Fall is always an incredibly busy season in Chicago’s art world, with new exhibitions opening across galleries and museums. Behind the scenes, many people in the community are working tirelessly to support artists and bring fresh perspectives to the public. We spoke with five insiders about what excites them now and what they anticipate next.

To receive a copy of the print edition click here.

Christopher (“Kit”) Maxwell

Samuel and M. Patricia Grober Curator

The Art Institute of Chicago

“We recently reopened our newly redesigned galleries of European design, 1600–1900, following more than three years of collaboration with the Barcelona-based architectural firm Barozzi Veiga. It’s an elegant and striking space, and I’m looking forward to sharing both the galleries and the exceptional collection they display with our audiences. 

This fall, I’ll begin work on an updated edition of the Thorne Miniature Rooms publication, featuring new research and photography, set for release in early 2027, offering a welcome update to a longtime favorite. In spring I’ll be curating a special installation of important, never-before-published Renaissance ceramics on loan from a private collection—a rare opportunity to present these remarkable works to the public for the first time.”