<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.

Studio Gang Named 2026 AIA Chicago Firm Award Recipient

<h3>DOCUMENT's Sibylle Friche Says Goodbye</h3> In a message to friends and colleagues recently, Sibylle Friche said, "After 11 extraordinary years at DOCUMENT, I am writing to share that I have decided to leave my position at the gallery. My last day will be July 2nd. I am incredibly grateful to the team at the gallery and the print studio, and to everyone I have had the pleasure of working with—including the artists, curators, collectors, writers, studio assistants, photographers, art advisors, gallerists, shippers, art handlers, fair and museum directors who make up the artistic community I cherish in Chicago and beyond." Aron Gent remains director of <a href="https://documentspace.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">DOCUMENT</a>, which has locations in Chicago and Lisbon, Portugal. <h3>Yi Cao Leaves Society for Contemporary Art After Three Years</h3> <a href="https://scaaic.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SCA</a> President Larry Antonatos shared, "After&nbsp;three&nbsp;terrific&nbsp;seasons furthering the mission of the Society for Contemporary Art,&nbsp;Yi Cao&nbsp;has decided to resign from her position&nbsp;as Director&nbsp;of the SCA.&nbsp;&nbsp;During her tenure,&nbsp;Yi&nbsp;presented dozens of&nbsp;SCA&nbsp;public&nbsp;programs&nbsp;and member&nbsp;events, three Annual Meetings&nbsp;and Acquisition Votes,&nbsp;and two Benefits, all&nbsp;with dedication&nbsp;and grace.&nbsp;She&nbsp;expanded programming,&nbsp;grew membership,&nbsp;strengthened&nbsp;relationships&nbsp;within the museum,&nbsp;and streamlined operational systems.&nbsp;Yi has much to be proud of. I am grateful for her contributions to the SCA.&nbsp;&nbsp;The SCA Board has begun our search for a new Director.&nbsp;We welcome your support in identifying qualified and passionate candidates&nbsp;and&nbsp;will share a job description with you soon.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sabina Eastman&nbsp;will continue&nbsp;as&nbsp;SCA&nbsp;Manager.&nbsp;Sabina&nbsp;will be increasing her&nbsp;efforts&nbsp;and responsibilities in the interim before a new Director is named.&nbsp;Sabina&nbsp;has experience&nbsp;with&nbsp;memberships, communications, and managing public&nbsp;programs and member events.&nbsp;We are&nbsp;in good hands with Sabina and are&nbsp;grateful for her skilled support." <h3><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1784661799/eiqmcusxqglbinlv4ogv.png"></h3><h3> </h3><h3>Raclin Murphy Museum of Art receives a $5 million grant</h3>&nbsp;&nbsp;The <a href="https://raclinmurphymuseum.nd.edu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Raclin Murphy Museum of Art</a> at the University of Notre Dame has received a $5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to support capacity-building projects and programs.&nbsp;&nbsp; The grant is one of 12 invitational grants that Lilly Endowment is making to help Indiana art museums strengthen and enhance their ability to contribute to cultural vibrancy in their communities and regions.&nbsp;“This insightful and inspirational grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. provides exceptional opportunities for the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art to fulfill its potential on many fronts for the benefit of the communities we serve, from campus to the region and beyond,” shares Director Joseph Antenucci Becherer, Ph.D. “From providing multiple scholarly research opportunities, to enhanced visitor and membership experiences, to increased accessibility and awareness of the collections and exhibitions with which we&nbsp;&nbsp;have been entrusted, this grant provides extraordinary opportunities we would otherwise not be able to realize.”&nbsp;&nbsp; Image: East facade of Raclin Murphy Museum

CGN Art World Recap: July 6, 2026

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1784661758/q0hceb5xryupygnd4epu.jpg"> Via PR The Design Museum of Chicago has announced the appointment of&nbsp;David Salkin&nbsp;as its new Executive Director, ushering in a new chapter for the institution as it continues its mission to connect communities through design and foster greater appreciation for the creative forces shaping everyday life.Salkin brings a deep commitment to Chicago’s creative community and a passion for advancing the visibility and impact of design across the city and beyond.“I’m so eager to help better understand, promote, and foster Chicago’s diverse and varied design talents and ecosystems,” said Salkin. “I’m especially grateful to be able to work with my new colleagues, board members, interns, volunteers, collaborators, and supporters to help people see the creativity, intention, and possibility embedded in the world around them.”Salkin also recognized the contributions of founding Executive Director&nbsp;Tanner Woodford, whose leadership established the museum as a vital platform for design education, civic engagement, and creative dialogue.“Thank you, Tanner Woodford, for building something so special,” Salkin said. “I’m honored to lead the Design Museum of Chicago in its next direction.”As he begins his tenure, Salkin welcomes engagement from Chicago’s design community and beyond.The Design Museum of Chicago is dedicated to making design accessible to all through exhibitions, programs, and public initiatives that demonstrate how design shapes culture, communities, and daily life.

Design Museum of Chicago Announces David Salkin as Executive Director

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1784661740/pl38elhphe3swfb7xmka.png"> Via PR The Bronzeville Art District Trolley Tour returns this summer, marking its 20th year of connecting visitors with the galleries, artists, and cultural institutions that make Bronzeville one of Chicago's most significant arts destinations. Held on the third Friday of each month from June through September, the free event invites guests to explore the neighborhood aboard a double-decker bus while experiencing exhibitions, live entertainment, and community programming. Since its founding, the Trolley Tour has served as a gateway to Bronzeville's rich artistic and cultural landscape, highlighting the neighborhood's legacy as a center of Black creativity, entrepreneurship, and cultural life. Over the past two decades, the tour has become a beloved summer tradition, drawing residents and visitors alike to discover the district's galleries, studios, and historic cultural sites. Dates:&nbsp;June 19, July 17, Aug 21, Sep 18Time:&nbsp;6–9 PMFor more information, visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bronzevilleartdistrict.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.bronzevilleartdistrict.com/</a>

Bronzeville Art District Trolley Tour Celebrates 20 Years

CGN received the following message from GRAY upon the passing of David Hockney. The gallery will open an exhibition, <a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/david-hockney-the-moon-room" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">David Hockney: The Moon Room</a>, on July 10 in West Town. # <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1784661727/dgyfgwkksbnpykqhldku.jpg"> We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of David Hockney, an artist who produced some of the most vivid and influential works of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, driven by boundless curiosity and defying conventions throughout his seven-decade career. He passed away peacefully at home on 11 June 2026, 1 month short of his 89th birthday. It seems almost a miracle to me that from what I imagine was the dark North of coal dust covered, postwar England emerged one of the brightest burning spirits we have ever known. I met David Hockney in 1982 during preparation for the gallery’s first exhibition with him—his then newly created photographic collages—works which, 40 years later, still impress with their complexity and provocation. The dashing, curious, well-read blond with quick wit and devastating talent as a draughtsman nevertheless captured my imagination most with his frank exhortation that the real dream was rather simple—to be fortunate enough to be able to wake each day, go to the studio, and do just exactly as he wished. I visited David many times over the next 45 years. The funniest was being driven by him through the Santa Monica Mountains, listening to Verdi at full volume while he described how the music and the curves would shape his set and costume designs, then in the works. Every studio visit was magical, but perhaps the most memorable was one in his Pembroke Studio around 2015, when, just the two of us together, he opened up about life, his loves, and his disappointments.&nbsp;At every other time, humor and stoicism always masked his expressions of sadness, but not that day when he indulged himself for a little while. I am so grateful to have been his friend and to have merited his trust. His work inspires me and fills me with joy.&nbsp;- Paul Gray Born in 1937 in Bradford, England, Hockney gained notoriety at the age of 25 after refusing to submit a life-drawing assignment and written essay to the Royal College of Art, saying his work should be judged on its own merit. The school, which initially withheld his diploma, changed its regulations, and also awarded Hockney that year’s Gold Medal. Hockney quickly became one of the defining and most singular figures of the Pop Art movements in both Europe and the United States. In the late 1960s, Hockney relocated to California and established himself as a prolific figurative and landscape artist. He is perhaps best recognized for the works he produced there: brightly colored, large-scale, evocative images of the Southern California lifestyle, as well as domestic, intimate portraits of his friends, family, and lovers. He joined GRAY in 1982 and was featured in sixteen solo and group exhibitions with the gallery. Hockney’s works are notable for their quietness of subject, exploration of space, and subtle reduction of form, while always containing a masterful control of vibrant color. Throughout his career, Hockney worked in a wide variety of media, including painting, drawing, collage, photography, and printmaking, often utilizing emerging technologies of the time, such as fax machines, laser photocopiers, iPads, and other digital instruments.&nbsp;He is also the author of several books, perhaps most notably&nbsp;Secret Knowledge: Rediscovering the Lost Techniques of the Old Masters&nbsp;(2001, Thames &amp; Hudson), in which he explored how optics and optical perspective have, since the Renaissance, radically influenced how we see and think. Hockney had solo exhibitions at the Art Institute of Chicago, the National Portrait Gallery, London, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Whitney Museum of Art, New York, among many others. He received numerous awards and honors, including the first Annual Award of Achievement from the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art, Los Angeles; a Lorenzo de Medici Lifetime Career Award from the Florence Biennale; and nine honorary degrees from institutions worldwide. In 1997, he was made a Companion of Honour from the British and Commonwealth Order for his outstanding achievement in the arts. Hockney’s work can be found in numerous distinguished public collections around the world, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York; Museum of Fine Arts Boston; the Art Institute of Chicago; the National Portrait Gallery and the Tate in London; and the Getty and LACMA in Los Angeles, among many others. Working with David Hockney has been an extraordinary honor and pleasure for us at GRAY.

GRAY Shares News that Gallery Artist David Hockney Has Died at Age 88

Via PR The <a href="https://scaaic.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Society for Contemporary Art</a> is pleased to announce the acquisition of&nbsp;Where the energy comes from, connected&nbsp;(2025)&nbsp;by Jana Euler, which will be gifted to the Art Institute of Chicago's permanent collection. The work was selected by SCA members at the 2026 Annual Meeting and Acquisition Vote held on June 4, 2026. The&nbsp;2026 SCA&nbsp;Exhibition&nbsp;remains on view in Gallery 294 of the Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago through August 31, 2026. We encourage members and visitors to stop by and see the selected work alongside the other acquisition considerations.<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1785263296/hsq1g2dfrkpzakfr0vut.jpg" width="564">Jana EulerWhere the energy comes from, connected,&nbsp;2025&nbsp;Acrylic on canvas&nbsp;285.8 x 175.3 cm (112 1/2 x 69 in.)&nbsp; Since the mid 2000s, German artist Jana Euler has developed a heterogeneous body of work that probes painting’s social, material, and historical frameworks. Working within a tradition of German painters who have challenged painting’s conventions while simultaneously expanding the medium, Euler engages the legacy of figures such as Gerhard Richter and Martin Kippenberger, for whom painting operates as a critical system and a tool for addressing broader social realities. Euler embraces painting’s histories and hierarchies even as she exposes and distorts them, making visible the structures of taste, power, and circulation that shape the art world and global capital.&nbsp; Jana Euler’s&nbsp;Where the energy comes from, connected&nbsp;(2025) depicts the electrical outlet that powers Greene Naftali Gallery’s WiFi router in its ground floor gallery, which Euler took notice of during a site visit for her 2025–26 exhibition, The center does not fold. The outlet’s features are doubly charged—with networks of art world politics (they echo the infrastructure of their own presentation) and anthropomorphic analogy (they appear almost as a face with its mouth filled by a white electrical cable). In the exhibition’s press release, Euler refers to the work as a “portrait” and grants it further personality: “I liked the frightened eyes, the association of a pacifier it evoked in me, and the combination of the two: a picture that is plugged in, constantly connected yet very alone, staring fearfully into the exhibition space.”&nbsp;

Society for Contemporary Art Announces 2026 Acquisition

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1784661566/afg3iotdg3d5ijsfkfki.png">Carole A. Feuerman By CGN Staff Chicago's Magnificent Mile is once again serving as an outdoor gallery, this time with 10 monumental sculptures by artist Carole A. Feuerman installed along Michigan Avenue from the Wrigley Building north toward Oak Street. The exhibition,&nbsp;Monuments of Stillness, opened June 2 and will remain on view through November. The installation was officially unveiled during a public opening at the Wrigley Building plaza attended by Feuerman and Chicago art dealer Arica Hilton of Hilton Contemporary, which organized the exhibition. Visitors strolling the avenue this summer will love the accessibility of Feuerman's hyper-realistic works and they should keep an eye out for the sculptures, which appear at several locations between the Chicago River and Oak Street Beach. The works vary in size, material and presentation, from painted figures of swimmers and sunbathers to polished bronze pieces. One of the most eye-catching sculptures features a swimmer perched atop a highly polished sphere, an image that inevitably brings to mind Anish Kapoor's&nbsp;Cloud Gate, the globally recognized Chicago landmark better known as "the Bean." <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1784661566/nui6kafptdqdwujpngeu.png">Carole A. Feuerman, The Diver Recognized as one of the pioneers of superrealism, Feuerman has&nbsp;exhibited&nbsp;internationally for more than five decades. Her sculptures have appeared at the Eiffel Tower during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, on Park Avenue and in Central Park in New York, at the Venice Biennale, the Beijing Biennale&nbsp;(where she received First Prize)&nbsp;and in major museums and public spaces throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States. The display is the latest public art installation to line Michigan Avenue, following a series of outdoor exhibitions that have become familiar attractions for Chicagoans and visitors alike. The free exhibition recalls public exhibitions of Chicago's past just in time for renewed tourism downtown this year, offering a reason for residents and visitors to explore one of Chicago's most travelled corridors through the fall. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1784661567/wmlen3cwanshtok97ogw.png">Carole A. Feuerman, Brooke with Beach Ball Details at <a href="https://hiltoncontemporary.com/exhibitions/carole-feuerman-monuments-of-stillness/?utm_campaign=website&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=sendgrid.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hilton Contemporary </a>

Swimmers Take Up Residence on Michigan Ave. This Summer

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1780430048/wn3ralls7ixquiagpwqo.jpg">Paula Karoline Kamps02.12.1990 † 05.16.2026 CGN heard the news that German-born, Chicago-connected artist Paula Kamps has died.We received and are sharing the following message from M. LeBlanc Gallery, where Kamps made her solo gallery debut in 2021. It is with deep sadness to share the news that German artist Paula Kamps has passed, at the age of 36.&nbsp;&nbsp;Paula Kamps was an artist of rare sensitivity.From 2019-2024, M. LeBlanc&nbsp;represented Paula’s works, exhibiting her paintings in numerous group exhibitions and art fairs, as well as mounting two solo exhibitions here in Chicago.&nbsp;Paula made an extraordinary impact during her time in the city, touching the lives of many people in our community and the numerous students she advised during her time at the School Of The Art Institute of Chicago.The gallery extends our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, collaborators, and colleagues, as well as to those who had the privilege of working closely with her throughout her life.&nbsp; ﻿And the bitter taste of the irony of analysis and reflection on time: everything as it is now, will be different tomorrow.In a year from now? I do not need to do much to keep people and conditions coming into my life that make everything that happened before, happen again.How conditional insight is. Because the contents will change. Conversely, that also means I will be able to play my game of wanting understanding to the last day.- Paula Kamps,&nbsp;Desire | Delivery&nbsp;, 2019, Kunstverein Heppenheim <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1780430049/epfbl6ldyz7zgug4ha5j.jpg">Paula Kamps,&nbsp;Petals of Dream (A Witch’s Potion)&nbsp;(2023), 150 x 120 cm (59 x 47.25 in) Paula Kamps&nbsp;(German, b. 1990 in Bergisch Gladbach in Nord Rhein-Westphalia) lived&nbsp;and worked&nbsp;between Chicago and Düsseldorf. Kamps graduated as a Meisterschülerin from Kunstakademie Düsseldorf in 2016, having studied under Tomma Abts and Elizabeth Peyton. Recent solo exhibitions include&nbsp;My Neighbor's Flowers&nbsp;at Galerie Chrisine Mayer, Munich (2026),&nbsp;Cold Customs&nbsp;at eastcontemporary, Milan (2022);&nbsp;Shoot The Moon&nbsp;at Mou Projects, Hong Kong (2022);&nbsp;Rain Or Shine&nbsp;at M. LeBlanc, Chicago (2021);&nbsp;At The Pawn Shop&nbsp;at sans titre, Paris (2021), and&nbsp;Ganze Tage In Den Bäumen&nbsp;at Kunstverein Heppenheim (2019). Her work was shown in group exhibitions at Galería Heinrich Ehrhardt, Madrid (2023); Good Weather, North Little Rock (2023); M. LeBlanc, Chicago (2022); David Zwirner’s Platform (online) (2022); sans titre, Paris (2022); NÉVÉ, Los Angeles (2022); LVH, London (2021); Andrea Festa Fine Art, Rome (2021); SLICE, Ufer Studios, Berlin (2020); Amelchenko, New York (2019); Carbon12, Dubai (2018) and at Kunstverein Reutlingen (2018). Kamps published much of her poetry in the form of artist's books, her last,&nbsp;a leporello titled&nbsp;Mistress Of Good Advice,&nbsp;was self-published during her residency at the Ox-Bow School Of Art in Saugatuck, MI.&nbsp; ﻿

Artist Paula Kamps Has Died at 36

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1780430039/i9oe1hhjs8wzj7zh3khe.png"> By CGN Staff As the official opening of the Obama Presidential Center draws closer, the Obama Foundation announced the first slate of public programming for the Center, focused on a free three-day Grand Opening Weekend celebration across the Jackson Park campus. The inaugural weekend, June 19–21, will feature live music and dance performances, family art-making activities, food vendors, talks, sports programming, guided tours, and presentations connected to the Center’s commissioned artists and public art installations. Additional summer programming includes the “You Are America” series tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary, garden gatherings, wellness programs, youth initiatives with After School Matters, and ongoing talks and performances throughout the season. As CGN explored this spring in “Art at The Obama Center: Raising the Future of Art and Possibility,” the Center’s ambitious art program positions the campus as a cultural destination as much as a presidential institution, with commissions by artists including Julie Mehretu, Carrie Mae Weems, Mark Bradford, Maya Lin, Richard Hunt, and many others. Read the feature <a href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/articles/art-at-the-obama-center-raising-the-future-of-art-and-possibility" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>. The Obama Presidential Center opens to the public June 19, 2026. Additional programming and registration information will be released at <a href="https://obama.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">obama.org</a>.

Obama Presidential Center Announces Grand Opening Weekend Celebrations

<h3><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1780429977/ocxjhppb6fc9ihmzujj3.jpg"></h3><h3> </h3><h3>MoCP and Artists in Public Schools Partner with ART on theMART</h3> In celebration of citywide arts organizations and their partnerships with Chicago Public Schools, ART on THE MART's May 21-31 evening program will feature two projections, one by Colleen Plumb and Teerath Majumder for Art, Activism, Policy, Power with MoCP, and another screening by&nbsp;<a href="https://mocp.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9e4250b7536dc23e9352b28ee&amp;id=f858040dfa&amp;e=d76e1da35a" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" target="_blank">Sage Lin, artist-in-residence with Artists in Public Schools</a>. Projections will be on view May 21-31, Thursday through Sunday, beginning at 8:30 pm and visible from the Chicago River and riverwalk.&nbsp; To learn more about ART on THE MART events and summer viewing schedule, visit their website at&nbsp;<a href="https://mocp.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9e4250b7536dc23e9352b28ee&amp;id=ae6fe6a224&amp;e=d76e1da35a" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" target="_blank">artonthemart.com</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1780429977/nzjtnefy89pi4lcfluhc.png"><h3> </h3><h3>The Block Announces Gift of 14 Photographs</h3> The Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art at Northwestern University has received a major gift of fourteen photographs by internationally acclaimed artist&nbsp;<a href="https://northwestern.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=904f932038284b4d9eea69636&amp;id=36d618b25c&amp;e=64540e863b" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: rgb(0, 124, 137);" target="_blank">Fazal Sheikh</a>, given by the artist in honor of Interim President and President Emeritus of Northwestern University Henry Bienen and Leigh Bienen, senior lecturer emerita at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. <a href="https://nublockmuseum.blog/2026/05/14/the-block-museum-of-art-announces-gift-of-fourteen-photographs-by-fazal-sheikh-honoring-henry-and-leigh-bienen/?utm_source=Block+Museum+of+Art%2C+Northwestern+University&amp;utm_campaign=8734571359-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_9_27_2021_COPY_01&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_a04c98ee9f-8734571359-309155557&amp;mc_cid=8734571359&amp;mc_eid=64540e863b" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Details</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1780429978/ocd9qzvjuf45xyhhengf.png"> <h3>MCA's Tuesdays on the Terrace Return</h3> Jun 16–Aug 25Tuesdays on the Terrace kicks off its 27th season on June 16, featuring&nbsp;<a href="https://mcachicago.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c24ba7c5a91cefd699dc985e1&amp;id=18722985ae&amp;e=95b957c616" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" target="_blank">Sir&nbsp;Kahil El’Zabar with The Ethnic Heritage Ensemble</a>! Get complimentary tickets in advance for expedited access to the MCA's backyard and first dibs on the best picnic spots. Tickets are limited and will be released every Wednesday at noon for the following week’s performance, starting June 10. Release reminders will be made on social media and via email. If tickets sell out online, try the standby lane <a href="https://mcachicago.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c24ba7c5a91cefd699dc985e1&amp;id=dc2835a0cf&amp;e=95b957c616" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" target="_blank">become a member</a>. Members receive expedited entry for yourself and as many guests as their membership allows. <a href="https://mcachicago.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c24ba7c5a91cefd699dc985e1&amp;id=eecd117450&amp;e=95b957c616" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">VIEW SCHEDULE</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1780429979/jwc7e32n3q628pvumawl.png"> <h3>New Installation “Body of Water” Coming to WNDR This June</h3> Studio Nawa, WNDR’s top selection from the Artist Call initiative earlier this year is underway to debut their new installation&nbsp;“Body of Water” on June 6, 2026A&nbsp;Body of Water&nbsp;invites visitors to inhabit the layered depths of Lake Michigan, transforming scientific measurements of the lakebed into an immersive spatial environment. Visitors move through the installation - walking between suspended layers, pausing, or sitting on cushions - gradually descending into a volumetric cross-section of the lake.The installation will be present at WNDR for six months, as part of WNDR’s new rotating artist collective program <a href="https://www.wndrmuseum.com/installations/chicago" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Details</a>

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