<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1793940603/zejokztddenq49neyq6u.png"> Marianne and Sheldon Lubar, Milwaukee Art Museum Life Trustees, whose family’s $10 million gift establishes the Lubar Family Center for Drawings and Prints. Photo by Cassaundra Cherney.&nbsp; Via PR Works on paper account for more than half of the <a href="https://mam.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Milwaukee Art Museum’s</a> collection of over 35,000 works, yet their sensitivity to light means they can only be exhibited for limited periods. A new $10 million commitment from the Lubar family will support the specialized care and research needed to bring more of these holdings into public view. Announced November 5, the gift establishes the&nbsp;Lubar Family Center for Drawings and Prints, endowing a curator, paper conservator, fellowship and exhibition program. The collection spans more than five centuries, offering visitors opportunities to encounter both the intimacy of an artist’s drawing and the experimentation of printmaking. Nikki Otten, who joined the museum in 2018, will lead the center as the Lubar Family Curator of Drawings and Prints. Her exhibitions have included&nbsp;Always New: The Posters of Jules Chéret&nbsp;and&nbsp;LaToya M. Hobbs: Carving Out Time. The gift extends two generations of Lubar family leadership at the museum, including more than 50 years of involvement by Sheldon and Marianne Lubar. “Great cities need great institutions,” said Sheldon Lubar, Milwaukee Art Museum Life Trustee. “We’re proud to support the Milwaukee Art Museum as Milwaukee’s great institution!”&nbsp; “Behind every exhibition are people who study the art, care for it, and help us see it in new ways,” said Susan Lubar. “It’s exciting to support that work and to know this collection will continue to be a source of discovery for Milwaukee.”

Milwaukee Art Museum Receives $10 Million Gift for Drawings and Prints

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1793741474/dimpcj0spbsiyjk2vpzv.jpg"> By CGN Staff A new public mural park is coming to Chicago’s West Side. West Edge Arts is scheduled to open in summer 2027 at 3216 W. Ogden Avenue in North Lawndale, offering free admission to an outdoor arts space featuring large-scale murals, sculpture and site-specific installations. The 25,000-square-foot site will debut with approximately 15 murals, with plans to expand to about 30 over time. Commissions will feature local and international artists, both emerging and established, with a mix of permanent works and rotating installations. The project’s inaugural work,&nbsp;Bring It With You, is a 50-foot-high illuminated steel pillar featuring a mural designed by Chicago artist Dorian Sylvain in partnership with Chicago Public Art Group. Measuring four feet in diameter, the work draws on textiles, needlework, ceramics and woodwork to reflect the cultural histories of communities that settled in North Lawndale and throughout Chicago. “My vision for&nbsp;Bring It With You&nbsp;is to demonstrate how beautiful a multicultural tapestry can be when we weave our histories together,” Sylvain said. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1793741475/tegpi95z7dfjs5l5z9x6.png">Dorian Sylvain working on her mural at the site of West Edge Arts. Photo via Instagram. Alongside the outdoor artworks, plans call for seasonal landscaping, a flexible performance stage and seating areas. A glass-enclosed space will provide year-round views of the murals and accommodate artmaking, gatherings and other activities. Public programming is expected to include classes, workshops and professional development for teens and adults interested in arts careers. The venue will also host community activities and be available for private, nonprofit and corporate events. Additional artist commissions, installation dates and programming details will be announced ahead of the opening. Community involvement has been part of the project’s development. A Community Advisory Committee established in 2025 includes neighborhood residents, artists and civic leaders who have advised on artistic concepts, events and local partnerships. West Edge Arts has also hosted two neighborhood block parties featuring artmaking, live mural painting and performances by West Side groups. North Lawndale resident and founding committee member Apriel Campbell joined the staff as community engagement specialist in 2026. Chelsea Dawkins serves as senior project lead, and Chicago artist and designer Bob Faust is senior curatorial advisor. The project’s design team includes Wheeler Kearns Architects, landscape architects Site Design Group and branding studio Span, with Norcon, Inc. serving as general contractor. West Edge Arts is a nonprofit organization supported by individual donors and Vivo Foundation. For updates, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.westedgearts.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">westedgearts.org</a>&nbsp;or follow <a href="https://www.instagram.com/westedgearts/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@WestEdgeArts</a> on Instagram.

West Edge Arts to Open in North Lawndale in Summer 2027

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1792084737/qrikvx76nvvt5agq24rq.jpg"> By CGN STAFF Illinois Holocaust Museum &amp; Education Center will reopen its Skokie location on November 11, 2026, following a renovation that expands visitor spaces, updates its core Holocaust exhibition and adds a new reflection gallery. The reopening is timed to coincide with Veterans Day. Active military personnel, veterans and their families will receive free admission that day. The project includes a redesigned Lillian &amp; Larry Goodman Auditorium and Gallery, an enlarged lobby in the Shapiro Family Foundation Welcome Center, and a refreshed Resilience Hall with an expanded stage for presentations and public programs. Updates to the Zev &amp; Shifra Karkomi Holocaust Exhibition include additional material on the roots of antisemitism, the story of Chicago resident Leo Edelman, and the experiences of other groups targeted by the Nazis. A new reflection gallery, accessible from the exhibition, offers visitors a quiet space during and after their visit. “Every visitor’s experience now begins differently and runs deeper,” said Kelley Szany, the Museum’s senior vice president of education and exhibitions. “The new welcome center sets the tone from the moment people arrive, the enhanced core Holocaust exhibition brings the history and the voices of survivors into sharper focus, and our new auditorium gives us a place to gather, listen, and talk about what it means for our communities today.” Existing attractions, including the virtual reality theater, the interactive Survivor Stories Experience holographic theater, the Take A Stand Center and the Voices of Genocide Exhibition, will remain part of the Museum’s offerings. Following the reopening,&nbsp;Blacklist: The Hollywood Red Scare&nbsp;will open November 15 in the special exhibition gallery. Created by and on loan from Jewish Museum Milwaukee, the exhibition examines the intersections of politics, antisemitism, freedom of speech and national security during the Red Scare of the 1940s and 1950s. It will remain on view through March 2027. The Museum’s satellite location in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, Experience360, will remain open through December 31, 2026. The downtown space opened during the Skokie renovation to provide continued access to the Museum’s immersive exhibitions. For information and ticket reservations, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ilholocaustmuseum.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ilholocaustmuseum.org</a>. Image: Museum exterior. Photo by David Seide/Definedspace.com

Illinois Holocaust Museum to Reopen November 11 Following Renovation

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1791471661/j25vt7cxeohehapkz9n1.jpg"> By GINNY VAN ALYEA SOFA Chicago, the longtime fair devoted to sculpture, objects, functional art and collectible design, will return to the city October 28–31, 2027, as part of Chicago Art Fair at THE MART, which opened its inaugural edition last night. Founded in Chicago in 1994, SOFA became a popular fixture on the city’s fall arts calendar. For much of its history, collectors and visitors gathered at Navy Pier to discover works in glass, ceramics, wood, metal and fiber, alongside sculpture and design. Its focus on materials and craftsmanship gave the fair a distinct identity and cultivated a devoted audience. The announcement comes as the inaugural Chicago Art Fair gets underway at THE MART. The new fair opened with a preview on October 7 and continues through October 10, presenting modern and contemporary art. Tim von Gal, CEO and producer of SOFA Chicago and CEO of Intersect Art and Design, was in Chicago this week for the occasion.Organizers describe the 2027 collaboration as two distinct but complementary presentations under one roof, with SOFA’s focus on three-dimensional art and design alongside Chicago Art Fair’s broader offerings. “Chicago has always been an extraordinary home for SOFA and a city with a deep appreciation for art, craft, architecture and design,” said von Gal in the announcement. “Joining the Chicago Art Fair at THE MART gives us the opportunity to build upon that legacy while creating an exciting new experience for collectors and exhibitors alike.”Eric Smith, owner of Chicago Art Fair and CEO of Redwood Art Group, said the addition would broaden the fair’s scope while preserving SOFA’s identity. “SOFA has a remarkable legacy and a distinct identity, and its return adds an important new dimension to the fair while reinforcing Chicago’s position as a destination for collectors, galleries and art lovers from around the world,” Smith said. For those who remember SOFA as an annual opportunity to encounter ambitious work in craft and design, the return will be welcome news. The participating galleries and programming, still to be announced, will provide a fuller picture of how that legacy will take shape in its new setting. SOFA Chicago is produced by Intersect Art and Design, which also organizes annual art and design fairs in Aspen and Palm Springs. Additional details about exhibitors, partnerships and tickets are expected in the coming months. Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://chicagoartfair.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">chicagoartfair.com</a> for updates.

As One New Fair Opens another Familiar Name Announces Its Return in 2027

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1791479103/r9oi9u47474rx2synx0p.png">The artist Richard Hunt By CGN Staff Pigment International has dedicated Black Fine Art Month 2026 to Chicago sculptor Richard Hunt (1935–2023), recognizing his contributions to American art and his lifelong connection to the city. As part of the month’s programming, the organization will host&nbsp;Pigmented: Chicago to the World — A Black Fine Art Convening&nbsp;on October 23 at the University of Chicago’s Logan Center for the Arts. Partners include the Richard Hunt Legacy Foundation, Adler University, CAI Designs, Chicago Public Art Group, Chicago Sculpture Exhibit and Diasporal Rhythms. Born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, Hunt developed an internationally recognized practice while continuing to live and work in his hometown. His welded metal sculptures brought together abstract forms, references to the natural world and an enduring interest in freedom and social justice. Hunt identified attending Emmett Till’s funeral in 1955 as a turning point in his artistic life. Till had lived just two blocks from Hunt’s home. Decades later, Hunt’s public commissions would honor figures including Martin Luther King Jr., Mary McLeod Bethune, Jesse Owens and Ida B. Wells, while also addressing the Middle Passage and the Great Migration.In 1968, President Lyndon Johnson appointed Hunt to the National Council on the Arts, where he became its first African American member. In 1971, at age 35, he became the first African American sculptor to receive a retrospective at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. His career encompassed more than 150 solo exhibitions and more than 160 public art installations. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1791479104/lltcodkx39gd8sbhtus1.png">Richard Hunt with artist Chris Devins, who recently completed a mural honoring the sculptor in Hyde Park. Photo courtesy of Chris Devins. Recent projects in Chicago offer new ways to encounter Hunt’s work and history. This fall, the Logan Center opened the Hunt, a café honoring the artist. Created and designed by Little Black Pearl founder and executive director Monica Haslip, the space incorporates two Hunt sculptures, African art, archival materials and photographs by Sandro Miller.In Hyde Park, artist Chris Devins and historian Michelle Duster have brought a mural of Hunt to 1515–19 E. 54th Street. The portrait is based on photographs Devins took in Hunt’s studio before the sculptor’s death. “Richard Hunt was a giant in the arts world and people need to see what he looked like and be inspired by his legacy,” Devins said. Pigment International’s dedication also reflects its own relationship with Hunt. The organization featured him in its magazine in 2020, and he welcomed its Black Fine Art Month programming into his studio in October 2021. # Two events take place this month: Pigment International at SPECTRUM Chicago Art Fair October 7–10, 2026.Chicago Merchandise Mart, seventh floor, booth #3091.Wednesday, October 7, 5–8 pm, with a champagne toast in the booth and an artist meet-and-greet.Thursday, October 8, 6-8pm with Diasporal RhythmsFeatured artists:&nbsp;Jesse Howard, Howard Simmons, Edo, Candace Hunter, Sura DuPart and Max Sansing.Additional events are taking place during the fair Chicago to the World: A Black Fine Art Month ConveningPresented by Pigment International as part of Black Fine Art Month, which the organization has dedicated this year to Richard Hunt.Friday, October 23, 2026, 11:30 am–5 pm.Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th Street, Chicago. Details at <a href="https://pigmentintl.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">pigmentintl.com</a>

Pigment International Dedicates Black Fine Art Month 2026 to Richard Hunt

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1791468109/wthrym0d8krwjqc4m6bw.jpg">Pritzker Director Madeleine Grynsztejn. Photo by Maria Ponce. By GINNY VAN ALYEA Yesterday's buzzing Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago Visionary Award Luncheon at the Four Seasons honored artist Amanda Williams, who shared a conversation with MCA curator Jadine Collingwood about her work, the attention her art has received in the last decade and her forthcoming exhibition planned for April 2027 at the museum. The annual event celebrates women artists and arts philanthropy in Chicago. This year’s announcement also recognized MCA Pritzker Director Madeline Grynsztejn’s 18 years leading the museum while announcing a $5 million endowed gift from Leslie Bluhm on behalf of the Bluhm Family to support exhibitions and acquisitions of work by women artists. Named for the outgoing Director in a nod to other famous women who need only go by a single name, the Madeleine Fund for Women Artists recognizes Grynsztejn’s leadership and provides continuing support for a commitment she helped establish at the museum. “I am truly honored to have this gift endowed in my name,” Grynsztejn said. “The MCA has championed equity for nearly 60 years, but this fund takes a remarkable step toward codifying gender parity into the museum’s activities for decades to come.” The new endowment builds on the MCA’s Women Artists Initiative. In 2015, the museum committed to parity for women artists across its galleries and stages, including exhibitions, talks and performances. It formalized that commitment through a philanthropic fund in 2020. According to the museum, women artists were the focus of 54 percent of its solo exhibitions between 2020 and 2025. The commitment also extends to acquisitions, with the MCA reporting that works by women account for half of its acquisitions annually. Recent exhibitions supported by the Women Artists Initiative include&nbsp;Faith Ringgold: American People,&nbsp;Nicole Eisenman: What Happened,&nbsp;Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind,&nbsp;Firelei Báez&nbsp;and&nbsp;From the Center: Looking at Lucy Lippard. Acquisitions of work by Andrea Bowers, Janine Antoni and Rebecca Morris also reflect the initiative’s priorities. Jamillah James, the MCA’s Manilow Senior Curator, said the endowment would help sustain both exhibition programming and collection development. “With this support, we will be able to continue doing the important work of championing and platforming exhibitions featuring women artists and building our collection as one reflective of our ideals and commitments as an institution,” James said. Bluhm, a Chicago-based social entrepreneur and longtime MCA board member, described the gift as a recognition of Grynsztejn’s influence at the museum and across the field. “By championing the work of women artists, Madeleine has helped move the art world toward greater parity and influenced the course of art history,” Bluhm said. “We are thrilled to name this important endowment for her.”

MCA Announces $5 Million Fund for Women Artists in Honor of Director Madeleine (Grynsztejn)

<h3>We have heard the sad news of the passing of three members of the Chicago art community in recent weeks, and I wanted to share a lovely tribute to all three from the Museum of Contemporary Photography (MoCP.) Each artist worked with the museum over the years, and each one's legacy will remain in safe keeping at MoCP for years to come. </h3><h3> </h3><h3>Though they are gone too soon, Rod, Jay and Elizabeth each made an impact on the world of photography and on the people they knew. </h3> <h3>– Ginny Van Alyea</h3> <h2>In Memoriam</h2> <h3>MoCP is saddened to share news of the passing of three close members of the Chicago photo community in recent weeks: Rod Slemmons, Jay Wolke, and Elizabeth Ernst.</h3>&nbsp;<h3> </h3><h3>Rod Slemmons&nbsp;</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1790883525/brm5x5c1vrnydvdi3ccg.jpg" height="auto" width="461.76"> Rod Slemmons&nbsp;was MoCP’s Director from&nbsp;2002 to 2011. He was a talented curator, museum leader, and educator. Natasha Egan, Karen Irvine, and Kristin Taylor all had the immense privilege of working with Rod for many years. He supported their careers and championed the work of women at large in the arts. Rod was especially passionate about exhibiting and studying work of Latin American and Indigenous artists, as seen in his 2010 MoCP exhibition,&nbsp;La Frontera,&nbsp;or his traveling exhibition&nbsp;Shadowy Evidence, that asked critical questions of Edward Curtis’s work and representation of Indigenous people.&nbsp;A favorite MoCP memory is when Rod celebrated his 70th birthday and resolved to indulge in lobster and champagne. He invited his staff to dinner at his home, but after learning the exorbitant price of lobster that year, he shifted the menu to crab and champagne.&nbsp;You can see Rod sharing some of his thoughts about photography and his work in this interview&nbsp;here. For many years, Rod taught undergraduate photo history and graduate seminars in the Photography Department at Columbia College Chicago, and prior to his time in Chicago he taught photography and the history of photography for twelve years at the University of Washington in Seattle. He was National Chair of the Society for Photographic Education from 1990 to 1994, and he was named Honored Educator at the SPE National Conference in 2007. Rod was also the Curator of Prints and Photographs at the Seattle Art Museum for 14 years.&nbsp; <h3>Jay Wolke</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1790883525/pmioroh3l2engvovp4xn.png" height="auto" width="530.4"> Jay Wolke&nbsp;was a legendary educator and artist at Columbia College Chicago. Lovingly referred to by one of his students as “Obi-Wan” because of his sage wisdom, Jay guided thousands of students over his tenure at the college as Professor in the Art and Design Department from 2000-2014 and then as Professor in the Photography Department from 2014 until his recent retirement. MoCP holds&nbsp;105 of his works in its permanent collection, and these works are regularly on display in exhibitions and print viewings. One fond memory, among many MoCP memories, is when many of Jay’s pieces were selected by Teju Cole for his 2019 exhibition at MoCP,&nbsp;Go Down Moses. Teju marveled at the prints in person, asking to meet Jay so he could share his awe for the exceptional sense of color. Whether depicting marble quarries in Italy, car crashes along the Dan Ryan expressway, or Las Vegas casinos, Jay captured the world he observed vibrantly. You can view a recording of Jay discussing color theory and his work at large in a 2020 virtual studio visit&nbsp;here. You can also hear him in discussion with a former student, Eli Giclas, in the museum’s Focal Point podcast&nbsp;here. We will dearly miss Jay and his presence at the college and out and about for gallery openings and panel discussions across the city.&nbsp; <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1790883527/w3xbucci1bdypdol80ab.png"> <h3>Elizabeth Ernst</h3> Elizabeth Ernst&nbsp;was also professor emeritus at Columbia College Chicago, where she taught for 25 years. Elizabeth completed her undergraduate degree at the Moore College of Art &amp; Design in Philadelphia and her graduate degree at the Institute of Design. An active artist, she posed characters she made out of clay, papier mache, and metal in constructed environments to create fantastical images that communicate poignantly about human behavior. Her work was deeply informed by her relationship with her brother, David, who was born with cerebral palsy, and Elizabeth held a longstanding interest in tackling ideas of difference in her artwork. She was the recipient of numerous Illinois Arts Council Fellowships in Photography, and two Faculty Development Grants from Columbia College. Her work has been exhibited nationally, and she was a fixture in the Chicago art community. You can see her speaking about her work and life in a 2010 video from the Catherine Edelman Gallery&nbsp;here. Our hearts go out to Rod, Jay, and Elizabeth’s families and the Chicago photo community in this time.

In Memoriam: MoCP Pays Tribute to Rod Slemmons, Jay Wolke, and Elizabeth Ernst

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1790651532/l9cff10tdlxubk2aogpr.jpg">The 2026 Award Recipients By CGN STAFF The organization will honor this year’s artists on October 26 as it marks more than $10 million in artist funding to 3,050 artists since 2007. 3Arts awardees reflect 66% women artists, 74% artists of color, and 17% Deaf or disabled artists. Visual artists Diana Solís and Sandie (Chunshan) Yi are among the recipients of the 2026 3Arts Awards, which provide $30,000 in unrestricted funding to each honoree. The Chicago-based nonprofit will celebrate the recipients at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance on October 26. In partnership with Artspace Southern Illinois, the event also honors downstate artist&nbsp;Luca Cruzat&nbsp;with a 3Arts Award in visual art. The artists represent a range of practices, from documentary photography and public murals to textiles, wearable art and printmaking. Mexican-born&nbsp;Diana Solís&nbsp;works across photography, painting, illustration, murals and installation, exploring identity, belonging, memory and community. Her documentary photography has created an archive of LGBTQ+, Latinx and feminist communities and movements in Chicago and Mexico City. Recent exhibitions include&nbsp;City in a Garden: Queer Art and Activism in Chicago&nbsp;at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and&nbsp;Chicano Camera Culture: A Photographic History, 1966 to 2026&nbsp;at The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art &amp; Culture. Chicago-based&nbsp;Sandie (Chunshan) Yi&nbsp;is a visual and textile artist, educator and disability culture maker. Working with wearable art, sculpture, biomaterials and social practice, Yi explores disability, visibility, care, access and intimacy. Her work has been exhibited at institutions including Gallery 400, the Chicago Cultural Center, the MCA Chicago and the Denver Art Museum.Chilean-born&nbsp;Luca Cruzat, based in Southern Illinois, receives a visual art award through 3Arts’ partnership with Artspace Southern Illinois. Her practice encompasses collagraphy, installation and three-dimensional objects, using simplified forms, restrained color and everyday materials to explore personal and collective experiences. Also of interest to the visual arts community is teaching artist award recipient&nbsp;Wisdom Baty, a multidisciplinary artist, educator and curator on Chicago’s South Side. Baty founded WILD YAMS: Black Mothers Artist Residency, which provides time, space and resources for Black artist mothers and caretakers to sustain their practices. Additional 3Arts Award recipients are dance artists Silvita Diaz Brown and Kara Brody; musicians Marvin Tate and Tahirah Whittington; teaching artist John Chapman; and theater artists Tina Fakhrid-Deen and Ana Santos. The celebratory evening will feature powerful performances by three past 3Arts awardees: Keyierra Collins, Sparklmami, and Sandra Delgado. The October celebration will honor 36 artists across the $30,000 3Arts Awards, $50,000 Next Level Awards and $2,000 peer-selected Make a Wave Awards. Since 2007, 3Arts has distributed more than $10 million to more than 3,050 artists. The 2026 3Arts Awards Celebration takes place Monday, October 26, at 5:30 pm at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St.&nbsp;Tickets are $50–$300 and include a reception, awards program and after-party. Funds raised will be split between 3Arts and Center for Native Futures.&nbsp; <a href="https://3arts.org/tickets" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tickets and information</a>.

3ARTS Announces 10 Recipients of 2026 Awards

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1790651972/pa9qyggppu2j43tpwtta.jpg"> By CGN STAFF Four artists began residencies this month at the Kohler Co. factory in Kohler, Wisconsin, as the John Michael Kohler Arts Center welcomed its third and final Arts/Industry cohort of 2026. A new pilot fellowship with the Yale School of Art brings a fifth artist into the factory’s studios this fall. Abigail Lucien and Louis-Charles Dionne&nbsp;are working in the foundry, while&nbsp;Sharif Farrag and Jason S. Yi&nbsp;are working in the pottery studios. Over three months, the residents have access to industrial processes, materials and technical expertise, working alongside Kohler’s skilled artisans to experiment and develop new work. A collaboration between the John Michael Kohler Arts Center and Kohler Co., Arts/Industry hosts 12 artists annually. The program provides around-the-clock studio access and technical support, allowing artists to explore the possibilities of making art within a working manufacturing facility. The program is one of the most remarkable collaborations between art and industry in the United States. Founded by visionary arts leader Ruth DeYoung Kohler, Arts/Industry provides artists a place to make their artwork in tandem with the skilled craftspeople who work for Kohler Co. The program is rooted in the collaborative efforts between contemporary artists and industrial artisans, resulting in brilliant works of art. Hundreds of artists have benefited from this celebrated artist residency since its beginning in 1974. Arts/Industry offers artists the time and space to focus on the creation of new work in studios located within the Pottery and Foundry at the Kohler Co. factory. Joining this fall’s residents is&nbsp;A.Y. Wang, the Yale School of Art Fellow. The Arts Center, Yale School of Art and Kohler Co. are piloting the three-month fellowship during September–December 2026, offering a recent Yale graduate the opportunity to work in the Arts/Industry Pottery studio. Past award recipients include Edra Soto, Ann Agee, Barbara Cooper and many others. <a href="https://www.jmkac.org/engage/programs/arts-industry/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" target="_blank">Learn More About the Artists</a>

Kohler’s Arts/Industry Program Welcomes Final 2026 Artist Cohort

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1789485242/tt6trxqncw6di8tejjxw.jpg">© 2026, Angela Campbell, Yampa Valley Cloudburst, 18 x 28, Oil on canvas By GINNY VAN ALYEA Following two West Loop art fairs in 2025, the organizer behind those events is heading north this fall with a newly named fair in Evanston. The inaugural North Shore Fine Art Expo will take place November 13–15, 2026, at The Orrington Hotel, near Northwestern University. The three-day event will begin with a Friday evening First Look preview, followed by public hours Saturday and Sunday. Unlike a gallery-centered fair, the North Shore Expo will feature artists presenting and selling their work directly. More than 40 participating artists from Chicago and around the country are expected to be on site throughout the weekend, giving visitors an opportunity to meet them and learn more about their work. Work represented at the fair will range from painting, drawing and mixed media to fiber art, encaustic, watercolor and sculpture. The new event follows the Spring and Fall West Loop Contemporary Fine Art Expos, which debuted at Plumbers Hall in 2025. Its move to Evanston gives the organizer, Gourmet Expos, a different setting and potential audience, while adding another independently produced fair to the Chicago area’s increasingly full fall art calendar. Supporting organizations currently listed by the fair include the Evanston Art Center, Chicago Alliance of Visual Artists, Chicago Women’s Caucus for Art and North Shore Art League. North Shore Fine Art Expo First Look Preview: Friday, November 13, 6:30–9:30pmSaturday, November 14, 11am–7pmSunday, November 15, 11am–6pm The Orrington Hotel1710 Orrington Avenue, Evanston Daily admission is $20; multiple-day tickets are also available. Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.northshorefineartexpo.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">northshorefineartexpo.com</a>&nbsp;for the complete artist roster and ticket information.

Inaugural North Shore Fine Art Expo Planned for Evanston in November

<h3>We saw several personnel and programatic changes announced this week and are excited to share them below. -CGN</h3> <h3><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1789485277/badfs6ttxphowvh1tejv.png"></h3><h3> </h3><h3>Sibylle Friche is named Director of Anthony Gallery</h3> Sibylle Friche has been named Director of Anthony Gallery as of September. Sibylle previously was a Director at DOCUMENT (2015–22) and then Partner until earlier this year. She also held roles at the MCA Chicago, the Guggenheim in New York and at Rhona Hoffman Gallery in Chicago (2011-2013). In an announcement, Isimeme “Easy” Otabor, founder of Anthony Gallery, says: “I’ve always admired Sibylle’s work ethic and the respect she’s earned from everyone she’s worked with. We are excited and honored to have her on the team.” Friche shared: “I am incredibly honored to start this new chapter alongside someone like Easy whose trajectory in design, fashion, and art is exemplary. I look forward to playing a part in advancing the gallery’s growth on a global stage.” Image Courtesy of Ian Vecchiotti <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1789485278/rvn4ehfs3iv10pjokqh9.jpg"> <h3>Joffrey Ballet President-CEO Greg Cameron Departing Next Year</h3> Greg Cameron is stepping down as President &amp; CEO of the Joffrey Ballet in 2027. He has held the role since 2013. The organizations' website says Cameron's 2013 appointment was the culmination of three decades of work in arts administration and philanthropy. “I always loved art, but I wasn’t a great artist,” he says. “I could paint by numbers, or I could connect the dots. I realized early on I was a good dot connector. I could connect people to each other and help them get involved with the things they believe in.” Cameron has held leadership roles at the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs; the Art Institute of Chicago; the Museum of Contemporary Art and WTTW/WFMT. Cameron told the Sun Times that this plan to step down has been in the works for three years, and that he is not retiring nor moving on to lead another organization. Cameron intends to stay connected to Chicago's cultural community. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1789485279/s4rc3h6kwfiqdqzcqha0.png"> <h3>Jennifer Murray is Named Executive Director at FACETS</h3> Established in 1975, FACETS curates cinematic experiences that deepen human connections. Jennifer Murray has more than two decades of experience in Chicago's arts and culture community, having served as the museum manager at the now-closed 21c Hotel, as well as the Exec. Dir. of Filter Photo in Chicago for 8 years before that. She has also been a director at Columbia College's A+D Gallery, and she is the founder and Director of Staple + Stitch Art Book and Print Fair, which was launched in 2024. <h3><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1789485280/lss1j8t1rnryb5bvefd3.jpg"></h3> <h3>Process/Process Announces New Edition for Gertie's Inaugural Print Edition</h3> Join us for a launch to celebrate Gertie's inaugural print edition by Leonardo Kaplan. Process/Process are proud collaborators with the artist and&nbsp;Gertie. At Gertie's Hub, Kaplan will be in conversation with curator Jack Schneider &amp; artist Ben Foch, two longstanding interlocutors in his life and work. Their dialogue will explore the varying facets in the life of artists who have continued to work in Chicago across generations and exhibition models, tracing the symbiotic relationship between artist run projects, the commercial ecosystem, and institutional affiliation. Schneider's recent exhibition&nbsp;City In a Garden: Queer Art &amp; Activism in Chicago&nbsp;featured paintings by Kaplan. "Auspicious Arrival,"&nbsp;an edition of 50, is borne out of Gertie's longstanding relationship with Process/Process, and our shared commitment to artists who live and work in Chicago. The print will be for sale at the event and&nbsp;<a href="http://link.artlogicmailings.com/ss/c/u001.oWK2ISRNMOkgqqM9UNObrgCkOaFaxb_EyJj_JhCt3-PWs1BSMSvmTJEPhafdWu7Z/4tp/dziOl-f2SEiiiZ52uE7Vxw/h5/h001.qDCwu6Y1p7d-BxoPoSWF-QMdNWt-5abcW2_Pgyg_7Gw" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" target="_blank">online</a>.&nbsp; There will be a print launch event on September 10.Gertie, 400 N Peoria StThu, Sep 10, 6 - 8 PM<a href="http://link.artlogicmailings.com/ss/c/u001.oWK2ISRNMOkgqqM9UNObrtVE_4Ff5IDnRA5Bjop_4YeMulTJM2cJuF-6ngCpmYdgYpDwyBfm6vKrMkhMfOnDBctldC-8uVQc8jMVpLXQU4UgUJ6H4qeZEtsA0S9FEUYOZz6HG2Rjy5Vd9JC56vTZ1ugZ0vdqPis6zZbnvt3sOO8SGyZi1nlHjLegpSH2ZiT1BrlUIp_Mmt7uFkuDBIvfLQ/4tp/dziOl-f2SEiiiZ52uE7Vxw/h3/h001.0SUAUV5acs5jkG0DpwC6Fxa-4wdcjFKis5DvNAaDTGc" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" target="_blank">RSVP</a> <h3>Kavi Gupta Announces New Public Art and Advisory Service</h3> On LinkedIn Gupta shared an announcement about a new addition to the gallery's program that has an international reach. "[Here is a] sneak peek at our new public art and experiential Art Advisory services! Building on a 25 year legacy of producing and placing substantial large scale and experiential artworks from corporate headquarters to the centers of Asia’s capital cities." The gallery's <a href="https://kavigupta.com/public-works/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">website</a> says they aim to realize ambitious public-facing projects that advance underrepresented artists on a global stage.

CGN Art World Recap: September 3, 2026

<h3><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1789485288/hudqgfdxyjajtoekeusb.jpg"></h3><h3> </h3><h3>By CGN Staff</h3> Intuit Art Museum announced it is accepting applications for its first year-long Intuiteens program, running October 2026 through August 2027. The deadline is this Sunday, September 6 so motivated teens may want to work over the holiday weekend. The paid program invites Chicago teens ages 15–19 to meet weekly, explore self-taught art and help shape museum programming. Participants will work with museum staff, develop leadership skills, create work for an exhibition and help plan Intuit’s first Teen Convening.No previous art experience is required. Applicants should bring curiosity, varied interests and a willingness to participate. Applications are due Sunday, September 6, 2026.&nbsp;<a href="https://qjxtjxbbb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001nAIZ-KMiam2OpI8hS2Bd0Nhy8lSL7FMNN1UATmQ0pRUkVywPaObBRjHJUNwbsImNEirbfC2_9U0TgPH8EBUrxWfc0shJUb6rYLfhLuUhQUphhWwE_-YOCiM6PRNN0cwX4Ujr3qm8tKUeMpe4EPRDIvqT6HgNulRG&amp;c=4Q-fZ_8tWuBqZs6su9ripqUSRmVfYp3tSPOuBnICkBerqjSK6p-8JA==&amp;ch=EZs2hgl8M_oS5zH5F8Z3oQ5jipfyJAjbgUUSHnasG3c4NGDZ2alqRw==" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Learn more and apply</a>. Image credit: 2026 Summer Intuiteens Cohort field-trip selfie during a West Town gallery walk.&nbsp;

Intuit Art Museum Seeks Teens for Paid, Year-Long Program

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1789485320/nkur3r2o6c9iau9nrbxa.png">CAC's annual event always has a fun theme. 2025's disco-themed event honored Tony Karman, founder of EXPO CHICAGO. By GINNY VAN ALYEA For more than 50 years, Chicago Artists Coalition has supported Chicago’s artists and curators through exhibitions, residencies, professional development, and other vital resources. I’m very touched to be this year's honoree as CAC honors CGN's nearly 45 years of championing art and artists in Chicago. I'm especially happy for the chance to celebrate CAC, the many creatives it has also championed, and the hardworking team behind it all. They also throw a great party! Tickets include bites and beverages, plus a performance and music by CAC alum Jacquelyn Guerrero (AKA Disc Jacqui). Early bird tickets are $50 for artists, arts workers and students and $100 for individuals. CAC has thrown many fun openings and parties, with each a chance to engage with artists, meet new friends and gather in the name of art and creativity – it will be a night you won't find anywhere else AND your ticket purchase is 100% for a good cause. It's a party with a purpose. September 1, is the last day for early bird tickets this year's ’90s &amp; Neon Fundraiser, taking place in just one month on Thursday, October 1 at Ignite Glass Studios in West Town. CGN will be there—in neon and in the '90s spirit! Come celebrate CAC, its artists, and the people who make its work possible, while helping support what comes next. Happy fall art season! # <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1789485322/pd1k0o7ydemjwvswauoz.jpg">Ignite Glass - the site of CAC's fundraiser this year <a href="https://chicagoartistscoalition.betterworld.org/events/neon-90s-night" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tickets and party details here</a> CAC Annual FundraiserThursday, October 1st, 2026 | 6 - 9pm CDTIgnite Glass Studio401 North Armour Street Chicago, Illinois 60642

CAC annual fundraiser honors CGN Publisher Ginny Van Alyea with a Neon 90s theme

Chicago Artists Coalition Annual Fundraiser Goes '90s – A Party with a Purpose

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1789485493/rxz1iwo2btsvnfnxagqs.jpg"> By CGN STAFF Chicago’s already busy fall art season is getting a new addition this October.&nbsp;Announced earlier this summer, Chicago Art Fair, an independently organized contemporary and modern art fair, will debut October 7–10, 2026, at&nbsp;THE MART, with a mix of Chicago and out-of-town exhibitors. The fair's October dates put it on the opposite side of EXPO CHICAGO, which takes place in the spring, giving collectors and art supporters another fair to explore during the traditional fall rush of gallery openings, exhibitions, museum events and other programs across the city. The location also recalls an earlier chapter in Chicago’s art-fair history. Art fairs have taken place at the Merchandise Mart before, making the arrival of a new fine art fair at the building a familiar concept for longtime Chicago collectors. Today, THE MART remains closely associated with the city’s design and architecture communities, audiences the organizers also hope to reach. The inaugural exhibitor list reflects the fair’s combination of local and national participation. Announced galleries include&nbsp;Echo Fine Arts, Hilton Contemporary, Jerald Melberg Gallery, McCormick Gallery, Melissa Morgan Fine Art, Nancy Hoffman Gallery&nbsp;and&nbsp;Vallarino Fine Art, with additional exhibitors expected to be announced. Presentations will include contemporary and modern painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media and more. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1789485493/cicluutuzizhzth13fxc.jpg">Pooja Pittie, From Within, 2022 acrylic on canvas 48 x 36 inches signed, dated and titled verso. McCormick Gallery. “Chicago has long been home to an extraordinary community of artists, galleries, collectors and cultural institutions,” said George Billis, Exhibition Manager for Chicago Art Fair. Billis said the fair is intended to build on that foundation while creating opportunities for galleries, collectors and the broader creative community to connect. The fair hopes to reach a Midwestern collector market while offering an approachable event for new as well as experienced collectors. For Chicago, the arrival of another independently organized fair helps build out an increasingly active fall art season, while offering collectors and supporters a new opportunity to encounter galleries and artists from both Chicago and elsewhere. Billis runs his own namesake galleries in Connecticut, New York City and Los Angeles. To date the exhibitor list is as follows: +GALLERYLABSCAROUSEL FINE ARTCHRISTOPHER MARTIN GALLERYECHO FINE ARTSHABATATHAVEN GALLERYHILTON CONTEMPORARYJ. RUEL MARTIN GALLERY&nbsp;JERALD MELBERG GALLERYJONATHAN COOPERLAWRENCE FINE ARTMARLOE GALLERYMCCORMICK GALLERYMELISSA MORGAN FINE ART GALLERYMICHAEL FINE ARTMOBERG GALLERYNANCY HOFFMAN GALLERYOKAY SPARK FINE ARTRICHARD NORTON GALLERYSAB GALLERYSPENCE GALLERYSPONDER GALLERYSTEPHEN DAITER GALLERYTIMOTHY YARGER FINE ARTTREAT GALLERYTRIFECTATSEKH GALLERYVALLARINO FINE ARTVERSE GALLERYWALTER WICKISER GALLERYYVEL # Single-day tickets start at $25 and are on sale now. Chicago Art FairOctober 7–10, 2026THE MART, Chicago<a href="https://www.chicagoartfair.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">chicagoartfair.com</a> <h1> </h1>

Coming in October to THE MART: the new Chicago Art Fair

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1789485472/ifswtmkyhaagcg0ukhrb.jpg">RAM Exterior, Jon Bolton By CGN STAFF Racine Art Museum is making a series of changes aimed at making its two Racine campuses more accessible to visitors, including free admission for Racine County residents, expanded hours, new programming, and a refreshed visual identity. Beginning&nbsp;August 26, when&nbsp;RAM Downtown&nbsp;reopens following roof installation and other facility improvements, Racine County residents will receive free general admission with valid proof of residency. The program, supported by the Osborne &amp; Scekic Family Foundation, builds on the free admission already offered to all visitors at&nbsp;RAM Wustum. Special ticketed exhibitions and events are not included. RAM Downtown will also expand its schedule. In addition to Wednesday–Saturday hours from 10am–4pm, the museum will stay open until&nbsp;8pm on Thursdays&nbsp;and add&nbsp;Sunday hours from noon–4pm. The changes come as RAM broadens programming across its two campuses. This fall the museum will debut&nbsp;In/Between, a new multi-arts biennial taking place&nbsp;September 18–27&nbsp;throughout Racine County. The mostly free festival will bring together visual art, performance, and participatory projects at cultural sites and public spaces. RAM is also expanding its longstanding studio art program. Visitors will notice another change when they return: a new institutional identity developed with Midwest-based Phire Group. The refreshed branding distinguishes the museum’s two locations—RAM Downtown, its contemporary waterfront museum, and RAM Wustum, its historic farmhouse setting with studios, galleries, and gardens—while presenting them as parts of a connected institution. A new tagline,&nbsp;“Make it yours.”, accompanies the refresh. For Chicago-area art audiences, RAM has long been a worthwhile trip north along Lake Michigan. The museum grew out of the&nbsp;Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, which opened in 1941, and RAM Downtown opened in 2003. Today the museum holds the&nbsp;largest contemporary craft collection in North America, with particular strengths in ceramics, fibers, glass, metals, jewelry, and wood. Its approach to craft has also had a playful side: RAM gained plenty of attention over the years for its&nbsp;International PEEPS Art Exhibition, which invited artists to turn the familiar marshmallow candy into surprisingly inventive works of art. The latest changes build on that history while making it easier for more visitors to experience the museum. And don't forget to grab a Racine Kringle while you're there! Learn more about exhibitions, programs, hours, and admission at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramart.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ramart.org</a>.

New Plans and Identity Come to Wisconsin's Racine Art Museum 

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1789485435/qv1cezbcueuxievv8bvl.jpg"> By CGN STAFF A new Biennial has been announced at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN. Set to open at the start of the new year, the inaugural&nbsp;Notre Dame Arts Biennial&nbsp;will bring more than 100 exhibitions, performances, workshops, artist residencies, and other public events to Notre Dame and the South Bend region from January through June 2027. Organized by the University’s Arts Initiative, the six-month festival will span visual, literary, spatial, and performing arts, with most events free and open to the public. The inaugural biennial takes&nbsp;“symbiosis”&nbsp;as its theme, exploring ideas of collaboration, interdependence, and cultural exchange.Among the artists and writers scheduled to participate are&nbsp;Maya Lin, the artist and architect best known for designing the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.; novelist&nbsp;Zadie Smith, author of&nbsp;White Teeth; and artist and researcher&nbsp;Sougwen Chung, a pioneer in human-machine collaboration who was named one of&nbsp;Time’s 100 Most Influential People in AI. Writer and photographer&nbsp;Cig Harvey&nbsp;will deliver the annual Ruskin Lecture presented by Notre Dame’s John J. Reilly Center for Science, Technology, and Values, while artist&nbsp;Claudia Bernardi, whose practice connects visual art with human rights and social justice, will participate in a weeklong residency spanning Notre Dame and South Bend. Major performing arts events include an appearance by the&nbsp;96-member National Symphony Orchestra, led by music director and conductor Gianandrea Noseda, and the return of&nbsp;Hubbard Street Dance Chicago&nbsp;to Notre Dame for the first time in nearly 20 years.The Raclin Murphy Museum of Art will also present&nbsp;More Than: Artists in Collaboration for a Greater Good, an expansive group exhibition of contemporary art that will remain on view throughout the biennial. The festival extends well beyond the Notre Dame campus. More than 85 campus units and outside organizations are participating, and nearly 40 community- and campus-led projects have received support from the Arts Initiative. Regional participants include the&nbsp;Fischoff National Chamber Music Association, New Industry Dance Company, Performing Media Festival, South Bend Civic Theatre, South Bend Symphony Orchestra, South Bend Museum of Art, Merrimans’ Playhouse, and&nbsp;South Bend Community School Corporation, among others. Several new projects will debut as part of the biennial. Notre Dame’s Department of Art, Art History, and Design and the&nbsp;Robinson Community Learning Center&nbsp;are collaborating on a public artwork for Eddy Street Commons, while several South Bend organizations are developing arts education programs aimed at cultivating new generations of artists and audiences. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1789485436/foqtu40xnpanhrg3h3ol.jpg">Maya Lin will give a talk in March 2027. The biennial will also feature international collaborations and visiting artists. Chinese theater director&nbsp;Wang Chong&nbsp;will present the English-language premiere of&nbsp;Lying Flat 2.0, an immersive performance incorporating live video and artificial intelligence.&nbsp;Qhapaq Qolla, an influential dance troupe from the Peruvian Andes, will make its U.S. debut during a weeklong Notre Dame residency. Other international projects include an exhibition of contemporary Ukrainian sacred art and iconography developed with Ukrainian Catholic University and ICONART Gallery in Lviv, as well as a new artist exchange connecting Mexico City, Dublin, and South Bend. “Notre Dame’s flourishing is deeply connected to the vitality of South Bend and its surrounding communities,” University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., said in announcing the biennial. “The Arts Biennial exemplifies how the University’s commitment to the arts advances our Catholic mission by using creative expression to foster meaningful cultural exchanges and contribute to a thriving shared home.” Additional programming is expected to be announced this fall ahead of the biennial’s January opening. Already announces is An Evening with Maya Lin on March 31, 2027, when the architect, well-known for designing the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., visits Notre Dame for a fireside chat in the atrium of the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art. Lin's extraordinary body of work includes public memorials, sculpture, earthworks, and sustainable, site-responsive structures that often engage ecological interdependence and the symbiotic relationship between humans and the built or natural environment. A brief moderated Q&amp;A session with the audience will follow the conversation. The Notre Dame Arts Biennial runs January through June 2027. More information and a developing schedule of artists and events are available at <a href="https://artsbiennial.nd.edu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">artsbiennial.nd.edu</a>.

University of Notre Dame Announces New Biennial for 2027

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1789485390/ctp4fbgzzdxb8kq3bqui.jpg">The Milwaukee Art Museum's Quadracci Pavilion By CGN Staff Just 90 miles north of Chicago, the Milwaukee Art Museum is marking the 25th anniversary of one of the Midwest’s most recognizable works of contemporary architecture: the Santiago Calatrava-designed Quadracci Pavilion.Beginning August 27, the museum will launch&nbsp;Built to Inspire, a yearlong celebration exploring the history and legacy of the lakefront pavilion, which opened in 2001 and dramatically transformed Milwaukee’s skyline. At the center of the anniversary is&nbsp;Built to Inspire: The Quadracci Pavilion at 25, an installation tracing the building’s evolution from an ambitious architectural project to a defining Milwaukee cultural landmark. Curated by Shoshana Resnikoff, Demmer Curator of 20th- and 21st-Century Design, the installation brings together architectural models, construction photography, film, historical milestones, and opportunities for visitors to share their own memories of the museum. The pavilion is particularly known for Calatrava’s&nbsp;Burke Brise Soleil, the enormous wing-like sunscreen that opens and closes above the building and has become an emblem of Milwaukee. The anniversary celebration will extend through summer 2027 with artist talks, family programming, a free museum day, MAM After Dark, and a July 31 birthday celebration. The museum has also commissioned Milwaukee artists James Steeno, Whitney Anderson, Gabriela Riveros, and Laura Farahzad Mayer to create original interpretations of the pavilion. For Chicago art and architecture enthusiasts, the anniversary offers another reason to make the short trip north to Milwaukee. The museum sits directly on Lake Michigan and is approximately a 90-minute drive from downtown Chicago, making it an accessible day trip or weekend cultural destination. Built to Inspire: The Quadracci Pavilion at 25&nbsp;opens August 27, 2026, in the Milwaukee Art Museum’s Rotunda and is free to experience. The yearlong anniversary programming continues through July 2027. Event highlights include: • September 19, 2026 –&nbsp;Art: Forward Gala,&nbsp;The Museum's signature fundraising event celebrates 25 years of the Quadracci Pavilion while supporting the art, education, and community programs that inspire Milwaukee.• February 18, 2027&nbsp;– Free Day + Celebration: Built to Inspire,&nbsp;Celebrate the&nbsp;Quadracci&nbsp;Pavilion's 25th anniversary with free Museum admission and a day honoring the creativity, community, and civic spirit that continue to shape Milwaukee.• May&nbsp;21, 2027&nbsp;–&nbsp;MAM After Dark: Turn of the Millennium,&nbsp;Experience the Quadracci Pavilion after hours with an evening of music, performances, art, and architecture inspired by 2001—the year the building opened to the public.• July 31, 2027 – Quadracci Pavilion Birthday Celebration,&nbsp;Everyone&nbsp;is invited to celebrate 25 years of the Quadracci Pavilion with art, music, hands-on activities, and&nbsp;community&nbsp;inspired&nbsp;festivities. Milwaukee Art Museum700 N. Art Museum Drive, Milwaukee<a href="https://mam.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">mam.org</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1789485390/aammgbyye7nhrvffhsrq.png">Illustration by James Steeno, courtesy of the Milwaukee Art Museum

Milwaukee Art Museum Celebrates 25 Years of Its Calatrava-Designed Landmark

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1789485529/hrg0uwgie1vopsd9uffd.jpg">Michelle Grabner. Photo: Myrica von Haselberg By CGN Staff The John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC) in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, has announced that it will become the principal institutional home for the work of artist Michelle Grabner following an extraordinary gift spanning nearly her entire career. The donation includes more than 2,000 works created over the past three decades—from early paintings to recent sculpture—as well as approximately 300 works from Grabner's personal collection and an extensive archive of teaching materials from her years at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Together, the gift establishes one of the most comprehensive institutional holdings of a living American artist's practice. For Chicago audiences, Grabner's influence extends well beyond her own studio. She has taught at SAIC since the mid-1990s, where she currently serves as Crown Family Professor of Art and Chair of the Department of Painting and Drawing. Her career has also included co-curating the 2014 Whitney Biennial, directing FRONT International in Cleveland, and co-curating Sculpture Milwaukee alongside Theaster Gates. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1789485529/hskjdlaiaenqxjs1qsay.jpg">Michelle Grabner, Patterns and Practicalities (continuation), 2020–21; vitreous clay, glaze, underglaze, mason stain, cloth, and steel. Photo courtesy of John Michael Kohler Arts Center. The gift reflects an already deep relationship between Grabner and JMKAC. Since participating in the Arts/Industry residency in 2017, she has collaborated with the institution as an exhibiting artist, curator, and creator of a permanent artist-designed washroom for the Art Preserve. Beyond documenting Grabner's artistic practice, the donation preserves decades of teaching materials and studio pedagogy while strengthening the longstanding artistic connection between Chicago and Wisconsin. The Arts Center noted that the archive will support future scholarship and research into both Grabner's work and the broader history of Midwest contemporary art. JMKAC will begin cataloging and researching the collection in the coming months, with exhibitions and public programs to be announced at a later date. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1789485530/amaclact3hcvlmbdhk8k.jpg">100 Patterns and 3 Heuristics: new work by Michelle Grabner installation view, 2021. Courtesy of the artist and The Green Gallery, Milwaukee. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1789485532/tkjag3zap8uyymieqmsr.jpg">Living Rooms installation view at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, work by Michelle Grabner, 2016. Photo courtesy of John Michael Kohler Arts Center.

Michelle Grabner Donates Landmark Archive and Artwork to John Michael Kohler Arts Center

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1789485559/l48yss8nf3zhzjrxmes6.jpg">Stephen MarcUntitled, from Changing Chicago, 1988Gelatin silver print. Gift of Jack A. Jaffe,Focus/Infinity Fund. By CGN Staff A major exhibition opening this fall at the Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College Chicago asks visitors to consider one of history's most haunting questions:&nbsp;What if Emmett Till had come home?Opening September 10,&nbsp;If Emmett Till Lived: Freedom On American Ground&nbsp;is a new project by curator, author, and scholar Dr. Sarah Elizabeth Lewis, developed in partnership with the Reverend Wheeler Parker Jr.—Till's cousin, closest childhood friend, and the last surviving witness to his kidnapping in Mississippi in 1955. Announced on July 24, the eve of what would have been Till's 85th birthday and now recognized by Illinois as Emmett Till Day, the initiative extends beyond the exhibition to include a new publication, public programming, and a dedicated website launching this fall. Rather than focusing solely on the tragedy of Till's murder at age 14, Lewis invites audiences to imagine the life he never had. "What would Emmett Till's life have been, if he had safely boarded the train back home to Chicago?" the project asks. "What would that life have required of us all?" Drawn from the Museum of Contemporary Photography's collection, the exhibition brings together works by approximately 70 photographers—roughly matching the nearly 70 years of life Till was denied. Images by artists including Henri Cartier-Bresson, Dorothea Lange, Gordon Parks, Dawoud Bey, Carrie Mae Weems, Laylah Amatullah Barrayn, Stephen Marc, and Teju Cole create a visual meditation on ordinary moments and historic milestones that might have shaped Till's life, from neighborhood streets and family gatherings to the Civil Rights Movement, Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls championships, and the election of Barack Obama. Lewis also assembled an extraordinary group of civic and cultural leaders who each selected a photograph representing their hopes for Till's unlived future. Contributors include Lonnie G. Bunch III, Ava DuVernay, Chelsea Clinton, John Legend, Amy Sherald, Hank Willis Thomas, Colin Kaepernick, Sherrilyn Ifill, Representative Ayanna Pressley, Yara Shahidi, Wynton Marsalis, David Oyelowo, Alicia Garza, and many others, alongside members of the Till family.The exhibition arrives during a significant period of renewed attention to Emmett Till's legacy. In Chicago, restoration continues at Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ, where Till's funeral was held in 1955. The first phase of preservation will culminate this September with the illumination of a newly recreated version of the church's historic neon sign. Meanwhile, in Mississippi, the Emmett Till Interpretive Center is preparing the barn where Till was murdered for its future opening as a public memorial, while educational programs continue at the Tallahatchie County Courthouse where his killers were tried and acquitted. Chicago will also host the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Institute's 85th Birthday Commemoration Dinner on July 31 at the Obama Presidential Center's Home Court, featuring Reverend Parker along with remarks from Mayor Brandon Johnson and Senator Tammy Duckworth. Coinciding with the exhibition is the publication of&nbsp;If Emmett Till Lived: A Creative Monument, edited by Lewis and published by MoCP with DelMonico Books/D.A.P. The richly illustrated volume features essays by Lonnie G. Bunch III, Sherrilyn Ifill, Vinson Cunningham, and others, alongside reflections from many of the project's collaborators. If Emmett Till Lived: Freedom On American GroundSeptember 10–December 19, 2026Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College Chicago For more information, visit <a href="https://www.mocp.org/exhibition/if-emmett-till-lived-freedom-on-american-ground-2/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">mocp.org</a> and&nbsp;ifemmettlived.org&nbsp;when it launches in September.

MoCP Announces If Emmett Till Lived, a Major Exhibition Reimagining an Unlived Life

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1789485576/ellyn2atiu31lr2os5q5.png"> By CGN Staff Two Chicago arts organizations are highlighting opportunities for artists this summer, with one call for exhibition proposals and one new residency program getting underway.Co-Prosperity&nbsp;is accepting applications for its&nbsp;2027–28 solo and group exhibition season&nbsp;through&nbsp;August 24. Selected artists will receive a six-week exhibition and a&nbsp;$5,000 work stipend. Applications will be reviewed by Co-Prosperity's Programming Council, and the application includes eligibility details, past exhibition images, and a gallery floor plan.&nbsp;Learn more and apply:&nbsp;<a href="https://coprosperity.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://coprosperity.org/</a> Meanwhile,&nbsp;Tiger Strikes Asteroid Chicago&nbsp;has launched its inaugural&nbsp;Summer Artist Residency, a fully funded two-week program that provides artists with dedicated studio space in Ravenswood while fostering collaboration and ongoing engagement with TSA Chicago's artist-run community. The residency concludes with an Open Studio this summer and will culminate in a group exhibition in 2027.The inaugural artists-in-residence are&nbsp;Elsie Kagan&nbsp;and&nbsp;Susy Bielak, establishing what TSA Chicago hopes will become an annual program supporting artists and creative exchange.&nbsp;Learn more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tigerstrikesasteroid.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.tigerstrikesasteroid.com/</a>

Artist Opportunities: Exhibition Applications Open; New Residency Launches

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1789485604/ka9bjzl3sqb7fkwwrhz7.jpg"><a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.iLq7DOSrsnpvrEmu8Fg-2BNOthhYa7JKwuZeH0uaIeZn8zl5qKA9TUHK-2BeLc27ddbkDIjkTB3TLJCNvIQc39-2BdCXPy7nXvrzA-2FpPxs9giOWUI-3DvJ6P_0g5QiKQ3ANfCkWXxwzczn1phIok0-2FnBF8GNWXrNhq2-2B4ftGj9DI8Jn4AfRAGeAJVn7gGoI0v4yHfyxNzcTgWoPEaLRzm-2F78kaJkURE3JvKd21AkP2t70-2BHtWbUdqbTMuqfVP4r6Ib-2FsoFZcogAZvs5JN9GtCHphpCGdKhszdBRpORFnbfDszVjYjJfn1Ibncv8wMN2xJuvj7-2F7cX9Z0a6lDjXJMshnl-2F3xQ8he2FJGoZWnEb46ag4ND9fGBY-2FGF2UAOTejfEZz9IZ29j1Z2lDu-2BlU5ERBj4Ucrw50h8aW6f-2B0xWd6mTz40ReAmQtSjb-2Bq-2BNTwuRbDN6CMcoXlM6eSMWyS5q2FGCLXXBLj3e19dUox03mcbXnoptQk5upkVfB5auxpFpYEuI7Xl1AoeMv-2Fw-3D-3D" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: rgb(187, 187, 187);" target="_blank">Lot 108</a>&nbsp;| Frank Gehry (American, 1929–2025) |&nbsp;Icehenge&nbsp;Desk from the lobby of the Inland Steel Building. Sold for $243,200 By CGN Staff Freeman's announced the results of its July 15 Design sale, highlighted by the record-breaking sale of Frank Gehry's&nbsp;Icehenge&nbsp;(2012), which realized&nbsp;$243,200—the highest auction price ever achieved for a work of design by the celebrated architect and designer.The monumental 16-piece glass installation (Lot 108), originally created for the lobby of Chicago's iconic Inland Steel Building, surpassed its pre-sale estimate of $100,000–$200,000 following spirited online bidding. The result reflects growing collector demand for Gehry's design works and underscores&nbsp;Icehenge's significance at the intersection of sculpture, architecture, and functional design. "We were thrilled when the opportunity to sell&nbsp;Icehenge&nbsp;was presented to us. Although we knew it might be a difficult object to place due to its size and heft, buyers from a variety of backgrounds and locations turned out in force, a testament to Gehry's enduring star power as one of the preeminent design visionaries of our time," said Roger Ward, Vice President and Head of Department, Design at Freeman's | Hindman. "The buyer is also dedicated to maintaining public access to&nbsp;Icehenge&nbsp;and is considering a temporary loan to a suitable museum or institution. Currently, no specific plans have been finalized." Weighing approximately&nbsp;15,000 pounds,&nbsp;Icehenge&nbsp;captivated bidders with its dramatic composition of pale green glass panels, whose jagged, glacier-like forms feature internal bubbles, distortions, and refracted light. Originally conceived as a reception desk, the installation transcends its functional purpose to become a fully realized sculptural environment that showcases Gehry's innovative use of industrial materials. A Landmark in Chicago's Architectural Story Icehenge&nbsp;occupies a unique place in Chicago's architectural history. Gehry has long cited the Inland Steel Building as an early influence, having first encountered the landmark in the 1950s. Decades later, its modernist elegance informed several of his celebrated Chicago commissions, including the Jay Pritzker Pavilion and BP Bridge in Millennium Park. Following Gehry's partial ownership and restoration of the Inland Steel Building in 2005,&nbsp;Icehenge&nbsp;emerged as an unconventional artistic response to the building's clean modernist aesthetic. Fabricated by the renowned John Lewis Glass Studio in Oakland, California, the installation exemplifies Gehry's fascination with transforming industrial materials into expressive works of art. The record-setting result signals continued momentum in the market for museum-quality works that blur the boundaries between art, architecture, and design, reinforcing Gehry's lasting influence across multiple creative disciplines.

Frank Gehry's Icehenge Sets New Auction Record at Freeman's July 15 Sale

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1789485594/ldnuivamd8s0p2jguebb.jpg"> Installation view of OH, YOU'VE GOT TO COME BACK TO THE CITY, Theaster Gates, GRAY Chicago, 2025. Credit: Zoey Marciniak, Courtesy of Gertie By GINNY VAN ALYEA Chicago's contemporary art community will have more to explore this fall as Chicago Exhibition Week (CXW) expands from a long weekend into a seven-day, citywide program running September 14–20, 2026. Now in its fourth year, the annual initiative has steadily evolved into an important moment on the city's cultural calendar, bringing together commercial galleries, artist-run spaces, museums, and cultural organizations through a coordinated week of exhibition openings, public programs, performances, and special events. This year's expanded format reflects the event's growing role as both a destination for visitors and a rallying point for Chicago's arts community. Presented by Gertie, CXW coordinates programming across Chicago's contemporary art community, bringing together commercial galleries, artist-run spaces, museums, and cultural organizations during a shared week in the fall. The expanded format reflects a broader schedule of exhibitions and partnerships for the 2026 edition. Highlights include Corbett vs. Dempsey's presentation of works by the late artist Pope.L with a focus on his experimental band, GRAY's solo exhibition by Jaume Plensa, featuring a monumental freestanding relief sculpture in wood, Good Weather's exhibition of Berlin-based artist Tiphanie Kim Mall, and Mariane Ibrahim's fifth solo exhibition with Clotilde Jiménez. Chicago artists will also be featured, including Joseph Grigely at M. LeBlanc and Lindsay Adams at PATRON, alongside a new body of work by Guggenheim Fellow Claire Sherman. This year's program also expands the event's network of institutional partnerships. Returning collaborations include EXPO CHICAGO, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Independent Curators International (ICI), and the Renaissance Society. New partnerships include the Chicago Reader, Contemporary Art Daily, the Driehaus Museum, and Harris Theater. Museum and institutional programming scheduled during the week includes&nbsp;Jill Mulleady: The Passenger&nbsp;at the Art Institute of Chicago,&nbsp;Slow Dance&nbsp;at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, and&nbsp;Karimah Ashadu: Tendered&nbsp;at the Renaissance Society. The Driehaus Museum will present&nbsp;Brendan Fernandes: In the Round, accompanied by a public dance program. Harris Theater will present&nbsp;Dancing with Bob, a performance by Trisha Brown Dance Company and the Merce Cunningham Trust celebrating Robert Rauschenberg's collaborations with dance. CXW will also introduce a new interdisciplinary partnership with Chicago artist, musician, filmmaker, and philanthropist Vic Mensa. Co-hosted with the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, the ticketed opening reception will bring together music and contemporary art and will conclude with a DJ set by Mensa in conjunction with the MCA's&nbsp;Dancing the Revolution&nbsp;exhibition. Gertie has planned for CXW's 2026 edition to coincide with the opening of a permanent headquarters at 400 North Peoria in the West Loop. The space which will serve as the organization's year-round exhibition space and as a central hub for CXW programming. According to Gertie founder Abby Pucker, the expansion from a weekend to a full week reflects the growing scope of the event and the increasing number of organizations choosing to present programming during the same period. Additional exhibitions and details will be announced later this summer. Chicago Exhibition Week runs September 14–20, 2026.

Chicago Exhibition Week Expands to Seven Days for 2026

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1785263331/hcwnj3crbkajvzfgydvo.png">Amanda Williams. Photo courtesy of John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. By CGN Staff Congratulations to Amanda Williams, the MCA Chicago's 2026 Visionary Honoree. On October 5th at 11am, the MCA will honor Amanda Williams and Bank of America at its annual Visionary Luncheon celebrating arts philanthropy in Chicago. The Visionary luncheon celebrates arts philanthropy in Chicago and extraordinary women artists.&nbsp;This year's event features a program with multidisciplinary artist and MacArthur Fellow Amanda Williams and the presentation of the 2026 Arts Philanthropy Award to Bank of America for its commitment to arts and culture in Chicago. Amanda Williams&nbsp;(b. 1974, Evanston, IL) deconstructs the physical and social systems of inequity. Informed by her architectural background, Amanda’s multidisciplinary practice communicates through a chromatic language of abstraction and material means. Recent exhibitions include&nbsp;Amanda Williams: We Say What Black This Is,&nbsp;Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, Atlanta, GA (2025) and Prospect.6 triennial, New Orleans, LA (2025), for which Amanda presented&nbsp;In Her Rich Deposits of (Blue). Amanda is also coauthor of the forthcoming permanent monument to Shirley Chisholm,&nbsp;Our Democracy, Our Destiny,&nbsp;in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park.&nbsp;Amanda is the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship (2022), has been named a Gordon Parks Foundation Fellow (2026), a Chicagoan of the Year (2023), and a Joan Mitchell Foundation Painters &amp; Sculptors Grant awardee (2017). Her work is included in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY; the Art Institute of Chicago; and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, among others. Amanda earned a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University, NY. She lives and works in Chicago, IL. Rita Sola Cook, President of Bank of America Chicago, as well as Division Executive for the Midwest and Ohio Valley Division of Bank of America Private Bank. Drawing on almost thirty years with the firm, she provides strategic direction and sustained leadership in overseeing the delivery of impactful banking and wealth management capabilities to individuals, families, businesses, and institutions. Last year's event honored Julie Mehretu. This year's event will take place at the Four Seasons Hotel at 120 E. Delaware Pl. in Chicago Details and tickets are available on the MCA's <a href="https://visit.mcachicago.org/events/visionary-celebrating-leadership-in-the-arts-5/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">website</a>.

MCA Announces Amanda Williams to Recieve 2026 Visionary Award at October Luncheon

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1789485586/siif96qa4nfhn8teb7bz.jpg">The University of Chicago John W. Boyer Center in Paris&nbsp;| Paris France By CGN Staff Studio Gang has been named the recipient of the&nbsp;2026 AIA Chicago Firm Award, one of the organization's highest honors recognizing a firm's sustained excellence in design, professional leadership, and contributions to the advancement of architecture. Founded in Chicago in 1997 by internationally acclaimed architect&nbsp;Jeanne Gang, FAIA, Studio Gang has grown into a global architecture and urban design practice with offices in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Paris. The firm, which includes more than 130 architects, designers, and planners, is recognized for creating projects that strengthen connections between people, communities, and the natural environment through what it calls an approach of "actionable idealism." "Studio Gang embodies all this award was created to celebrate and honor," said&nbsp;Jen Masengarb, Assoc. AIA, Executive Director of AIA Chicago. "Over nearly thirty years, they have demonstrated what it looks like when design excellence and genuine care for community go hand in hand. Studio Gang is deeply rooted in Chicago while also having a global impact on the way our profession sees its responsibility to people, place, and the planet." The jury praised the firm's lasting influence beyond individual buildings, noting its leadership in sustainable design, technical innovation, public engagement, and the evolution of architectural practice. Jeanne Gang said the recognition is especially meaningful because of the firm's Chicago roots.<blockquote>"Chicago has one of the richest architectural legacies of any American city, and AIA Chicago has played an important role supporting this history and culture," Gang said. "Being recognized by AIA Chicago as part of this legacy is an incredible honor. Even as we've grown to become an international firm, Chicago remains in our DNA and deep inside our heart and soul."</blockquote>Juliane Wolf, AIA, Design Principal and Partner leading Studio Gang's Chicago office, added that the award reflects the firm's long-standing relationship with the city.<blockquote>"We're so proud to call Chicago our home and be part of its strong architecture community," Wolf said. "We've had the honor to help shape this city through projects ranging from riverfront boathouses and restored ecological habitats to skyscrapers that have redefined the skyline. To have this work recognized with AIA Chicago's Firm Award is a special moment for us."</blockquote><blockquote> </blockquote>Among Studio Gang's notable projects are&nbsp;The St. Regis Chicago, the&nbsp;Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts&nbsp;in Little Rock, and the&nbsp;University of Chicago John W. Boyer Center in Paris, each reflecting the firm's commitment to contextual design, sustainability, and civic engagement. Studio Gang will be honored during a celebration hosted by AIA Chicago on&nbsp;August 6&nbsp;at the&nbsp;Chicago Architecture Center, coinciding with the firm's exhibition,&nbsp;Flyway City: Architecture for a Flourishing Ecosystem. The exhibition explores how architecture and urban design can create safer environments for birds and other wildlife. The firm will also receive the&nbsp;2026 Firm Award&nbsp;during&nbsp;Designight 2026, AIA Chicago's annual architectural celebration, on&nbsp;Thursday, October 1, at the&nbsp;Harris Theater for Music and Dance&nbsp;in Millennium Park.

News

Chicago Gallery News