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;There Were No Flowers Tonight&nbsp;|&nbsp;mixed media altar piece&nbsp;|&nbsp;14.5&nbsp;x 16.5 x 5.75 inches Victor Armendariz shared with CGN that long time Chicago artist John Seubert died last week at his Lincoln Park home and studio. His artwork was created in cycles and ranged from paintings, to sculptures which he called his “constructions”, furniture in the form of “Crash Tables” as they were comprised of a “collision of parts”, jewelry, clocks, and lamps with mosaic shades from Lake Michigan beach glass. John variously signed his artwork under numerous guises depending on his mood including, Dear John, John John, John Grey, John Dolly and just, John. The term prolific, does not begin to describe his near obsessive desire to create art. His home was filled floor to ceiling with his artwork and entire rooms were dedicated to the display and ever-evolving arrangement of his collection.&nbsp;To help support his atypical lifestyle, John worked various jobs including assistant to Chicago photographer Mark Hauser, (often claiming credit for urging Cindy Crawford to stop covering her mole in photo shoots), as a gallery preparator at the MCA and various art galleries over the years, as a handy-man, and builder’s assistant. At one point early in life packing all his belongings in his car and moving to Los Angeles to work in Hollywood, sometimes appearing as an extra in movie shoots. His lifestyle brought him to New York in the 80’s where he partied in circles including Andy Warhol (although Andy never spoke to him). And once at a party, Cher pointed to him and said, “You’ve got it!” in admiration of his be-spangled outfit.&nbsp;In 2017 John began showing his artwork at Gallery VICTOR with longtime friend Victor Armendariz. His work was always showing somewhere in the gallery and was prominently featured in the gallery’s 5th&nbsp;Anniversary exhibit,&nbsp;Wunderkammer. John also worked as the gallery’s main preparator and was often seen at the gallery installing artworks, packing, serving wine at openings. John’s work was first shown at Ann Nathan’s Objects Gallery from the late 1980’s through the early 1990’s. In 2014 Jennifer Norback Fine Art presented,&nbsp;The Negro Clocks: 1985-2000&nbsp;featuring a dozen of his handcrafted clocks focusing on racism and channeling his own life experiences with intolerance as a gay man.&nbsp;John suffered a brain aneurism at the end of April which landed him in the hospital for an emergency brain surgery. He returned home in early June where he was anxious to return to making art, which he continued to do until his death. John leaves behind an extraordinary body of work with many pieces placed in collections worldwide.&nbsp;Memorial Mass:Tuesday, August 12, 2025, 11amSaint Mary of The Angels Catholic Church1850 North Hermitage Ave.Chicago, IL 60622&nbsp;Memorial Reception:Tuesday, August 12, 2025, 12:30-3pmGallery VICTOR300 West Superior StreetChicago, IL 60654

Artist John Seubert: 1958-2025

Curated Highlights for What’s Ahead in Chicago’s Art Scene As of August 5, we’re looking forward—not backward. Here are exhibitions, talks, and art happenings opening after this week. August can be a slower month in the art world, but it can also offer a chance to engage with art before the fall season is in full swing. And on that note, we are wrapping up production on the fall issue of CGN, covering September-December. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicagogallerynews.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> and receive a copy in the mail! – CGN <h3>• Exhibitions</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1754433289/ca77xelv2otvxjs30hgr.jpg"> <h4>Fortitude</h4> Dragonfly Gallery &amp; Creative Spaces August 8–31 | Opening: Friday, August 8, 6–9 PM An immersive solo exhibition exploring resilience through vivid color, layered textiles, and sculptural form. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/fortitude" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1754433290/z5h0wtcipnjrfbvhzwoh.jpg"> <h4>Mark Me, Too: Five Artists</h4> Hyde Park Art Center August 9 – December 14 | Opening: Saturday, August 9, 2–4 PM This group show spotlights five self-taught and underrepresented artists addressing autonomy, identity, and community through mixed media. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.hydeparkart.org/exhibition/mark-me-too-five-artists" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1754433292/pqlfc22npiizmscil9jv.jpg"> <h4>Chicken Stingel: The Sequel</h4> Old Friends Gallery August 14 – September 21 | Opening: Thursday, August 14, 6–9 PM A conceptual and comical follow-up by Kenny Schachter featuring “collaborations” with chickens, cast in copper, silver, and gold, riffing on Rudolf Stingel’s practice. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/chicken-stingel-the-sequel" target="_blank">More info ›</a><h3> </h3> <h3>• Special Events &amp; Auctions</h3> <h4><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1754433294/vdqo81yqcguhw4qb4ip7.jpg"></h4><h4> </h4><h4>Ren Editions Pop-up</h4>The Renaissance SocietyFriday, August 8A pop-up event featuring a curated selection of rare and limited-edition artworks and publications by internationally acclaimed contemporary artists who have exhibited at the Ren.<a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/ren-editions-pop-up" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1754433296/j2yg5n0ymq6qwnhthhhn.jpg"> <h4>Art on THE MART: August Projections</h4> Merchandise Mart / Chicago Riverwalk Nightly through September Nightly large-scale video projections feature new digital works, including pieces by Arts of Life artists celebrating 25 years of inclusive creative studio practice. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artonthemart.com/" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <h4><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1754433297/yaxuwaaqv9dtxanwncea.jpg"></h4> <h4>In the Company of Women</h4>21c Museum Hotel ChicagoThursday, Aug 21, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PMOne night of conversation, creativity, and connection—complete with wine and art.<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/in-the-company-of-women" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1754433298/lfvvffqzmqmk2rj9sjna.jpg"> <h4>Essential Jewelry</h4>Freeman's | HindmanWednesday, Aug 27, 2025 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/essential-jewelry-aug-25" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <h4> </h4><h2> </h2>

CGN Art Preview: August 2025

<h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://hyperallergic.com/1030874/can-steve-martin-help-bring-visitors-to-the-frick-collection/" target="_blank">Can Steve Martin Help Bring Visitors to the Frick Collection?</a></h3> As if a $220 million makeover weren’t enough, the Frick Collection in New York City has enlisted comedian Steve Martin to promote the newly reopened museum, which returned to its Fifth Avenue headquarters this spring. In a&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(18, 18, 18);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itpleBx3-tc" target="_blank">new video</a>&nbsp;posted to the Frick’s website and social media, the&nbsp;Only Murders in the Building&nbsp;co-creator and actor prances around the freshly renovated Gilded Age mansion, narrating a short history of the museum and its originator, the industrialist and&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(18, 18, 18);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/goldman-henry-clay-frick-1849-1919/" target="_blank">notorious labor suppressor</a>&nbsp;Henry Clay Frick. Via Hyperallergic&nbsp; <h3> </h3><h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.wttw.com/playlist/2025/06/18/fine-arts-building-book" target="_blank">A New Book Explores the Fascinating Stories and Businesses Inside Chicago's Eccentric Fine Arts Building</a></h3> “What is this place?” Chicago author Keir Graff asks the question more than once as he’s describing the Fine Arts Building, the subject of his new book.The question is an apt one. The ten-story building is part of the stone, glass, and steel cliffs that line Michigan Avenue and overlook Grant Park. From the outside, the building is “kind of blocky,” Graff describes. “It’s not a stunning building like the Rookery Building.” Via WTTW<h3> </h3><h3> </h3><h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/30/arts/design/versailles-ai-app.html?unlocked_article_code=1.bk8.3zma.4tst9kToWiXQ&amp;smid=url-share" target="_blank">What’s on Cupid’s Mind at Versailles? A.I. Can Tell You.</a></h3> Early one midsummer afternoon in the Palace of Versailles’ gardens, a pigeon landed effortlessly on a masterpiece of French outdoor sculpture: a 17th-century statue of Apollo on a chariot, pulled by four horses. The statue, made of gilded lead, has stood in a vast fountain at Versailles in the three-plus centuries since Louis XIV was king of France — and it has now entered the digital age via a new feature on the historic site’s app: Powered by the tech giant OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, an audio tool lets visitors (on or off site) converse with 20 outdoor statues in three languages. On that summer afternoon, I put the chatbot to the test. Via NYT

What We're Reading: August 4, 2025

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1753821888/wwox9mc75tnzeyjz02zd.jpg"> Local cartoonist Chris Ware's sheet of "Forever" stamps traces a busy postal carrier's journey through an urban landscape across four seasons. Credit: derek li wan po/Provided <a style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/07/22/us-postal-service-needed-stamps-to-celebrate-its-250th-anniversary-local-cartoonist-chris-ware-delivered/" target="_blank">USPS Needed Stamps For Its 250th Anniversary. Local Cartoonist Chris Ware Delivered</a>&nbsp;What’s older than the Declaration of Independence? Believe it or not: the United States Postal Service.The organization now known as the USPS was <a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://facts.usps.com/benjamin-franklin-first-postmaster-general/" target="_blank">established in July 1775</a> — one year before the 13 original colonies declared themselves to be their own nation. This week, the agency <a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2025/0428-usps-announces-stamps-celebrating-its-250th-anniversary.htm" target="_blank">celebrates its semiquincentennial</a> with a creative new stamp design featuring artwork by local cartoonist extraordinaire Chris Ware.&nbsp;Via Block Club Chicago <a style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/yvette-mayorga-times-square-arts-magic-grasshopper-2669062" target="_blank">Yvette Mayorga Is Unleashing a Candy-Coated Fantasy in Times Square</a>Times Square is about to get a sugar rush. <a style="color: rgb(31, 31, 31);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artnet.com/artists/yvette-mayorga/" target="_blank">Yvette Mayorga</a>, the artist best known for her pink-hued, frosted confections, is unveiling her largest public artwork at the New York plaza—one that’s equal parts dreamy fairy tale and pointed social critique.Via Artnet <a style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/24/arts/design/amy-sherald-smithsonian-censorship.html?unlocked_article_code=1.ZE8.Svkq.6qh_WIj7TJOj&amp;smid=url-share" target="_blank">Amy Sherald Cancels Her Smithsonian Show, Citing Censorship</a>Amy Sherald — the artist who rocketed to fame with her 2018 <a style="color: rgb(50, 104, 145);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/23/arts/design/amy-sherald-michelle-obama-official-portrait.html" target="_blank">portrait of Michelle Obama</a> — has withdrawn her upcoming solo show from the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery because she said she had been told the museum was considering removing her painting depicting a transgender Statue of Liberty to avoid provoking President Trump.Via NYT

What We're Reading July 28th

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1753819487/ilknfbgfbwt3a0teqann.png"> By CGN Staff via PR Fall West Loop Contemporary Fine Art Expo to take place October 17–19, following debut of spring edition in May 2025. This October the inaugural Fall West Loop Contemporary Fine Art Expo will take place from October 17–19, 2025 at the Stephen M. Bailey Auditorium, located in Plumbers Hall at 1340 W. Washington Blvd. Close to Randolph Street’s many acclaimed restaurants, the expo brings a curated selection of fine art to one of the city’s buzziest, creative neighborhoods. Presented by LA-based Gourmet Expos, the three-day event offers an intimate, boutique-style art fair experience featuring more than 40 invitation-only artists from seven states across the Midwest and beyond. Visitors can explore a wide array of original artwork in styles ranging from abstract expressionism and post-impressionism to encaustic, pop realism, and sculpture, with all works available for purchase directly from the artists. A small-scale, artist-driven fair set inside a historic Beaux-Arts auditorium, the fair aims to create a dialogue between artists and collectors in an atmosphere that isn't intimidating and that is especially appealing to first time collectors looking for unique art by living artists. Each artist will be present to speak about their work, making this expo as much about connection as it is about discovery.<h4> </h4><h4>Hours &amp; Ticket Information:</h4> First Look Preview<ul><li>Friday, October 17, 7–10PM</li><li>Includes hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar – Tickets $40</li></ul>General Admission<ul><li>Saturday, October 18, 11AM–7PM</li><li>Sunday, October 19, 11AM–7PM (Post-game hours for Bears fans!) – Daily Tickets $20</li></ul>Multi-day tickets available For tickets, parking info and artist previews, visit <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.gourmetexpos.com/" target="_blank">www.GourmetExpos.com</a> or contact <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="mailto:info@gourmetexpos.com" target="_blank">info@gourmetexpos.com</a> / 310-358-9097. Image: Val Fischer

A Boutique, Artist-Focused Art Fair Comes to the West Loop in October

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1752786489/snrf6mzitgdmoqg9sfvz.png"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/luminosity-the-ocean-between-viii" target="_blank">LUMINOSITY: The Ocean Between VIII</a>Opening: Friday, July 18, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PMOliva Gallery <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1752786491/oudphmwdredgxlxjwxoz.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/april-behnke-mind-games" target="_blank">April Behnke: Mind Games</a>Opening: Friday, July 18, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PMKim Storage Gallery <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1752786493/sfzleasuzdapaubwaul7.png"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/fawn-penn-remedy-for-the-relief-of-human-suffering" target="_blank">Fawn Penn: Remedy for the Relief of Human Suffering</a>Opening: Friday, July 18, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PMVSG Contemporary <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1752786498/aq81x7jmxihbtyblsfmx.png"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/juan-carlos-rodriguez-sound-the-alarm" target="_blank">Juan Carlos Rodriguez: Sound the Alarm</a>Opening: Friday, July 18, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PMSouth Shore Arts <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1752786499/qhskbeuu4gjsmkxacemn.png"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/three-ways-of-seeing-tomo-mori-marie-kirk-burke-and-jill-hackney" target="_blank">Three Ways of Seeing: Tomo Mori, Marie Kirk Burke, and Jill Hackney</a>Opening: Saturday, July 19, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PMJudy Ferrara Gallery

New Exhibitions: July 18 - 19

<h3><a style="color: rgb(32, 76, 156);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artnews.com/list/art-in-america/features/what-is-art-good-for-christine-sun-kim-stephen-shore-1234746972/" target="_blank">What Is Art Good For? Seven Artists&nbsp;Respond.</a></h3>All artists have wrestled with the question of why they make art. The endeavor can sometimes feel impotent or indulgent, or perhaps motivated by compulsion alone. Yet here we are, continuing a tradition that has spanned the entirety of human history. My ears always perk up when an artist offers or even implies an answer to art’s purpose, with their words or with their work, so I posed the question to seven artists with evident opinions. Some responded with words to live by; others turned the prompt into a creative or conceptual challenge—as artists are wont to do. (Still others not included declined to answer, emailing simply, “I don’t know.”) The responses below range, as might be expected, from cynical to sincere, with some managing neat answers and others leaning into the open-endedness that the question—and that art—engenders.&nbsp;—As told to Emily Watlington Via Art in America <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/07/15/free-art-with-strings-attached-zero-art-fairs-first-edition-in-new-york-city-puts-a-new-spin-on-the-old-fair-format" target="_blank">‘Free art, with strings attached’: Zero Art Fair’s first edition in New York City puts a new spin on the old fair format</a></h3><a style="color: inherit; background-color: rgb(255, 254, 250);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.zeroartfair.com/about/" target="_blank">Zero Art Fair</a>&nbsp;appears normal enough. Held last week in a white-walled gallery towering above Chelsea at the Flag Art Foundation’s ninth-floor headquarters, collectors perused paintings, sculptures and other works last week. But after finding something they liked, instead of handing over bank details, buyers presented a paper card and took their art home with no money changing hands. Under that system, 179 works were placed with a total retail value of $537,500, with 14 additional works on hold, fair organisers said on Monday (14 July). The Art Newspaper <h3> </h3><h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/12/arts/design/art-homosexuality-museums-chicago-art-institute.html" target="_blank">How ‘Gay’ Became an Identity in Art</a></h3>When did homosexuality change from a description of what people&nbsp;do&nbsp;to a definition of who they&nbsp;are? How was an act transformed into an identity? In this precarious moment, as&nbsp;White House pronouncements, court decisions and&nbsp;public polling&nbsp;indicate backsliding support for gay rights in this country, such questions, long chewed over by scholars of sociology, philosophy and gender studies, are addressed in two impressive art exhibitions in Chicago. Via NYT Thumbnail image: Andreas Andersen, “Interior with Hendrik Andersen and John Briggs Potter in Florence,” 1894, from “The First Homosexuals: The Birth of a New Identity, 1869-1939” at Wrightwood 659 gallery in Chicago. Credit: Direzione Musei Statali della Città di Roma; via Wrightwood 659 <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/man-arrested-stone-of-destiny-scottish-museum-2667564" target="_blank">Man in Kilt Breaks Glass Protecting the Stone of Destiny at Museum</a></h3>&nbsp;35-year-old man wearing a kilt was arrested in the Scottish city of Perth after he allegedly broke the glass protecting an artifact that has been key to U.K. history for centuries. Via Artnet

What We're Reading: July 16, 2025

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1751908678/olxxkqbabi7dx6zjk665.jpg">Installation view of Tessercats By SUSAN GESCHEIDLE <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://watershedstudio.works/" target="_blank">Watershed Studioworks</a> in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood is hosting "Tessercats," an exhibit by Erik Wenzel with nearly 40 feline-inspired portraits informed by theoretical mathematics, and hyperspace. Established in 2019, Watershed Studioworks operates as an artist-run gallery and studio workspace. Co-owned by visual artist Kelly Rickert and Sarah Bordson, the gallery showcases art that promotes community engagement and meaningful dialogue. Wenzel relocated his studio to Watershed Studioworks during the pandemic and started working on these paintings. The gallery is an intimate storefront space with large windows and natural light, and an ideal venue for exhibiting Wenzel’s small but mighty Tesser-cats.&nbsp; Last year, I had the opportunity to visit Wenzel’s studio and observe a selection of his kick-ass cat portraits in progress.&nbsp;A long-time cat enthusiast, Wenzel has produced many cat-themed works, evolving from simple sketches and doodles to these vibrant, striking portraits. Seeing them together as a group was fabulous.&nbsp;After a year and the completion of roughly twenty-five additional paintings, "Tessercats,” the exhibition, has come to fruition. On the gallery walls, the portraits are a veritable feast for the eyes, and I’m here for it.&nbsp; “Tessercats” represents Wenzel’s return to the art scene following a hiatus earning a Master of Art History. The exhibition title, derived from a combination of "cats" and "tesseract," refers to a four-dimensional cube. While researching the early modernist avant-garde, Wenzel became interested in hyperspace, spatial dimensions beyond the three we frequent. His focus is on the historical avant-garde's quasi-spiritual ideas about this spatial fourth dimension and how it ties into madness, mental illness, and self-care. Wenzel, an artist, curator, and writer, weaves these abstract spatial ideas into his new series of serious and silly cat paintings.&nbsp;Influences on his art practice include Marcel Duchamp, Gilett Burgess, the cubists, and architect and designer, Claude Bragdon. Wenzel states, “All this became an enticing way to think through history, conceive of abstract space as a mental place and explore.”&nbsp; <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1751908679/itpnfeq28qwa1aak6z3j.jpg">Lindner, 2023, acrylic and graphite, on panel, 9”x 12” In 2022, Wenzel left academia, self-published a book titled “Mental Health Illness,” featuring new work and busied himself painting cat portraits. Wenzel creates these gorgeous gems using materials such as acrylic, gesso, ink, collaged paper, puffy paint, and graphite. Most works are 9 x 12-inch panels, with some at 12 x 12 inches and one at 16 x 20 inches. In addition, the show includes two large graphite drawings. Geometry influences the structure of these portraits: triangles and cones form the ears and nose, circles outline the eyes and cheeks, and squares are included here and there. These portraits show close-up, frontal cat faces, occasionally including shoulders. All cats are alike, yet unique. Wenzel regards the repetitive nature of his artistic process as both therapeutic and meditative. His repetitive imagery recalls Warhol’s screen prints, though each cat portrait is unique in color and materials. The subjects appear stoic and contemplative, resembling spiritual icons. Wenzel says there's no hidden message; his process is guided by intuition, with the goal of creating imaginative, four-dimensional representations of cats.&nbsp;Some days, inspiration comes easily; other days, he tells us, “The cats aren’t talking.”&nbsp; The paintings are fantastic and fanciful, but it’s the eyes that fascinate me. They are skillfully rendered, effectively embodying the sentiment that "the eyes are the window to the soul," a phrase often attributed to William Shakespeare. Some eyes are abstract, multicolored, or tie-dye-like patterns, while others are monochromatic. These portraits require close observation to appreciate their curious details.&nbsp;For example, “Lindner,” features pinwheel-patterned eyes: one contains two tiny tent-like pentagons at its center, the other a small gem-like hexagon. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1751908680/xqaq89kl512vy0pvbdkt.jpg">&nbsp;Trellis Tra La La, 2025, acrylic on panel, 9”x 12” Many works feature spiral-patterned eyes, reflecting Wenzel’s focus on mathematics and geometry, and recalling the retro1960s Spirograph toy. These dreamlike swirling-patterned eyes also evoke the bold, psychedelic aesthetics of the 1960s and 1970s (think acid trips!) Examples include “Snow Pea,’” “Mascara Fresco,” “Mr. "Stripes,” and my favorite, “Trellis Tra La La.” The latter, created in 2025, is an acrylic painting rendered in black and white, depicting a cat with predominantly black, spiral-shaped eyes. The composition includes yellow and teal cubes and intersecting lines, dynamic gestural marks, and pinkish-red circles.&nbsp; Wenzel shows creativity in naming these cats as well, using mental health-inspired titles like “Serenity Self-Preservation,” “Depression with Vibes,” and “Delectable Behavior Therapy” (a play on Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT). “Serenity Self-Preservation” hints at safeguarding one's mental and emotional well-being to maintain lasting tranquility. This acrylic on panel piece features a finely drawn graphite cat on an ivory background, embodying serenity. Though easy to overlook due to its subtlety, the painting stands out once seen. "Depression with Vibes" alludes to misery with changes in mood, behavior, or disposition. This acrylic and collage painting portrays a black and grey cat set against a muted grey background, highlighted by colorful lines, multi-colored eyes, and vivid paint blobs on its face. The artwork suggests depression but also a sense of radiance.&nbsp; Wenzel's titles use intent, psychological themes, and humor—both subtle and direct—to address complex emotions in his art. Titles like “Nicely Niced,” “Chin Scritcher,” “Snow Pea,” and “Late Night Goofus” are witty and engaging. Wenzel slays with “Eye Contact With A Four-Dimensional Cat Through An Infra-Thin Layer.” The titles and Tesser-cats, overall, reflect a blend of intelligence and folly, with titles that aptly match each cat's personality.&nbsp; <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1751908681/h4wigwt1e8vfjtanamph.jpg">Mascara Fresco, 2023, acrylic and gesso, on panel, 9”x 12” Wenzel's Tesser-cats explore universal themes related to human experience. The works incorporate playful elements alongside aspects of vulnerability, engaging viewers through neutral expressions that encourage both analysis and general observation. Viewers can choose to overthink or simply enjoy. Wenzel suggests a "cat approach": relax in the moment “especially when there's a nice sun patch to lounge in.” Catch the show before it ends; you might just be chosen by a Tesser-cat! Wenzel holds a Master of Arts in Art History from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Chicago (UChicago).&nbsp; “Tessercats” runs through July 26th at <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://watershedstudio.works/" target="_blank">Watershed Studioworks</a>, 3016 W. Belmont, Chicago.&nbsp; Open Saturdays 12 PM to 5 PM and by appointment Artist talk, Saturday, July 12th at 3:00 PM&nbsp;

Landscape Survey: Tessercats, New Work by Erik Wenzel at Watershed Studioworks

<h4><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1751902812/ywgoyfk3vhpyjg1m3ddc.jpg"></h4>Gustave Caillebotte’s&nbsp;The Floor Scrapers&nbsp;(1875) Courtesy of Musée d’Orsay, Dist. GrandPalaisRmn/Franck Raux <h4> </h4><h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/07/07/gustave-caillebotte-blockbuster-that-sparked-controversy-in-france-opens-chicago-one-key-difference" target="_blank">Gustave Caillebotte blockbuster that sparked controversy in France opens in Chicago—with one key difference</a></h4> When the new, career-defining survey of&nbsp;<a style="color: inherit;" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.theartnewspaper.com/keywords/gustave-caillebotte" target="_blank">Gustave Caillebotte</a>&nbsp;opened in late June at its final stop, the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC), the checklist was very similar to previous versions at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris and the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. Its chronological layout will also be familiar to any return visitors. But the show is dramatically different in at least one respect: its title. The Midwestern institution has changed the exhibition title from&nbsp;<a style="color: inherit;" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.getty.edu/exhibitions/caillebotte/" target="_blank">Gustave Caillebotte: Painting Men</a>&nbsp;(in French,&nbsp;<a style="color: inherit;" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.musee-orsay.fr/fr/agenda/expositions/caillebotte-peindre-les-hommes" target="_blank">Caillebotte: Peindre Les Hommes</a>) to the more gender-neutral—or neutered—<a style="color: inherit;" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artic.edu/exhibitions/10068/gustave-caillebotte-painting-his-world" target="_blank">Gustave Caillebotte: Painting His World</a>&nbsp;(until 5 October). Could it be that the Chicago museum is toning things down because so many French art critics flipped out over the male focus? Via the Art Newspaper <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://observer.com/2025/07/art-exhibition-review-catalyst-intuit-art-museum-chicago/" target="_blank">Migration, Marginalization and Outsider Art Collide in Intuit Art Museum’s ‘Catalyst’</a></h4> <a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(26, 26, 26);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://observer.com/person/isarnu-guy-conners/" target="_blank">Isarnu Guy Conners</a>’&nbsp;North Avenue Beach&nbsp;is a small painting of the Chicago waterfront. It’s composed of tactile blobs of colors that resolve themselves into swimmers, bicyclists, clouds, rocks and the Chicago skyline off in the distance. The influence of artists like Van Gogh and the Impressionists is obvious, though Conners was born in Japan, and looking at the painting reminds us that the Impressionists were powerfully influenced by the colors and carefully casual compositions of Japanese prints. North Avenue Beach&nbsp;is on display as part of “Catalyst: Im/migration and Self-Taught Art in Chicago,” an exhibition at the newly reopened Intuit Art Museum. Artists like&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(26, 26, 26);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://observer.com/person/henry-darger/" target="_blank">Henry Darger</a>, artists/collectors like&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(26, 26, 26);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://observer.com/person/roger-brown/" target="_blank">Roger Brown</a>, and institutions like Intuit itself have made Chicago a center for the study of and cultivation of&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(26, 26, 26);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://observer.com/2025/02/interview-andrew-edlin-outsider-art-fair-art-market/" target="_blank">outsider or self-taught art</a>. Chicago, as a transportation hub, has also been a major destination for immigrants from Poland, Mexico, Asia, the American South and more. Via Observer <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1751902813/mrvlbagjpkrkeux15wgb.jpg">Jasper Johns,&nbsp;Flag&nbsp;(1960-66). The Middleton Family Collection. Courtesy of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/america-250th-anniversary-exhibitions-2662919" target="_blank">Countdown to America’s 250th: The Museum Shows Mapping the Country’s Past—and Future</a></h4> The countdown to the 250th anniversary of America’s independence has begun, and museums are already lining up celebrations to mark the milestone. Far from empty flag-waving exercises, these exhibitions richly explore the nation’s founding ideals and contested histories through the lenses of art and artifacts. What did independence mean then—and what does it mean now? Here are 10 shows that encourage reflection as much as a deep reckoning. Via Artnet <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artnews.com/art-news/market/art-basel-2025-blue-chip-galleries-sales-trend-1234746767/" target="_blank">Galleries’ Reporting Seems to Show Sales Slipping at Art Basel, Even As Number of Artists Rises</a></h4> It’s no secret that the art market has been mired in a prolonged slump for nearly two years. Where dealers and market observers once described conditions in late 2023 and 2024 using euphemisms like “soft” or “a correction,” this spring’s assessments were more often met with shrugs—or, when expectations were exceeded, with outsized celebration. Such was the case with Frieze’s fairs in&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 75, 39); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fclick.email.artnews.com%2F%3Fqs%3D3d0fb3860d124f56314637ce8db1d95543aad6df6ec68375699ab99ae1d5f3b73288518a46e02b505793bf800725447faaeb570a1e681627&amp;data=05%7C02%7Chjacobs%40artnews.com%7Ca432e50fe25141053b6908ddb9846776%7Ce950f25546e44144a778a6ff4f557492%7C0%7C0%7C638870700523456828%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=LpDe9Qr61YvsL9nlC13F3A6jniJZIby05oFZpjIuKHg%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">LA in February</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 75, 39); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fclick.email.artnews.com%2F%3Fqs%3D3d0fb3860d124f5670cb541357ef495ae312a809e07193b81f914fb90a46c07ddf18739f4e84c6fd285ffe2873f3ff43a0647395926e3794&amp;data=05%7C02%7Chjacobs%40artnews.com%7Ca432e50fe25141053b6908ddb9846776%7Ce950f25546e44144a778a6ff4f557492%7C0%7C0%7C638870700523656971%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=tEl2DOWhrTv0%2BsVO9LM%2FlgznRMQSDPGAzXYYUECHUF8%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">New York in May.</a> Via ARTnews

What We're Reading: July 7, 2025

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1751908835/txnk8rzcn3pndzopkuat.png"> By CGN Staff Gertie announced the return of the third annual Chicago Exhibition Weekend (CXW), set for September 19–21, 2025.&nbsp; Gertie and EarlyWork shared that they are thrilled to collaborate again, this time expanding the event through new partnerships with Independent Curators International, the Chicago Architecture Biennial, and the Chicago Art Book Fair. These new connections, alongside the organization's longtime relationship with EXPO Chicago and a strong network of galleries and institutions across the city, are shaping a weekend of ideas, routes, and reflections that aim to capture what it feels like to be in Chicago (and to care about art) right now. This year, CXW is grounding the experience with a central hub at 400 N. Peoria, where you’ll find public programs, the Art Book Fair, and a new anchor exhibition commissioned by CXW:Over My Head: Encounters with Conceptual Art in a Flyover City, 1984–2015, curated by Iris Colburn (MCA Chicago) and Gareth Thomas Kaye (independent curator). Whereas past Exhibition Weekends invited visitors to choose their own adventure, CXW 2025 offers more structure for deeper engagement—a way to trace stories between spaces and artworks and to see how they build on the legacy of Chicago’s past while pointing toward its creative future. Gertie says these changes are reflective of the fact that Chicago’s art ecosystem is evolving. More artists are staying. More collectors are looking here. More conversations are happening, and they want you in the room for them. The full CXW site at&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagoexhibitionweekend.com/" target="_blank">chicagoexhibitionweekend.com</a>&nbsp;will be launching soon with event details and information.

Third annual Chicago Exhibition Weekend (CXW) returns September 19–21, 2025

CGN adds to its calendar of art events daily, and there is no shortage of new exhibitions, openings, art fairs, talks and family art events to explore. We have put together a preview of what is coming up the rest of this month as an art-filled summer ramps up. Events happen throughout the city as well as in the suburbs and within a day's drive. Whether you have an hour after work or you are looking for a weekend road trip, take a look and do a little planning in order to take a step into the world of art. Everyone is welcome! Highlights are organized by event type. Dates vary and are subject to change. –&nbsp;GinnyCGN Publisher <h3>• Exhibitions</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1751568781/obcnti6umzvsocsjprln.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/city-in-a-garden-queer-art-and-activism-in-chicago" target="_blank">City in a Garden: Queer Art and Activism in Chicago</a></h3> Jul 5, 2025 - Jan 25, 2026 <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/museum-of-contemporary-art-chicago-mca" target="_blank">Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA)</a> City in a Garden: Queer Art and Activism in Chicago&nbsp;is an intergenerational group exhibition that highlights Chicago’s essential, yet often underacknowledged, role in the story of queer art and activism. The exhibition examines this history from the mid-1980s, when activists radically mobilized in response to the US government’s disastrous handling of the AIDS crisis.&nbsp; <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1751568782/arly02ov0bwapbomfi7l.png"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/mau-mau-solo-show" target="_blank">Mau Mau Solo Show</a></h3> Jul 11, 2025 - Jul 26, 2025Opening: Friday, Jul 11, 2025 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/vertical-gallery" target="_blank">Vertical Gallery</a> Mau Mau is a renowned British urban graffiti artist who’s gained an international following with his humorous street, print and graffiti work. He incorporates political, environmental and cultural commentary to his work – often with his trademark character of a mischievous and fun loving Fox. With roots planted in surf and country vibes of the North Devon coast, Mau Mau brings an air of rural sophistication to the art he has been creating for twenty years. He has painted his way around the world, his artwork appearing on everything from shipwrecks to surfboards and billboards to city walls. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1751568786/hpix36yugtbmp7jc3jkt.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/alex-katz-white-lotus" target="_blank">Alex Katz: White Lotus</a></h3> Jul 11, 2025 - Sep 20, 2025 <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/gray" target="_blank">GRAY</a> Though titled after the hit television show,&nbsp;White Lotus&nbsp;by Alex Katz bears very little relation to HBO’s dark comedy. Rather, the paintings in this series are guided more by the tools of cinema, through Katz's use of monumental canvas, dramatic lighting, and repeating figures. Opening at GRAY’s Chicago gallery on July 11, 2025,&nbsp;White Lotus&nbsp;is a testament not only to Katz’s nonstop creative output, but also his status as one of the most groundbreaking American artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1751568788/njkpo4cv3mfuevoaxrrh.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/paul-segedin-and-karen-perl" target="_blank">Leopold Segedin | A Habit of Art: Paintings from 2015 to the Present</a></h3> Jul 8, 2025 - Aug 10, 2025Opening: Sunday, Jul 13, 2025 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/evanston-art-center" target="_blank">Evanston Art Center</a> Leopold Segedin is a Chicago-born painter (b. 1927) who has been exhibiting his work since 1944. His works have been shown at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Corcoran Art Gallery in Washington, D.C., and the Milwaukee Art Institute. At 97, Segedin currently lives and works in Evanston from his home studio. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1751568789/edimcjw1yr0epghnk0sn.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/kathleen-waterloo-new-encaustic-paintings" target="_blank">Kathleen Waterloo. New Encaustic paintings</a></h3> Jul 11, 2025 - Sep 1, 2025Opening: Friday, Jul 11, 2025 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/addington-gallery" target="_blank">Addington Gallery</a> Solo exhibition -&nbsp;Kathleen Waterloo. New Encaustic painting <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1751568793/cu5oobjncb4qai0wxram.png"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/luminosity-the-ocean-between-viii" target="_blank">LUMINOSITY: The Ocean Between VIII</a></h3> Jul 18, 2025 - Aug 16, 2025Opening: Friday, Jul 18, 2025 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/oliva-gallery" target="_blank">Oliva Gallery</a> Curated by Marianna Buchwald and Tamara Wasserman this group exhibition brings together a dynamic roster of international and Chicago-based artists whose work reflects the fluid intersections of culture, imagination, and personal mythology. The exhibition explores light, not only as a visual phenomenon, but as a metaphor for transformation, connection, and creative vision. Through diverse media including painting, sculpture, mixed media, and installation, the featured artists illuminate the conceptual distance between places, people, and identities, transforming it into a shared space of artistic inquiry. <h3>• Summer Road Trips: Rockford, Wisconsin, SW Michigan</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1751568795/zxxb7jq3ixm0jm3vy6rz.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/art-fair-on-the-square" target="_blank">Art Fair on the Square</a></h3> Jul 12 and 13, 2025<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/madison-museum-of-contemporary-art-mmoca" target="_blank">Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA)</a> One of the Midwest’s most popular and highly regarded outdoor celebrations of the arts will return to the Capitol Square on Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13, 2025, as MMoCA presents the 67th annual Art Fair on the Square. With its mix of music, entertainment, and outdoor dining, as well as over 500 artists exhibiting paintings, prints, photographs, sculpture, jewelry, handmade clothing and accessories, and fine craft, the fair draws nearly 200,000 visitors to Madison’s Capitol Square. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1751568796/zchsabcrasgotxl4nr4r.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/day-trip-art-of-rockford-il" target="_blank">Day Trip: Art of Rockford, IL</a></h3> Thursday, Jul 17, 2025 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/art-encounter" target="_blank">Art Encounter</a> Mark your calendars for our bus trip to Rockford, IL, a city bursting with artistic energy and local charm! Join Art Encounter's Sarah Packer and Joanna Pinsky to visit a local muralist in his studio, take a guided tour of the Rockford Art Museum, explore the city's renowned public art, and meet a unique collective of artists. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1751568797/mzjoxnflpocii6ak6prx.png"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/forward2025" target="_blank">Forward</a></h3> Jul 16, 2025 - Aug 31, 2025Opening: Friday, Jul 18, 2025 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM in conjunction with <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/gallery-night-mke-reception-for-forward" target="_blank">Gallery Night MKE</a> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/lily-pad-west" target="_blank">Lily Pad | West</a> Since 1851, Wisconsin has embraced the word "Forward" as its state motto, a simple yet powerful declaration of progress and positivity. At Lily Pad | West, we have embodied this spirit for the past eight years, consistently advancing our vision of showcasing world-class art through a dynamic mix of local, national, and international artists. As the gallery expands its horizons, we are proud to remain deeply rooted in supporting the vibrant community of contemporary Wisconsin artists. "Forward" is the gallery's fourth annual group exhibition featuring an impressive lineup of Wisconsin-based artists. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1751568799/rtepvsh2ektmyr7e56cu.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/april-behnke-mind-games" target="_blank">April Behnke: Mind Games</a></h3> Jul 18, 2025 - Aug 16, 2025Opening: Friday, Jul 18, 2025 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Gallery Night MKE)Artist Talk: Saturday, July 19 beginning at 1PM (Gallery Day MKE) <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/kim-storage-gallery" target="_blank">Kim Storage Gallery</a> Kim Storage Gallery is thrilled to present "Mind Games," a solo exhibition by Chicago-based artist April Behnke. This captivating show features a new body of work showcasing Behnke's exploration of perceptual play through paintings and drawings. The exhibition delves into the ways we use vision to perceive patterns and make sense of the world. Behnke skillfully interrupts these patterns, mixing up foreground and background to create a visual experience that is both familiar and disorienting. Visitors will be intrigued by the dynamic interplay of colors and shapes, which challenge and engage the viewer's perception. "Mind Games" not only references the show's main theme but also invites viewers to participate in a playful and interactive experience. Behnke's work draws inspiration from both board games and early video games, incorporating structured patterns and visual interruptions that evoke a sense of nostalgia and curiosity. This exhibition marks Behnke's first solo show at Kim Storage Gallery, and it promises to be a thought-provoking and visually stimulating event. Join us for the opening reception and artist talk, where Behnke will provide deeper insights into her creative process and the conceptual underpinnings of her work. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1751568800/thwcireignn34n7qse9m.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/randolph-street-market-in-three-oaks-michigan" target="_blank">Randolph Street Market – in Three Oaks Michigan</a></h3> Jul 26 and Jul 27, 2025<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/randolph-street-market" target="_blank">Randolph Street Market</a> Chicago's internationally renowned Randolph Street Market&nbsp;is taking a road trip this summer to Three Oaks Michigan!&nbsp;&nbsp;We're bringing 50 of the best dealers&nbsp;our Windy City extravaganza has to offer,&nbsp;just ninety minutes from downtown but a world away!&nbsp;&nbsp;If you're missing us this summer, take a day trip or stay the weekend.&nbsp; Come shop the wares of some of the dealers you love, cruise the stores on Three Oaks' main drag and even stop for a swim at Warren Dunes State Park. <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events" target="_blank">View the full CGN calendar here</a></h3>

CGN Art Preview: July 2025

<h4><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1751340904/r6vxxjvj55qesjnudgeb.jpg"></h4>The new entrance is intended to take pressure off the Louvre’s main entrance, which was designed by the architect I.M. Pei in the 1980s. Credit: Andrea Mantovani for The New York Times<h4> </h4><h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/27/arts/design/france-louvre-design-competition.html?unlocked_article_code=1.TE8.MhgS.FcJbMp27V3NW&amp;smid=url-share" target="_blank">France Opens Competition to Expand Overcrowded Louvre</a></h4> France on Friday started an architectural competition for the daunting task of expanding the Louvre in Paris, in a bid to ease overcrowding at the world’s biggest and most visited museum.The project, which will create a new entrance and give the Mona Lisa a new exhibition space, was first&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(50, 104, 145);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/28/arts/design/mona-lisa-louvre-macron.html?searchResultPosition=2" target="_blank">announced in January</a>&nbsp;by President Emmanuel Macron. He set the ambitious target of welcoming 12 million visitors per year — three million more than today — while also solving crowd-management headaches at the museum. The architectural competition will be decided by a 21-person international jury, which will choose five finalists in October. A winner will be announced in early 2026, according to the Louvre. Via NYT <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artnews.com/art-news/market/ken-griffin-13th-amendment-copy-sothebys-1234746499/" target="_blank">Ken Griffin Buys Lincoln’s Handwritten Copy of 13th Amendment for $13.7 M.</a></h4> Billionaire Kenneth C. Griffin&nbsp;has been revealed as the winner of last week’s auction at Sotheby’s for President&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 75, 39);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artnews.com/t/abraham-lincoln/" target="_blank">Abraham Lincoln</a>’s handwritten copy of the 13th Amendment, the auction house said in a statement Monday. The document—one of only four copies still in private hands—was offered during the first part of Sotheby’s “Fine Books and Manuscripts, Including Americana” sale last Thursday, with an estimate of $8 million to $12 million. After a spirited round of bidding, Griffin secured the winning bid of $12 million by phone. With buyer’s premium, the total came to $13.7 million, well above the $2.4 million record set for a different copy of the amendment in 2016. Via Artnews <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.wttw.com/playlist/2025/06/27/bear-frank-lloyd-wright-home" target="_blank">'The Bear' Spotlights Frank Lloyd Wright's Home and Studio in Oak Park</a></h4> The Bear&nbsp;is famous for spotlighting beloved Chicago landmarks, and the new fourth season is no different. In episode five, protagonist Carmy drives to the western suburb of&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(0, 81, 186); background-color: rgb(245, 245, 245);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.wttw.com/chicago-by-l/neighborhoods/oak-park" target="_blank">Oak Park</a>&nbsp;to visit the legendary architect&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(0, 81, 186); background-color: rgb(245, 245, 245);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.wttw.com/playlist/2022/12/22/frank-lloyd-wright-jonathan-adams" target="_blank">Frank Lloyd Wright</a>’s home and studio. Carmy wanders through the connected buildings, admiring such details as the octagonal, double-height drafting room; the barrel-vaulted second floor playroom; patterned windows and skylights of Wright’s own design; and some signature high-backed chairs in the dining room. Interspersed throughout the shots are blueprints, historic photos of the home, and a photo of the Wright family there, which a docent shows to Carmy. (The&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(0, 81, 186); background-color: rgb(245, 245, 245);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://flwright.org/tour/home-and-studio" target="_blank">home and studio</a>&nbsp;are open for tours.) Unsurprisingly, the chef Carmy lingers in the kitchen at an antique stove. Via WTTW

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