By GINNY VAN ALYEA Tony Fitzpatrick was the kind of friend I never imagined in a million years I would have. I met him within a year or so of taking over as publisher of CGN, when I stopped into his studio on Damen Ave. because I was picking up a framed work by one of his studio assistants, KS Rives. My parents had bought the collage for me and it was really the first work of art I had fallen in love with. KS had said she would be away so it would be ready at Tony's studio. I had no idea what walking in would be like. He had a lot of questions. He wanted to know who I was. How I had met KS. I felt like I a high-schooler meeting the parents before a first date. I said I published CGN, and he said he always liked Natalie [van Straaten, CGN's founding publisher.] Then he said something to the effect of "Too bad her ex-husband was such an asshole." After that I was disarmed. We talked for an hour. I left with my new collage, three books Tony had written, and a promise he wanted to support CGN and buy a full page ad, as he said, "To show all those other fuckers they should be advertising too." Tony gave me confidence when I was getting my bearings as publisher, and he showed me what it meant to double-down on Chicago and love it no matter what. It's not easy to do, but Tony did it. He always seemed to try to give back to the city what it gave to him and to his art. I really think he also made me deeply appreciate living an urban life where you will never run out of things to see or do or think about, complain about and also appreciate. Tony found birds and heard their music in the noisiest places. I hope he's listening to all the songs of his beautiful birds among the moths and butterflies now. * I told someone a couple of weeks ago, who used to be one of his many assistants, that I count myself very lucky that after 17 years, Tony and I hadn't fallen out – yet. She nodded knowingly. Tony's love was fierce and he wore his big heart on both of his fully tattooed sleeves. You always knew where you stood with Tony. Sometimes it was out, but if you hadn't done something really wrong, he'd welcome prodigal friends back in and admit to others if he thought he'd been wrong. No one could bullshit Tony. However, if you cheated, lied, thought you were better than someone else, that was it. His rules were simple and iron-clad. He was a curious and generous person, and he would tell you when he'd been burned and he'd tell you who'd done it, but then he'd move on. Tony had a lot of thoughts on just about very topic, and he was so well known, in part, because the man could talk, and talk and talk. He loved to ramble, but he also loved to spar. He could be cool, well-read, interested in whatever came next. He collected people and their stories - inviting dogs into his open studio and making sure to stock their favorite treats. He'd buy 200 copies of a poetry book and give them all away to friends. He changed gallery models regularly, all in the name of making sure artists got visibility, and their money. He would be on his computer, on the phone and on Facebook all at the same time. And he'd be directing an assistant to cut this fragment of paper a little more or place a piece of ephemera just over there. It was magic to watch. On a visit to his studio one weekend last fall my 8 year old son brought him a drawing of a football player, and Tony gave him some advice about using colored pencils because they're so much better than markers. A couple weeks later he asked how his drawing was going. Tony's artistic resume is well known - artist, writer, playwright, actor, former boxer. He designed album covers - the Neville Brothers, Steve Earle, Big Head Todd and the Monsters. He made art all over town, in restaurants (Yuzu) and tattoo parlors. He has murals from the Old Town School of Folk Music, to Steppenwolf Theater to the town of Glen Ellyn. Tony will always be everywhere in Chicago, even though the man himself is actually gone. At 66 he is gone too soon, but he lived a lot of lives –&nbsp;many more than most. Michele, Max and Gaby - my heart breaks for the three of you. Thank you for sharing your remarkable husband and father with so many of us who were so lucky to have him in our city and in our life.

Artist Tony Fitzpatrick Has Died at 66

<h4><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1760116783/j3hab4piabgmqmw0k401.jpg"></h4>Pigment magazine on site at EXPO CHICAGO 2024 pictured in front of an IN/SITU installation<h4> </h4><h4>By JACQUELINE LEWIS</h4><h4> </h4><h4>This fall, Chicago will host the inaugural year of <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.pigmentintl.com/pigmentedblackfineartfaire" target="_blank">Pigmented: Black Fine Art Faire</a>. Held at Zhou B Art Center October 30–November 2, the fair is the latest creation of Patricia Andrews-Keenan of Pigment International, a media and arts publication. Drawing on decades of storytelling and a deep love for the Black arts tradition, Andrews-Keenan has built a platform that amplifies artists and Black-owned galleries alike. In this conversation, she shares what inspired the fair, what visitors can expect, and why Chicago was always the right city to bring it to life.</h4><h4> </h4><h4>With the inaugural exhibition Andrews-Keenan isn’t just hosting an event, she hopes to build a legacy rooted in storytelling, community, and cultural preservation. As she looks to the future, her vision is clear: to create a platform that lasts well beyond her, amplifying Black art for generations to come.</h4> CGN: Can you tell me how your experiences led you to found Pigment International and now Pigmented: Black Fine Art Faire? Patricia Andrews-Keenan: It started with reading and writing in elementary school, and then I became a journalism major in school. I segued from there into corporate communications. The whole time I was there it was about doing articles, doing speeches, communications, annual reports, those kinds of things. From there I started doing media and PR on my own, but the thread that has always run through that has been my love of things surrounding Black art. When I was young, I would buy posters, really anything that had images of people of color on them. I would buy sheet music, go to thrift stores, go to the flea markets and look for things to hang on my wall. And as my career progressed and I was able to buy art, I began to buy prints and more. And then as I began to travel, I would buy even more art. That was always kind of the simultaneous thread. CGN: So how did that thread evolve into Pigment International? PAK: After I left corporate America around 2008, I found myself doing media and PR for events in Chicago. One of the first ones I did work for was the African Festival of the Arts, which has been happening here for at least 35 years. Through this experience, I started to meet the artists themselves. It was just very cool, because what I realized was that each of these artists had a story to tell. And in my mind artists don’t become famous unless people write about them. If no one wrote about Rembrandt or Picasso or any of those art history big shots, no one would know their name. Someone had to tell their stories and begin to cement them in history. So [in Chicago] I could see where there was a need for these [contemporary] artists to have their stories told, and it is within the Black art community. That’s when I began to fully realize the need to put together a platform for Black art and Black voices. I remember sitting in the office at home trying to come up with the name. I started looking up art terms and all these things. When I came across the word “pigment” which is what paint is created out of and thought about how it also represents the pigment in our skin, I just knew. That was it. It was perfect. And that’s what we’ve done for the last seven years. We’ve taken that platform and continued to build it with the printed publication, the digital publication, the events, the exhibitions, all of that. CGN: How did Pigmented: Black Fine Art Fair come about? PAK: One of my other great passions, in addition to art and writing, is travel. Since 2017, we’ve gone to see shows in Miami, Venice, New York, Morocco you name it. We’ve seen how shows are done. We’ve met the people running them. But what I found was, when we talk about shows that are run by people from the diaspora–Black people, whether they’re in Africa, the Caribbean, or the U.S.–there are very few. There’s PRIZM out of Miami, the Harlem Fine Art Show out of New York, Black Pony in the Caribbean. That’s about it. And people in Chicago were telling me there hadn’t been a show here organized by people of color in more than 40 years. [Artist} Nick Cave said nothing since the 2000 Colors show organized by Oprah and her partner Stedman, and the two traveling exhibitions by the Harlem Fine Art Show. CGN: Why did you choose Chicago to be the home base for this new fine art fair? PAK: Well, I’m from Louisiana, but a lot of my influence comes from people who were made by Chicago, Dr. Margaret Burroughs, for one. I’ve learned so much from the South Side Community Art Center and the arts organizations here. There’s so much history- from Archibald Motley to Charles White, from the Black Arts Movement to AFRICOBRA. And right now, there are two big anniversaries: the 85th of the South Side Community Art Center, and the anniversary of the American Negro Exposition, which happened here in 1940 to commemorate the end of slavery. When I realized that, I wanted to marry that history with a show that reflects where we are now. I also knew other galleries wanted to come here. Folks from Atlanta, Detroit, Memphis—they were saying, “If there was a show in Chicago, we’d do it.” So that’s where it came from. It’s the confluence of history, need, and willingness. CGN: And this year’s fair is being held in Bridgeport at the Zhou B Art Center? PAK: Yes, October 30 through November 2. We expect to have 10 different galleries, 10 different artists, and all kinds of programming. We’re doing things that reflect both the history of this city and the future of Black art here. We’re going to open with a reception that nods to the Black Renaissance. We’re going to have fun with that. I also found an image from the American Negro Exhibition that’s in the public domain, so we can reproduce it for merchandise. We want this to be a tourist destination. This is a perfect time to come to Chicago. CGN: What kinds of artists and galleries will be&nbsp;showing? PAK: We’re putting a big emphasis on Black-owned galleries and how they’ve contributed to Black artists’ careers. September Gray Fine Art Gallery out of Atlanta, Blackbird Gallery from Detroit, Waterkolours from Memphis. GangGang, the creator’s of Indianapolis’s successful Butter Art Show, will be curating an event during the show. &nbsp;&nbsp; We also have local galleries including Connect Gallery in Hyde Park, Faie Afrikan Art in Bronzeville and The Daniel Texidor Parker Gallery. Dan Parker’s been collecting art for 60 years. He came up under Dr. Burroughs in Chicago, and now has his own gallery.&nbsp; We’ve also confirmed artists including Dr. Thomas Lockhart out of Denver who is just finishing a residency in Martha’s Vineyard. Eric January, a local artist who was awarded the Derrick Adams Residency will be joining us, as well D. Lammie Hanson, whose work was featured during the 2024 Venice Biennale. Many of the artists who have been involved with us since 2018 will be showcased. The caliber of the creativity is exciting. CGN: What would be your ideal outcome after this first fair? PAK: I want people to say it was a wonderful event. I want it to be financially successful–for the galleries and for us. Our Pigmented Store will be fun and revenue generating, something we’ve learned from the shows we’ve attended. &nbsp;&nbsp; But really, we want to do it again. That’s the dream. CGN: And longer term? Where do you hope the fair goes in the next 5–10 years? PAK: The Harlem Fine Art Show has been going on for 17 years. PRIZM has been around about 10. I’d love for this to become that. But personally I also want to be able to go on vacation. I want this to be something the next generation can take on. We’re already working with organizations including&nbsp;the Flourish Fine Arts Accelerator, I Love Art (ILA), and Englewood Arts Collective, and these young people are doing amazing work in the arts. I’m honored to be associated with them. I hope they see this as something they can take further, and I’ll be there to help, but from the sidelines. It’s a passion for me. I think it’s something that needs to be done. And I hope people see that it’s something that needs to continue, even when I’m not doing it. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1760116784/ebly1h9gehmul0lxa67b.jpg"> <h4>The Pigmented Black Fine Art Faire</h4>October 30–November 2, 2025Zhou B Art Center&nbsp;1029 W. 35 th St. Chicago, IL 60609<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.pigmentintl.com/pigmentedblackfineartfaire" target="_blank">pigmentintl.com/pigmentedblackfineartfaire</a>

Launching Legacy: The Inaugural Pigmented Black Fine Art Faire

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1760048898/romowui6o23wdjjraqh0.jpg"> By CGN Staff 3Arts, the Chicago-based nonprofit that supports artists in the performing, teaching, and visual arts, has announced 17 recipients of its annual 3Arts Awards. The organization will distribute more than $1 million in grants this year, a $400,000 increase from previous years, in direct response to widespread national cuts in arts funding. <blockquote>“A thriving city depends on a thriving arts community,” said Cat Tager, Executive Director of 3Arts. “Right now, our arts community faces mounting challenges with each new day, each news cycle, and each trip to the grocery store. Recognizing this critical moment, so similar to the onset of the pandemic, 3Arts will dramatically increase our support for artists this year.”</blockquote><h3> </h3><h3>Honoring Artists Across Disciplines</h3>Now in its 18th year, the 3Arts Awards recognize Chicago-area artists working in dance, music, teaching, theater, and visual art. Each awardee receives $30,000 in unrestricted support, part of the organization’s mission to sustain creative practice through direct and flexible funding.The 2025 honorees include dance artists Wendy Clinard, Chih-Jou Cheng (程之柔), and Torrence “Tea Buggz” Griffin; musicians Tommy Carroll, Ariella Granados, Kara Jackson, and Maxwell Senteney; teaching artists ebere agwuncha, Victoria Boateng, and Tom Lee; theater artists Rammel Chan, Nina Castillo-D’Angier, and Kristin Idaszak; and visual artists Jess Atieno, Leasho Johnson, Fern Logan, and Odette Stout. The 2025 3Arts Awards Celebration will take place Monday, November 10 at 5:30 p.m. at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance (205 E. Randolph St.), featuring performances by past awardees including The Chicago Immigrant Orchestra, D-Composed, and an aerial collaboration by Michel Rodriguez and Jacinda Ratcliffe. Tickets ($150–$300) include a reception, ceremony, and after-party, and are available at <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.3arts.org/tickets" target="_blank">3arts.org/tickets</a>. Proceeds benefit both 3Arts and the Center for Native Futures. <h3>Expanding Reach and Emergency Support</h3>This year’s program introduces two new awards in Music and Visual Arts for artists in downstate Illinois, presented in partnership with Artspace Southern Illinois, expanding 3Arts’ geographic reach.In total, the organization will increase the number of awards and emergency funds available:<ul><li>17 artists will receive $30,000 awards (up from 10 in 2024).</li><li>Six Next Level Awardees will each receive $50,000.</li><li>The Make a Wave microgrant program grows from 10 to 40 artists, each receiving $2,000.</li><li>More than $150,000 in emergency funding will be distributed to artists facing financial hardship.</li></ul><h3>Visual Arts Awardees</h3>Among this year’s visual arts honorees:<ul><li>Jess Atieno explores diasporic histories and identity through printmaking and research between Nairobi and Chicago.</li><li>Leasho Johnson, a Jamaican-born artist, investigates Black queer identity through painting, installation, and sculpture.</li><li>Fern Logan, a photographer and professor emerita, is celebrated for her Artist Portrait Series documenting prominent Black artists.</li><li>Odette Stout, a Chicago-based artist and drag performer, creates multimedia performances examining technology, transformation, and community.</li></ul><h3>Investing in the Future of the Arts</h3>Founded in 1912 and relaunched in 2007 with its current awards program, 3Arts has distributed more than $8.2 million to over 2,500 artists across the region. Its support prioritizes women artists (66%), artists of color (74%), and Deaf or disabled artists (17%).At a time when public and private arts funding has declined nationally, 3Arts’ expansion underscores its belief that investing in artists is investing in community resilience. Read about all the 3Arts Awardee Bios <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.3arts.org/awards/3arts/2025/" target="_blank">here</a>.

3Arts Increases Artist Support in Response to National Funding Cuts

<h1><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1759879870/xsybkwihym7il4bqjfae.jpg"></h1><h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/silver-lining-the-prints-of-derrick-adams" target="_blank">Silver Lining: The Prints of Derrick Adams</a></h1> Oct 8 - Dec 19 Opening: Thursday, Oct 9, 7–9 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/tandem-press" target="_blank">Tandem Press</a> – Madison, WI <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1759879872/flcib7ronqntpn7kzhwf.jpg"><h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/mapping-outside-the-lines" target="_blank">Mapping Outside the Lines</a></h1> Oct 9 - Feb 14, 2026 <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/newberry-library" target="_blank">Newberry Library</a> – Gold Coast <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1759879873/jd9c6c3xoldloc9h7zom.jpg"><h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/recycled" target="_blank">Recycled</a></h1> Oct 10 - Oct 18Opening Friday, Oct 10, 5–9 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/the-art-center-highland-park" target="_blank">The Art Center Highland Park</a> – Highland Park <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1759879873/qxywwp5ombiwows7b3pp.jpg"><h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/closing-reception-erosion" target="_blank">Closing Reception: Erosion</a></h1> Friday, Oct 10, 2025 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/chicago-grand-gallery" target="_blank">Chicago Grand Gallery</a> – Humboldt Park <h1> </h1><h1><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1759879874/djpusk3roxvazbvqq6lb.jpg"></h1><h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/vesna-jovanovic-carnival" target="_blank">Vesna Jovanovic: Carnival</a></h1> Oct 11 - Feb 15, 2026 <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/hyde-park-art-center-hpac" target="_blank">Hyde Park Art Center (HPAC)</a> –&nbsp;Hyde Park <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1759879876/fj2y0rynacs07f8gzyvo.jpg"><h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/csi-project-space-group-exhibit" target="_blank">CSI Project Space: Group Exhibit</a></h1> Oct 11 - Nov 21 <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/chicago-sculpture-international-csi" target="_blank">Chicago Sculpture International (CSI)</a> – Bucktown <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1759879876/ajx2otzudcl3jjr9yezl.jpg"><h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/spaceshift-collective-garden-activation" target="_blank">SpaceShift Collective Garden Activation</a></h1> Saturday, Oct 11, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/the-arts-club-of-chicago" target="_blank">The Arts Club of Chicago</a> – Streeterville # <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events" target="_blank">VIEW FULL CGN CALENDAR HERE</a></h4>

New Exhibitions and Events: October 9-11

By CGN Staff Today after months of turmoil and press attention about the state of the city's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), it was announced at the Chicago Cultural Council meeting that Clinee Hedspeth has resigned as as DCASE Commissioner. A new local arts advocacy group,&nbsp;Artists for Chicago,&nbsp;was created in April of this year with a mission to collectively share a voice on behalf of the city's artistic community because of concerns about DCASE and its leadership. In the following months the group worked to raise awareness about what it saw as dysfunction in one of the city's key departments that has offered vital support to artists and cultural organizations. In April the group's public letter to Mayor Brandon Johnson said, "We write to share our deep concern about the dysfunction in the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). Our sector depends on DCASE to be a partner in local government that is available and responsive to the community's needs and a strong advocate for the economic and civic power of the arts. Last month marked the first anniversary of Clinée Hedspeth's&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.wbez.org/culture-the-arts/2024/03/18/chicago-names-clinee-hedspeth-cultural-commissioner" target="_blank">appointment</a>&nbsp;as the City of Chicago’s Commissioner of DCASE. Over the last year, through revelations in the media, reports from DCASE staff, and statements from the community, it has become evident that the urgent needs of the arts and cultural sector are not currently being met." The letter outlined the problems facing the artistic community and the tangible solutions and leadership it sought. Artists for Chicago shared an updated message to their community today: Dear Artists for Chicago and Others: At today's meeting of the Chicago Cultural Council, Clinee Hedspeth's&nbsp;resignation as Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events was announced by the committee's co-chairs. You can read more about it in this piece by the Chicago&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2025/10/07/chicago-cultural-commissioner-dcase-clinee-hedspeth-resigns-city-hall" target="_blank">Sun Times</a>. Many months ago, we asked you to trust us by signing onto a Letter of Concern to Mayor Brandon Johnson. Because of that letter, the staff at DCASE felt seen and heard, substantive changes occurred, and real accountability happened.&nbsp; Some individuals have faced retaliation for signing the letter or speaking out in the media. They lost opportunities, grants, and roles. This is not acceptable and should not be tolerated.&nbsp; Artists for Chicago hopes to continue its work holding elected officials accountable to the creative sector and fighting for what we need in the upcoming elections. Thank you for being part of this work with us. The Artists for Chicago Team # Key image credit:&nbsp;DCASE Chicago YouTube

Commissioner of Cultural Affairs Clinee Hedspeth Resigns

<h3>At its heart CGN is a unique resource devoted to&nbsp;exploring and supporting the contemporary art market by listening to collectors and gallerists, promoting living artists and by educating new and future collectors.&nbsp;</h3><h3> </h3><h3>One of the ways we keep this exploration interesting is to regularly examine the various art collections in our midst. No collection is the same and each is as unique as its steward. CGN has conducted dozens of interviews over the years with collectors who have generously shared their stories, homes and treasured pieces with us.&nbsp;Collecting art is fulfilling pursuit, but there are bound to be delightful moments as well as inevitable challenges. We asked a handful of collectors to share their own stories or lessons learned, as well as some insight into what has kept them going and what may inspire the next generation of collectors who are so important to the future of the art market and today’s working artists. Keep up with CGN to read more collector stories and interviews.</h3><h3> </h3><h3>– CGN</h3><h3> </h3><h3>To purchase a copy of the fall print edition&nbsp;<a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://835ba3.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">click here.</a></h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1759868147/c1vmdz0pck0jb6dquyuj.jpg">At left: The Peterson children engaging with art in Andi Crist’s studio. “Our family’s most recent acquisition is a ceramic sculpture by Andi Crist that she made as part of a benefit sale, with proceeds going to the Chicago Artists Coalition. CAC is an incredible resource for artists in our city and an important space for the art-curious to connect with creatives who are living and working here.&nbsp; We bought one of her pieces for ourselves and two as gifts for friends–I highly recommend considering artwork when you are seeking an extra-ordinary present for someone special.&nbsp; As a bonus, Andi let us come for a studio visit when we organized our pick-up. It was an absolute treat for our family to explore materials and ideas with Andi.&nbsp; We’re all looking forward to seeing her upcoming show, Live Laugh Labor, at the Cleve Carney&nbsp;Museum of Art (opening October 16).”

CGN Collecting Stories: Lauren Peterson

By GINNY VAN ALYEA Doug VanTress founded The Golden Triangle in 1989 in Chicago’s River North arts district and it has been a national source for Asian and European luxury furnishings ever since. The Golden Triangle moved to West Town a couple of years ago. We spoke with Doug about what’s new in his Grand Ave. space and what projects are bringing him the most joy. 2035 W. Grand Ave. Chicago, IL 60612 <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://goldentriangle.biz/" target="_blank">goldentriangle.biz</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1759869218/czow0faradoqtdeme0qu.jpg"> CGN: Please share how things have been going at the Golden Triangle this year.&nbsp;Doug VanTress: Things are going well! We’ve had our best year so far (first 7 months) since 2019. So it feels like our transplanted tree, so to speak, is doing well again after losing a few leaves, and a branch or two, on the way from downtown. Designer interest is high and the neighbors are really coming in. West Town is doing very well, and lots of shoppers come in on Saturday, with their kids and dogs. CGN: What has been your wildest project or installation recently?&nbsp;&nbsp;DV: Our biggest installation by far is at La Casa de las Flores in Little Village. It opens this fall. The theme is flowers and beautiful wooden architecture. They selected Indian arches and columns, and we created a plan to divide the space. It’s fabulous! <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1759869219/hvbym8yi5t4whnli0ngo.jpg"> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1759869220/pxaxlyg1fy7hbawbvsb8.jpg"> Above: Pre-work as well as the final results for a custom installation for a client. Golden Triangle fabricated a custom art piece from vintage Indian cement molds for a the entryway to a client’s modern condo, hiring a local metal worker to make the frame. VanTress says, “Ancient and modern projects take the edge off of modern (sometimes sterile) interiors.” CGN: How are things in West Town?&nbsp;DV: West Town is having a moment. It’s quietly booming.&nbsp;(Don’t tell anyone–we want to expand on Grand.) There is a lot of small, in-fill development going on everywhere.&nbsp;There must be 100 projects going up north of Grand, South of Chicago, between Western and Ashland. Some are multi-unit. Others are single-family. The diversity of the neighborhood is off the charts, and it’s very livable, with parking on the street for your friends, walking to restaurants and shops, good bus service to downtown, easy driving north or south. I talked to a young couple that just moved from New York into a home near Western Ave. (Western!) They said West Town feels like the part of Brooklyn near Queens. They have a baby, and the schools are good, too.&nbsp; CGN: What favorite local spots can you share? • JJ Bangkok Street Food – Thai1715 W. Chicago Ave • Tuman’s [Tap &amp; Grill] – Old-school tavern2159 W. Chicago Ave. • Dark Matter – CoffeeThe Mothership738 N. Western Ave. #

Checking–In: Doug VanTress – The Golden Triangle

<h1><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1759494433/mfa0jtskjlhnlavf7dk1.jpg"></h1> <h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/25th-anniversary-benefit-auction" target="_blank">Arts of Life 25th Anniversary Benefit Auction</a></h1> Saturday, Oct 4, 2025 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://artsoflife.org/event/25thbenefitauction/" target="_blank">Details and tickets</a> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/circle-contemporary-arts-of-life" target="_blank">Circle Contemporary (Arts of Life)</a> at Epiphany Center for the Arts (West Loop) <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1759494434/awab44wvbyuhrbjwcxwl.jpg"> <h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/theaster-gates-unto-thee" target="_blank">Theaster Gates: Unto Thee</a></h1> Sep 23, 2025 - Feb 22, 2026 Opening: Saturday, Oct 4, 2025 (check website for details) <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/smart-museum-of-art" target="_blank">Smart Museum of Art</a> (Hyde Park) <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1759494435/hipbu9xure3fpsysvclb.jpg"> <h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/andrew-light-the-shadow-caster-variations" target="_blank">Andrew Light: The Shadow Caster Variations</a></h1> Oct 4, 2025 - Nov 16, 2025 <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/krasl-art-center" target="_blank">Krasl Art Center</a> (St. Joseph, MI) <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1759494436/nptgwb9rsmbgeypenqcr.jpg"><h1> </h1><h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/gods-of-small-things" target="_blank">Kaushik Sunder Rajan: Gods of Small Things</a></h1> Oct 2, 2025 - Oct 26, 2025 Opening: Saturday, Oct 4, 2025 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/perspective-photo-gallery" target="_blank">Perspective Photo Gallery</a> (Evanston) <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1759494437/sa83k5og8agj7n9bnz85.jpg"><h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/modern-vintage-chicago-oct" target="_blank">Randolph Street Market's Modern Vintage Chicago</a></h1> Sunday, Oct 5, 2025 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/randolph-street-market" target="_blank">Randolph Street Market</a> (Ravenswood)

New Exhibitions and Events: October 4 and 5

<h1><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1759437400/hhl8sl6tn3fwmdpb1ygf.jpg"></h1> <h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/scott-burton-shape-shift" target="_blank">Scott Burton: Shape Shift</a></h1> Oct 3, 2025 - Dec 20, 2025 Opening: Friday, Oct 3, 2025 1:00 PM – 5:30 PM Also on view: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/the-joffrey-ballet-in-the-us" target="_blank">The Joffrey + Ballet in the U.S.</a> and <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/ellen-altfest-forever" target="_blank">Ellen Altfest: Forever</a> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/wrightwood-659" target="_blank">Wrightwood 659</a> (Lincoln Park) <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1759437401/zsnf2zci31mu1pgogxpd.jpg"> <h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/william-blake-brothers-bones-beside" target="_blank">William Blake: Brothers’ Bones Beside</a></h1> Oct 3, 2025 - Nov 9, 2025 Opening: Friday, Oct 3, 2025 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/gallery-victor" target="_blank">Gallery Victor</a> (River North) <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1759437402/tcac2m8nqj0crogg8e4p.jpg"> <h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/cinematic-dreams" target="_blank">Cinematic Dreams</a></h1> Oct 3, 2025 - Nov 15, 2025 Opening: Friday, Oct 3, 2025 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/hilton-contemporary" target="_blank">Hilton Contemporary</a> (River North) <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1759437404/js47atcbojnmcv7ajsho.jpg"><h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/found-in-place-tiffany-stronskys-abstract-exploration-of-belonging" target="_blank">Found in Place – Tiffany Stronsky’s Abstract Exploration of Belonging</a></h1> Oct 3, 2025 - Nov 1, 2025 Opening: Friday, Oct 3, 2025 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/oliva-gallery" target="_blank">Oliva Gallery</a> (Logan Square) <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1759437405/nap1d3ryirrhgzhp1jpw.jpg"> <h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/beyond-the-fold-a-journey-through-the-realms-of-jason-brammer" target="_blank">Beyond the Fold: </a></h1><h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/beyond-the-fold-a-journey-through-the-realms-of-jason-brammer" target="_blank">A Journey Through the Realms of Jason Brammer</a></h1> Oct 3 - 5, 2025 During West Town Art Walk Opening: Friday, Oct 3, 2025 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/chicago-truborn" target="_blank">Chicago Truborn</a> (West Town) <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1759437405/lms8wn6hmwkf7hha3rck.jpg"> <h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/michael-banning-my-window-is-a-garden-gate" target="_blank">Michael Banning: My Window is a Garden Gate</a></h1> Oct 3, 2025 - Nov 8, 2025 Opening: Friday, Oct 17, 2025 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/kim-storage-gallery" target="_blank">Kim Storage Gallery</a> (Milwaukee) <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1759437406/fe4udn4csjmbelymcpoz.jpg"> <h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/entwined-landscapes" target="_blank">Entwined Landscapes</a></h1> Oct 3, 2025 - Oct 31, 2025 Opening: Friday, Oct 3, 2025 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/vivid-art-gallery" target="_blank">Vivid Art Gallery</a> (Winnetka) <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1759437407/lo70pe7cqu43yotdztvu.jpg"> <h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/elyse-martin-moving-on" target="_blank">Elyse Martin: Moving On</a></h1> Oct 2, 2025 - Oct 24, 2025 Opening: Friday, Oct 3, 2025 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/arc-gallery" target="_blank">ARC Gallery</a> (West Town)

New Exhibitions and Events: October 3

<h3>Fall is always an incredibly busy&nbsp;season in Chicago’s art world, with new&nbsp;exhibitions opening across galleries and museums.&nbsp;Behind the scenes, many people in the community&nbsp;are working tirelessly to support artists and bring&nbsp;fresh perspectives to the public. We spoke&nbsp;with five insiders about what excites them now&nbsp;and what they anticipate next.</h3><h3> </h3><h3>To receive a copy of the print edition&nbsp;<a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://835ba3.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">click here.</a></h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758209666/iao496ahlxlp20wt78sx.jpg"> “Although we’ve been writing about art for the last 15 years on Colossal, 2025 marks our first fall art season as gallerists. We’re thrilled to be working with twin sisters Haylie and Sydnie Jimenez on their exhibition, Speak of the Devil, on view at <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://joymachine.art/" target="_blank">Joy Machine</a> through September. It’s a very Chicago show, complete with the checkered brick patterns seen on many of our buildings and scenes of the artists’ beloved community here in the city.&nbsp;We’ve also had the pleasure of working with Maria Gaspar, Bryana Bibbs, Raoul Deal, and Swoon at the Haggerty Museum of Art in Milwaukee. Titled <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.marquette.edu/haggerty-museum/no-one-knows-all-it-takes.php" target="_blank">No One Knows All It Takes</a>, this project explores the connection between personal health and collective wellness through the lens of immigration, addiction, caretaking, and incarceration. We hope the exhibition inspires empathy and solidarity in a time of profound devastation and grief.”

Anticipating a Season of Art: Five to Talk to – Christopher Jobson  & Grace Ebert – Joy Machine

<h3>Fall is always an incredibly busy&nbsp;season in Chicago’s art world, with new&nbsp;exhibitions opening across galleries and museums.&nbsp;Behind the scenes, many people in the community&nbsp;are working tirelessly to support artists and bring&nbsp;fresh perspectives to the public. We spoke&nbsp;with five insiders about what excites them now&nbsp;and what they anticipate next.</h3><h3> </h3><h3>To receive a copy of the print edition&nbsp;<a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://835ba3.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">click here.</a></h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758826732/oflbqwmhh7wxawsrwegk.jpg"> Christopher (“Kit”) MaxwellSamuel and M. Patricia Grober CuratorThe 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.&nbsp; 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.”

Anticipating a Season of Art: Five to Talk to – Christopher (“Kit”) Maxwell

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758732840/rddftzys8pb0myroxu36.jpg">Tony Fitzpatrick Artist, actor, writer Tony Fitzpatrick has a new book out soon, The Sun at the End of the Road: Dispatches from an American Life, with an opening celebration at Great Lakes Tattoo in the West Loop on October 4. Fitzpatrick sports many tattoos himself, several of which are his own designs. In addition to being a sought-after space to get inked, Great Lakes Tattoo is also home to the Great Lakes Tattoo Gallery, a dedicated art space. Fitzpatrick shared with CGN an excerpt from the forthcoming book, which can be purchased from Eckhartz Press <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://eckhartzpress.com/shop/the-sun-at-the-end-of-the-road-dispatches-from-an-american-life/" target="_blank">here</a>. – GV <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758732841/lxqumybniargm0e09f4a.jpg"> <h3>THE MYSTERY OF COCK ROBIN (1969)</h3> More and more, an Albert Camus quote—about artists taking a long, arduous journey to rediscover the images which first opened their heart—feels true to me. As a kid, I loved signs, and Chicago was full of them. I memorized signs in Villa Park and Lombard as a way of navigating, and I especially loved the Cock Robin one because of the rainbow cones you could get there: three neon-bright, square scoops of sherbet. I also loved their burgers, which is not to say they were good. They weren’t. They were buffalo pucks but, as a kid, I ate all manner of garbage—happily—and I never stopped loving these. As a teen, Cock Robin was a safe place to hang out. The management didn’t seem to mind, as long as you consumed your share of Silver Dollar shakes and burgers. It was on Main Street, a draw for every kind of kid: greasers, potheads, jocks and oddballs like me were welcome. Kids from different cliques got to know each other and flirt with one another. I came to realize greaser girls were hot, but you ran the risk of getting your ass kicked for chatting them up. I’ll never forget the place. It is locked forever in the amber of my memory. Especially that sign—with its jauntily dressed robin, complete with top hat. I almost got a tattoo of it. Hell, I still might. Me and my delinquent friends took delight in informing the nuns we were going to “CA-a-a-h-h-C-K Robin.” They were a humorless lot of Felicians—mostly Polish, mostly from the old country. Sister Asunta was a straight-up psychopath. She would beat the snot out of you with beads, fists and the knotted rope she wore around her habit, signifying she was, in fact, a Bride of Christ. No wonder Jesus died a virgin. The nuns suspected we were saying something dirty but couldn’t really prove it. Knowing us though? They guessed it was unsavory and sinful, which is what we intended. I can tell what kind of neighborhood I’m in—anywhere in the world—just by their signs. The drive on Los Angeles’ Sunset Blvd from the Pacific to downtown LA takes you through every American circumstance and appetite, from penthouse to outhouse and back again. One minute, you’re driving through tony Bel-Air, and soon you’re among the walking wounded of East LA. The drive is amazing at night, when Los Angeles looks like a fleet, dark, sleek animal decked out in lights. I get what people love about it; on that majestic ride, everything looks possible. There are no Cock Robin burger joints in LA; they have Rick’s Drive In &amp; Out—way better food, with an iconic sign of its own. People who have had near-death experiences say, “Your life flashes before your eyes,” or some such jive. Maybe they’re not all the way wrong; I experienced something like it during my heart surgery. I found myself revisiting familiar places, situations and circumstances. Like déjà vu, but with greater resonance: the images that had first opened my heart. I saw the Cock Robin sign, and their rainbow sherbet cone from forty years ago; I saw the side of our ranch house from my childhood, where my mother grew lily of the valley and my sister kept rabbits. They felt like missives from a childhood, waving goodbye. # <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758732842/pmzskogvpovm3ecjmo4w.jpg">

Stories from Memory: Tony Fitzpatrick Shares Tales and Art

<h3>At its heart CGN is a unique resource devoted to&nbsp;exploring and supporting the contemporary art market by listening to collectors and gallerists, promoting living artists and by educating new and future collectors.&nbsp;</h3><h3> </h3><h3>One of the ways we keep this exploration interesting is to regularly examine the various art collections in our midst. No collection is the same and each is as unique as its steward. CGN has conducted dozens of interviews over the years with collectors who have generously shared their stories, homes and treasured pieces with us.&nbsp;Collecting art is fulfilling pursuit, but there are bound to be delightful moments as well as inevitable challenges. We asked a handful of collectors to share their own stories or lessons learned, as well as some insight into what has kept them going and what may inspire the next generation of collectors who are so important to the future of the art market and today’s working artists. Keep up with CGN to read more collector stories and interviews.</h3><h3> </h3><h3>– CGN</h3><h3> </h3><h3>To purchase a copy of the fall print edition&nbsp;<a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://835ba3.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">click here.</a></h3> <h3><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758596298/scncoinyqcdtooilmge3.jpg"></h3>The painting that didn’t get away: Eric White, Orgonomic Functionalism Conference, 1973 “We have a ‘one that got away plus a silver lining’ story about collecting.&nbsp; A few years ago, we had been eyeing a striking painting by an artist we’d been following. We showed it to a friend of ours—a seasoned gallerist and art consultant—just as we were getting serious about acquiring it. Unfortunately, that turned out to be a tactical error. Before we could make a move, a client of hers swooped in and bought the piece. We were crushed, and more than a little annoyed with ourselves for hesitating. But as luck would have it, that loss led us to one of our favorite acquisitions. With our ‘art funds’ still intact, we inquired about available work by another artist we admired. To our surprise, a painting recently returned to the gallery had just become available–Eric White’s Orgonomic Functionalism Conference, 1973. It had been purchased by Courtney Cox and David Arquette but didn’t work in the space they’d planned. We loved it and snapped it up. In the end, missing out on the first piece turned out to be a blessing—because we ended up with something we love even more.&nbsp;After we bought the painting we learned that director Wes Anderson had also tried to buy it but missed out. So now every time we watch a Wes Anderson movie we say something along the lines of, ‘Your loss, Wes Anderson!’” # <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758596300/j7uwjxkmu9lpio7hvqiw.jpg">The collectors and the artist, in front of the painting. On left: Brian; center: Eric White; right: Michael.

CGN Collecting Stories: Brian Westphal and Michael McVickar

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758641325/fwuubknwcsk7r7um1yhp.jpg"> By GINNY VAN ALYEA Chicago’s own Vertical Gallery is setting off on an exciting new path. Though gallery owner Patrick Hull's decision means he is leaving the West Town space after the current show closes, he emphasizes that he is also adapting to the current art market to meet collectors where they are. And he's also not done with Chicago. Ultimately, after more than a decade of shaping the city’s urban-contemporary art scene, owner and curator Hull is leaving his physical space in order to expand his gallery’s reach to collectors around the globe. Vertical’s current group show, The Scenic Route—on view through September 27—will be the final exhibition in its West Town space. From here, the gallery will focus on art fairs, pop-ups, and destination events across the U.S. and abroad. The new approach begins this winter at Aqua Art Miami (December 3–7) and builds on Vertical’s successful presentations in Paris and New York. Chicago will remain part of the journey. In March 2026, Vertical will celebrate its 13-year anniversary in partnership with Jackson Junge Gallery, and in July the gallery will present acclaimed Dutch painter Collin van der Sluijs in collaboration with Joy Machine Gallery. Additional exhibitions are planned. As Patrick Hull describes it, “Vertical 3.0 brings our artists and our aesthetic to the world at large, and better serves the needs of a global collector audience demanding new, more interactive experiences.” Though the format is evolving, the gallery’s mission is unwavering: showing the best in contemporary art and giving artists fresh ways to connect with collectors.It’s a bold new chapter for Vertical—one that keeps Chicago close to its heart while embracing a worldwide audience. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://verticalgallery.com/" target="_blank">verticalgallery.com</a> Read CGN's spring 2020 interview with Hull <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/articles/vertical-gallery-s-digital-embrace-how-patrick-hull-sees-art-online-long-term" target="_blank">here</a>.

Patrick Hull Announces He's Leaving West Town Location and taking Vertical Gallery Virtual 

Vertical Gallery Prepares to Take Its Vision Worldwide

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758643728/epe3m8vsraiancxt3ew7.jpg">Ching Wei-Wang, performance documentation of&nbsp;Maintain Status Quo Indefinitely, 2024 Via PR CHICAGO&nbsp;–&nbsp;Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College Chicago (MoCP) announces the 2025 Snider Prize award recipient and honorable mentions. This year, the Snider Prize has been awarded to Ching-Wei Wang with honorable mentions awarded to Annelise Duque and Selena Kearney. The Snider Prize is a purchase award given to emerging artists in their final year of graduate study. The winner receives $3,000, and two honorable mentions each receive $500 towards the purchase of work to be added to MoCP’s permanent collection. Ching-Wei Wang (Way)&nbsp;holds a BA in Foreign Languages and Literatures from National Taiwan University (2021) and an MFA in Photography from Parsons School of Design (2024). Her work in performance and photography explores Taiwan’s political histories and what she calls “the layered identities shaped by colonial histories, geopolitical tension, and ideological frameworks.” Way has a background in writing and dance, which is evident in her use of text and the movement of the body. <h3>Snider Prize Honorable Mention: Annelise Duque</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758643729/qiyjxcih2gpnameyfcyc.jpg">Annelise Duque,&nbsp;After Image, 2024 Annelise Duque&nbsp;earned her MFA from Ohio State University. Working across photography, performance, video, and collage, she examines issues of time and memory, particularly in relation to her Filipino heritage and ancestry. In her own words, she “is forever entranced by the camera’s ability to reveal both truth and lies, currently using the photograph as a method of time-travel.”&nbsp; <h3>Snider Prize Honorable Mention: Selena Kearney</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758643729/lboo1jbaujjitl9utolo.jpg"> Selena Kearney,&nbsp;Suspended Dust 1, from the series&nbsp;Shadowy Evidence,&nbsp;2025 Selena Kearney&nbsp;holds an MFA in Photography from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, a Bachelor of Liberal Arts from Evergreen State College, and a Certificate of Fine Art Photography from the Photographic Center Northwest. A member of the Coast Salish tribe, Kearney’s practice is deeply rooted in her heritage. Her work, as she describes, “centers Indigenous presence, cultural continuity, and visual sovereignty.” Working across disciplines including drawing, photography, and performance, she investigates colonial US histories while honoring and elevating the stories of the people who lived before her.&nbsp;About the Snider Prize Award <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758643730/itgeiumhjdxr19u4bq9d.jpg">Lawrence K. and Maxine Snider, MoCP DARKROOM, 2022 Through the generosity of Lawrence K. and Maxine Snider, the Snider Prize was established as a prestigious endowed purchase award supporting emerging artists completing their graduate studies. Since its inception in 2013, the prize has recognized twelve artists and awarded twenty-four honorable mentions, integrating their works into the museum’s permanent collection. This initiative reflects MoCP’s enduring commitment to nurturing new talent and advancing the field of contemporary photography. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.mocp.org/about-museum-of-contemporary-photography/opportunities/the-snider-prize/?mc_cid=1ea25cf0f2&amp;mc_eid=58cea278c7" target="_blank">Learn more about the Snider Prize Award</a> #

Museum of Contemporary Photography (MoCP) announces 2025 Snider Prize

<h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/art-world-figures-remember-late-patron-agnes-gund-a-legend-and-icon-1234752937/" target="_blank">Art World Figures Remember Late Patron Agnes Gund: ‘A Legend and Icon’</a></h3> Anges Gund, an avid art collector and patron of towering importance to New York’s Museum of Modern Art,&nbsp;died&nbsp;Thursday in Manhattan. She was 87.&nbsp;The&nbsp;New York Times&nbsp;reported her death on Friday, but did not provide a cause. Following the announcement of Gund’s death, artists and cultural workers took to social media to honor her memory. “My heart just broke. Rest in peace dear Aggie. They broke the mold with you,” Roxana Marcoci, chief curator of photography at MoMA,&nbsp;wrote&nbsp;alongside a photograph of Gund at the opening of “LaToya Ruby Frazier: Monuments of Solidarity” with Frazier, playwright Lynn Nottage, and labor leader and feminist activist Dolores Huerta. Via ARTnews Image: Roxana Marcoci, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Agnes Gund, and Dolores Huerta attend MoMA's "LaToya Ruby Frazier: Monuments of Solidarity" at the Museum of Modern Art in 2024.Photo Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Museum of Modern Art <h3> </h3><h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://ocula.com/magazine/opinions/new-york-is-not-america-art-market/?b&amp;utm_source=email&amp;utm_medium=campaign&amp;utm_campaign=Thoughts%20on%20New%20York%20City%E2%80%99s%20Art%20Market%20%7C%20Seoul%20Rising&amp;utm_id=01K46FJE1QF4K6279R496YWHTZ&amp;_kx=ZldUrTFpbbbbjP8cT8DPQkm5mmpFOFdvvxIu2Lk_R3d5sIZ_MXgxAK72-q01k5UW.T28mdB" target="_blank">New York Is Not America: Thoughts on the City’s Art Market</a></h3> The collector scene in many parts of the United States is struggling with economic uncertainty, while dwindling attendance and layoffs have been seen at institutions like SFMOMA and the Art Institute of Chicago. Then there’s the rising political hostility which has buffeted the museum sector with funding cuts and censorship pressures in states such as Florida and Texas. But, through all of that, New York continues to be bolstered by a unique blend of global collectors, institutional heft and financial gravity. As a result, the city continues to behave like an outlier. Via Ocula <h3> </h3><h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/arts/design/new-york-art-80s-levy-gorvy-dayan.html" target="_blank">New York’s Art Stars of the ’80s, Curated by One of Their Own</a></h3> In “Downtown 81,” Edo Bertoglio and Glenn O’Brien’s no-budget New York film made in the early 1980s, a teenage Jean-Michel Basquiat roams a desolate Lower Manhattan, hauling a painting he’s trying to sell to make rent. “There was a diamond-brick road there and I could see it,” Basquiat’s only-lightly fictionalized character says with uncanny prescience. “I was off to be the wizard.” This is the moment of creative florescence that the uptown gallery Lévy Gorvy Dayan revisits with its exhibition,&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(50, 104, 145);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.levygorvydayan.com/exhibitions/downtown-uptown" target="_blank">“Downtown/Uptown: New York in the Eighties,”</a>&nbsp;a blockbuster opening Thursday that surveys the decade’s art stars: Basquiat and Keith Haring, Julian Schnabel and David Salle, Cindy Sherman and Jeff Koons, among others.&nbsp; Via NYT <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/museums-politics-2679093" target="_blank">Is This the Breaking Point for Museums?</a></h3> It would be hard to exaggerate the seismic shift museums across the West are facing. As governments slash funding and threaten further cutbacks in public support,&nbsp;<a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(31, 31, 31);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/museums-sustain-unprecedented-assault-trump-first-100-days-2635944" target="_blank">American museums</a>, long facing dwindling backing from central bodies like the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), have typically looked to corporations, individual donors, private foundations, and earned income to prop up their budgets. British and especially German museums have long been able to rely on public largesse to a greater degree, but now even they, and museums in other European countries, are facing politicians who say they cannot justify cultural funding in times of strained budgets. Via Artnet

What We're Reading: 9/22/25

CGN interview with Chicago art collectors Melissa Weber and Jay Dandy

Dedicated to Collecting: Melissa Weber and Jay Dandy

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758343910/makvftgw1lltogyaz3jt.jpg">Theaster Gates. Concrete slabs from Lorado Taft Midway Studios as installed at Listening House. Photo: Sara Pooley By ALISON REILLY Theaster Gates: Unto Thee opens September 23 at the Smart Museum of Art, marking the artist’s first solo exhibition at a museum in Chicago. This overdue presentation of his work will feature installations of materials that Gates acquired through two decades of involvement with the University of Chicago, first as a staff member and then as faculty. The materials include the Department of Art History’s glass lantern slide collection, concrete floors salvaged from the Department of Visual Arts’ Midway Studios, slate from Rockefeller Chapel, and hand-carved wooden pews from Bond Chapel.&nbsp; “Unto Thee,” Gates explains, “offers a reckoning with the ways in which true collaboration between the ‘local’ and the ‘institutional’ could result in deep transformation of both. Unto Thee allows me to return every material artifact given to me by the University in a new state of recognition by a larger, cultural context outside of the institution and the city of Chicago, thereby redeeming these discarded materials beyond their state of inheritance.” A series of public programs, tours, and film screenings at the university and Gates’s cultural centers will accompany the exhibition, including an opening celebration from October 4-5, 2025. Gates will participate in a panel off campus, followed by a performance at Bond Chapel by The Black Monks, Gates’s music project that merges Black musical traditions and Eastern monastic practice.&nbsp; Galina Mardilovich, curator at the Smart Museum, said, “The Black Monks are really one facet of Theaster’s practice that we’re so excited to feature. They originally formed as a response to an invitation by Charles Esche to respond to the Smart’s exhibition, Heartland, which connected Chicago-based- musicians with musicians in the Netherlands around the topic “music of the Mississippi.” It’ll be interesting to bring them back here, bring them back home, so to speak.”&nbsp; <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758343912/jfwwjwn4jniflarvijrw.jpg">Glass lantern slides from the University of Chicago’s Department of Art History, now in the care of Theaster Gates. Courtesy of the Rebuild Foundation. &nbsp;For Gates, collecting these pieces of the university’s history is not transactional. He said, “My access to the glass lantern slides depended completely upon my relationship with the facilities team at the University of Chicago. The vitrines from the Oriental Institute arrived at my step, because people were willing to build a bridge from their institution to an art studio. These objects represent stories, relationships, trust, and goodwill.” The concrete floors from Midway Studios, which are covered in layers of paint, showcase over a hundred years of artistic history. They tell the story of the early twentieth-century sculptor Loredo Taft, who moved his studio from downtown Chicago to the Midway Plaisance. Eventually, as Mardilovich explained, “It became a de facto art space, a studio space for faculty at the University of Chicago before there was an official space for them. Taft created this really interesting community of artists and is credited for supporting women sculptors. He was elevating unconventional and untraditional art makers at the time and supporting them as well as giving them space to create.” In the early 2010s, when the Logan Center for the Arts was being built, there was demand at the university to renovate Midway Studios. Gates, who was instrumental in the creation of the center, received parts of the studios’ concrete floors that were given away. At some point, he also collected surplus granite from the Logan Center construction site. Vanja Malloy, Dana Feitler Director of the Smart Museum and co-curator of the exhibition, said, “I think that it’s beautiful–the juxtaposition of the granite for a new chapter of the arts at the university that Theaster helped found, with the concrete, the foundational beginnings.” Gates’s art practice focuses on recontextualizing these architectural elements as sculptures and deriving meaning from the new relationships they create. “These objects are redeemed, and their redemption value is a demonstration of the work that I was invested in outside of the University,” Gates said. “I was trying to amplify the materials that sat in front of me. The amplification was not for my glory; it was simply to demonstrate that everyday things, even when unruly, excessive, inconvenient and without practical use, can be reimagined as intelligible, substantial, and absolutely necessary.” <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758343913/eh8yregpfttpctrtglix.jpg">Theaster Gates. Granite from the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts as installed at Listening House. Photo: Sara Pooley Along with the exhibition, Gates will be teaching a class called Unto Thee, giving students an opportunity to learn more about the material history of the university and its broader context on the South Side. “From what I’ve observed, Theaster is a beloved colleague to many but also a really inspirational professor,” Malloy said. “He’s really excited about sharing his knowledge and fostering the next generation.” The Smart Museum also commissioned Gates to create a new work, which will be on display in the museum’s lobby as part of their Threshold series until July 2026. The installation will feature an expansive shelving system showcasing a collection of African masks that Gates recently acquired and conserved, along with his personal record collection. Music will be playing in the lobby, and the museum will invite DJs to activate the space. While plans have not been confirmed, Malloy and Mardilovich are discussing community workshops focused on archiving and collection practices.&nbsp; <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758343913/nqyvkjcyxodfbypvbkxd.jpg">Glass lantern slide from the University of Chicago’s Department of Art History,&nbsp;now in the care of Theaster Gates. Courtesy of the Rebuild Foundation. Unto Thee provides an opportunity to celebrate the richness of Gates’s generative art practice over the past 20 years and the connections that he has cultivated along the way. “The exhibition demonstrates something evident in the first book of the New Testament, Matthew 25:14-30, the Parable of Talents,” Gates explained. “The ambition that I had at the University of Chicago was to find ways to use its resources and multiply those resources for the impact of the community that I lived in. In addition, I use these materials, transfiguring them from waste products to culturally productive works of art, with the intention of amplifying the University’s deep belief in the arts. In a moment when that belief seems in peril, this exhibition seems even more timely. It is a reminder that art is not a waste, and great art requires great administration, aesthetic execution, and an unwavering belief in artists.” Theaster Gates: Unto Thee is on view at the Smart Museum of Art&nbsp;at the University of Chicago&nbsp;September 23, 2025–February 22, 2026<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://smartmuseum.uchicago.edu/" target="_blank">smartmuseum.uchicago.edu</a> #

Theaster Gates's first solo exhibition in his home town of Chicago takes place at the Smart Museum of Art

A Homecoming at the Smart Museum of Art: Theaster Gates

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758304689/lymltafc6dhgcru6jlst.jpg">2024 By CGN Staff This fall, downtown Chicago will light up as the 11th Annual Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade takes over State Street on Saturday, October 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. Presented by LUMA8 and the City of Chicago, the free, family-friendly parade features music, dance, giant puppets, glowing floats, and dazzling performances. A project first dreamed up and co-founded by one of the City's previous Commissioners of Cultural Affairs, Mark Kelly, along with Sharene Shariatzadeh, the annual art-themed gathering downtown has proved it has staying power. Named one of the world’s best Halloween celebrations by Wanderlust Magazine and highlighted in USA Today’s top 10 parades, Arts in the Dark draws over 100,000 spectators and celebrates Halloween as the artist’s holiday. <h2>A Cultural Mosaic on Parade</h2> More than 5,000 performers from 100+ cultural organizations will showcase Chicago’s artistic diversity with music, dance, and spectacle. New this year are Creative Guilds—groups of architects, photographers, audio makers, writers, and other artists collaborating on imaginative displays such as a 50-foot cosmic serpent, 40-foot glow worm, and 16 towering skeletons. While inspired by Halloween, groups are encouraged to present their own identity and art form. Expect vibrant representations of Black, Mexican, Irish, Colombian, Brazilian, South Asian, Korean, Puerto Rican, Caribbean, Peruvian, and LGBTQ+ cultures, alongside dance companies, music groups, drag performers, circus artists, and more. <h2>Honoring Chicago’s Creative Spirits</h2> The parade will again recognize Creative Spirits, local cultural leaders including Tara Mallen (actor/director), Terry Hunter (Grammy-nominated DJ), Wilfredo Rivera (choreographer), Joe Cerqua (composer), Jimalita Tillman (theater producer), Eugene Bush (film producer), and rising street artist Clue. “Chicago is a hothouse of cultural ferment, and this parade will capture that creative spirit in a magical evening procession,” said Kelly, parade co-founder and artistic director. <h2>Join the Fun: DIY Costume Contest</h2> A new Haunted Runway Costume Contest, presented by Goodwill Greater Milwaukee &amp; Chicago, invites parade-goers to design their own look. Submit a photo by October 8 at <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://bit.ly/TheHauntedRunway" target="_blank">bit.ly/TheHauntedRunway</a> for a chance to win Goodwill gift cards and VIP seating for next year’s parade. Finalists will strut their creations during the event as the crowd votes for a grand prize winner. <h2>Event Details</h2><ul><li>When: Saturday, October 18, 2025, 6–8 p.m.</li><li>Where: State Street, starting at Randolph Street</li><li>Cost: Free</li></ul> Arts in the Dark is produced by LUMA8 and the City of Chicago with major support from Chicago Loop Alliance and Goodwill Greater Milwaukee &amp; Chicago, and is part of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Fall Fest 2025. For full details, visit <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artsinthedark.org/" target="_blank">artsinthedark.org</a> or <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.luma8.org/" target="_blank">luma8.org</a>

Chicago’s Arts in the Dark Parade Returns for Its 11th Year of Halloween Magic

<h1><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758310450/pkuoq5olm6pn82svtazn.jpg"></h1><h1> </h1><h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/allison-reimus-repetition-with-variety" target="_blank">Allison Reimus: Repetition with Variety</a></h1> Sep 19, 2025 - Oct 18, 2025Opening: Friday, Sep 19, 2025 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/65grand" target="_blank">65GRAND</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758310451/wost6fv29zzqh3zx56bx.jpg"> <h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/jacqueline-surdell-the-conversion-rings-rapture-and-the-forest-archive" target="_blank">Jacqueline Surdell: The Conversion: Rings, Rapture and the Forest Archive</a></h1>and<h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/natura-non-constristatur" target="_blank">Natura Non Constristatur</a></h1> Sep 19, 2025 - Nov 15, 2025Opening: Friday, Sep 19, 2025 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/secrist-beach" target="_blank">Secrist | Beach</a> Jacqueline Surdell is CGN's fall issue cover artist. Read the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/articles/jacqueline-surdell-an-artists-voice-helps-scale-her-art" target="_blank">full interview</a> with her here, and look for the print issue around galleries this weekend! <h1><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758310452/mcvan7u2iegu1e2gqqxm.jpg"></h1> <h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/weriem-lesprit-de-pierrot" target="_blank">WERIEM: L’esprit de Pierrot</a></h1> Sep 19, 2025 - Nov 22, 2025Opening: Friday, Sep 19, 2025 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/epiphany-center-for-the-arts" target="_blank">Epiphany Center for the Arts</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758310454/p2au9taqzzmla5989hqf.png"> <h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/victoria-martinez-frente-a-la-vida-facing-life-exhibition-opening" target="_blank">Victoria Martinez: Frente a la vida / Facing Life</a></h1> Saturday, Sep 20, 2025 12:00 AM – 12:00 AMOpening: Saturday, Sep 20, 2025 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/poetry-foundation" target="_blank">Poetry Foundation</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758310455/uynekupw0iomhkqoexjr.jpg"> <h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/luke-agada-to-translate-is-to-move-across" target="_blank">Luke Agada: To Translate is to Move Across</a></h1> Sep 20, 2025 - Nov 1, 2025Opening: Saturday, Sep 20, 2025 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/moniquemeloche" target="_blank">moniquemeloche</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758310456/juqoax6jdocnyseghmto.jpg"> <h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/closing-reception-for-alex-katz-white-lotus" target="_blank">Closing Reception for Alex Katz: White Lotus</a></h1> Saturday, Sep 20, 2025 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/gray" target="_blank">GRAY</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758310457/yovhydkgnimqbyavhbhr.jpg"> <h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/mac-pierce-artist-talk" target="_blank">Mac Pierce Artist Talk</a></h1> Saturday, Sep 20, 2025 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Read CGN's feature about Pierce's show <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/articles/deathmatch-by-mac-pierce-at-bert-green-an-intimate-artistic-exploration-of-war-and-games-both-real-and-pretend" target="_blank">here</a> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/bert-green-fine-art" target="_blank">Bert Green Fine Art</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758310459/jjernc6ccjkwjt6qfnuj.jpg"> <h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/collin-moodyvom-boden-wine-tasting" target="_blank">Collin Moody/vom Boden Wine Tasting</a></h1> Saturday, Sep 20, 2025 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/corbett-vs-dempsey" target="_blank">Corbett vs. Dempsey</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758310460/zqsry34slotwblzb0m5q.jpg"> <h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/black-women-and-clay" target="_blank">Black Women and Clay</a></h1> Sep 20, 2025 - Nov 16, 2025Opening: Saturday, Sep 20, 2025 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/ukrainian-institute-of-modern-art-uima" target="_blank">Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art (UIMA)</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758310461/wobls59qu0p3dnklfoiq.jpg"> <h1><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/special-mccormick-house-tour" target="_blank">Special McCormick House Tour</a></h1> Sunday, Sep 21, 2025 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/elmhurst-art-museum" target="_blank">Elmhurst Art Museum</a>

New Exhibitions and Events: September 19-20

<h3>Fall is always an incredibly busy&nbsp;season in Chicago’s art world, with new&nbsp;exhibitions opening across galleries and museums.&nbsp;Behind the scenes, many people in the community&nbsp;are working tirelessly to support artists and bring&nbsp;fresh perspectives to the public. We spoke&nbsp;with five insiders about what excites them now&nbsp;and what they anticipate next.</h3><h3> </h3><h3>To receive a copy of the print edition&nbsp;<a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://835ba3.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">click here.</a></h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758209053/xkywbulm2bzdup2eci7m.jpg">Photo by: Robert Chase Heishman “Autumn is my favorite season in the Midwest, offering a rich landscape of sensory experiences. This time helps me recharge my battery, which in turn enhances my work as an art consultant. Being in touch with all my senses allows me to better connect and speak about artwork with my clients. Personally, I’m looking forward to eating Kim’s Uncle Pizza, wearing Morel Map perfume by Chicago-based Clue, catching a live music performance at Fitzgerald’s in Berwyn, and sipping a coffee at the Art Institute’s member lounge.&nbsp; Of course, I’m also excited to see what the local galleries will be exhibiting and to travel to new cities, such as Brussels and Shanghai, on behalf of <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.degrootfineart.com/" target="_blank">DeGroot Fine Art</a>.”

Anticipating a Season of Art: Five to Talk to – Jaime DeGroot

<h4><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758136060/gy2fch8q5aw84uevxpac.jpg"></h4>Henri Matisse,&nbsp;Léda et le cygne&nbsp;(1944-46). Courtesy Sotheby’s. <h4> </h4><h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://news.artnet.com/market/pritzker-collection-sothebys-2688225" target="_blank">$120 Million Pritzker Collection Goes to Sotheby’s in New York</a></h4> A collection of works by some of the key artists of the 19th and 20th centuries, from the holdings of major Chicago collectors Jay and Cindy Pritzker, will be among the artworks included at Sotheby’s inaugural marquee Impressionist and Modern sale at its new Madison Avenue home this November. Via Artnet <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/09/17/meet-the-former-auction-heavyweights-remodelling-the-art-market-as-advisers" target="_blank">Leaner, nimbler and more discreet: why some art advisory firms are growing in a downturn</a></h4> While the major auction houses have shed staff amid a bearish market since the pandemic, a gaggle of “super advisories” has been born, some founded by former top-level auction rainmakers with decades of experience and bulging address books.Without the vast overheads of auction houses and galleries, the leaner, nimbler, more discreet advisory model chimes with a cautious market. “Many of us advisors have thought, what about a Super Advisory firm: taking five specialists from different departments in the auction houses and putting them to work without the overheads,” says Josh Baer, author of the Baer Faxt trade newsletter and himself an art adviser. “The biggest cost for an art adviser is travel and you can easily stop that. It just makes sense that they could be more efficient and competitive.” Via The Art Newspaper <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/lost-jesus-painting-peter-paul-rubens-paris-mansion-osenat-1234751588/" target="_blank">Long-Lost Painting By Rubens From 1613 Found in Paris Mansion by French Auctioneer</a></h4> A long-lost, dramatic painting of&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 75, 39);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artnews.com/t/jesus-christ/" target="_blank">Jesus Christ</a>‘s crucifixion by 17th century Flemish master painter&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 75, 39);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artnews.com/t/peter-paul-rubens/" target="_blank">Peter Paul Rubens</a>&nbsp;was found in a mansion in Paris, and will be auctioned this fall.Christ on the cross&nbsp;(1613) was discovered by French auctioneer Jean-Pierre&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 75, 39);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artnews.com/t/osenat/" target="_blank">Osenat</a>&nbsp;last September, while preparing to selling the private residence in the city’s 6th district, according to&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 75, 39);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250910-400-year-old-rubens-found-in-paris-mansion" target="_blank">AFP, which first reported the news.</a>Osenat said the large Baroque painting measuring 42 by 29 inches was “a true profession of faith and a favourite subject for Rubens, a protestant who converted to Catholicism”. Via ARTnews <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/arts/design/jeffrey-gibson-sculptures-met-museum.html" target="_blank">In Jeffrey Gibson’s Sculptures, Child’s Play and Indigenous Truths</a></h4> Public sculpture has been under fire in recent years, from the politics of portraiture to a wild hypothesis that a man is living inside&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(50, 104, 145);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/is-a-man-trapped-in-anish-kapoors-bean-2676618" target="_blank">Anish Kapoor’s “Cloud Gate” (2006)</a>&nbsp;— nicknamed “The Bean” — in Chicago. One genre that seems to have navigated the culture and conspiracy wars without much tumult is sculpture popular with children. The beloved José de Creeft’s “<a style="color: rgb(50, 104, 145);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.centralparknyc.org/locations/alice-in-wonderland" target="_blank">Alice in Wonderland</a>” (1959) in Central Park remains an all-ages favorite, while Greg Wyatt’s “<a style="color: rgb(50, 104, 145);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gregwyattsculpture.com/bronze/peace-fountain" target="_blank">Peace Fountain</a>” (1985) at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, with its cavalcade of mythical creatures, has become a more recent classic. I thought of these when I saw Jeffrey Gibson’s new sculptures on the Fifth Avenue facade of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.&nbsp; Via NYT

What We're Reading: 9/17/25

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1757909348/lm14bldxcjo9h69iye0i.jpg"> By CGN Staff Chicago is about to welcome a bold, citywide celebration of design and ideas. On September 19, the Chicago Architecture Biennial (CAB) launches SHIFT: Architecture in Times of Radical Change, bringing together architects, artists, designers, and thinkers to explore how architecture can respond to—and inspire—transformative change. This fifth edition of the Biennial isn’t just one exhibition. It’s a multi-site, months-long festival that runs through February 28, 2026, weaving conversations and installations across Chicago’s neighborhoods and cultural landmarks. <h2>A Citywide Collaboration</h2> SHIFT is powered by a remarkable network of over 60 partners—from major museums and cultural institutions to innovative architecture firms and community organizations. These collaborations extend CAB’s reach and deepen its impact, turning the Biennial into a true celebration of Chicago’s creative and civic spirit. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1757909349/y5zxt6wq9ppkfrovuswt.jpg">Thaden School, Architects: Marlon Blackwell Associates &amp; EskewDumezRipple. Photo: Timothy Hursley. <h2>Highlights of Opening Weekend</h2> The Biennial kicks off with a lively, not-to-miss opening weekend full of exhibitions, panels, tours, and performances. Here’s a taste of what’s planned:<ul><li>Exhibition Tours at the Chicago Cultural Center. Start with a guided tour of the Center’s exhibition spaces led by SHIFT Artistic Director Florencia Rodriguez.</li><li>Designer Sean Canty’s Immersive Installation. A space that doubles as a venue for discussions on publishing’s role in architecture and the nightclub as a lens for understanding collective life.</li><li>Self-Guided Citywide Tour. Visit key SHIFT sites:</li><li class="ql-indent-1">Graham Foundation for Fragmented Manifestos</li><li class="ql-indent-1">Griffin Museum of Science and Industry for TRACES</li><li class="ql-indent-1">Stony Island Arts Bank for the lively LOUDREADERS performance.</li></ul> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1757909350/uutrrjhlqi1gw9f2blw5.jpg">TAKK (Mireia Luzárraga and Alejandro Muiño), “Fellaria’s Time Capsule” <h2>Spotlight on Program Partners</h2> Several partner institutions are presenting major exhibitions and conversations:<ul><li>Chicago Architecture Center (CAC). Hosting The Prize is the Beginning: Illuminating Architectural Excellence Through the Americas Prize (through October) and the September 18 panel New Architecture in a New World, which looks at architecture’s role in shaping change.</li><li>National Public Housing Museum. Showcasing Living in the Shade: Open Space and Public Housing, exploring the history and future of public housing.</li></ul> More special events include In the Making: A Public Art Journey at The Arts Lawn (September 19), Eyes on the Future at Studio Gang (September 19), and Myth of the Organic City at 6018North (September 19–21), among many others. <h2>Plan Your Visit</h2> The Biennial’s core exhibitions will unfold across several key venues:<ul><li>Chicago Cultural Center</li><li>Graham Foundation</li><li>Stony Island Arts Bank</li><li>Griffin Museum of Science and Industry</li></ul> And starting in November, a new exhibition site will open with more than 25 large-scale projects that further expand the conversation. <h2>Free and Open to All</h2> True to its mission, the Chicago Architecture Biennial remains free and open to everyone. Follow along on Instagram <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.instagram.com/chicagoarchitecturebiennial" target="_blank">@chicagoarchitecturebiennial</a> for behind-the-scenes previews, event updates, and stories from across the city. Whether you’re an architecture lover, an artist, or simply curious, SHIFT invites you to see Chicago—and the world—through a new lens. Full program details and itineraries are available on the Biennial’s <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org/" target="_blank">website</a>. Read CGN's interview with CAB Director Jennifer Armetta <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/articles/jennifer-armetta-championing-the-arts-one-project-at-a-time" target="_blank">here</a> from our fall 2025 magazine.

Opening Weekend for CAB6 – SHIFT: Architecture in Times of Radical Change

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758136685/ervdoypnekbu1emhoh27.jpg">A celebratory EarlyWork dinner kicks off the weekend. By GINNY VAN ALYEA The third annual Chicago Exhibition Weekend, hosted by Gertie and EarlyWork, features 50 participating galleries and creative spaces across the city September 19–21, 2025 spotlighting Chicago’s vibrant cultural landscape and artistic spirit. Last year’s edition attracted 5,000 attendees over three days.&nbsp; This year CXW25 expands its footprint with more galleries, demonstrating the vitality and diversity of the city’s growing commercial art scene. There are more partnerships in place, as well as a central hub space. At the heart of this year's event is a mission to take Chicago's reputation as the heart of "fly-over country" and bust it open, using art history as a means to show that Chicago is and has always been a vibrant, and most of all, significant player in the country's creative and cultural history. Part walk down memory lane, part super-party, and part civic flag-waving, CXW25 promises to be a busy, art-centered weekend that gathers more staying-power and vibrancy each year.&nbsp; September 18–21, 2025<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagoexhibitionweekend.com/" target="_blank">chicagoexhibitionweekend.com</a> * <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758136686/ox9qir3vkh4m6yf41c2n.jpg"> <h3>Special Exhibition</h3> Over My Head: Encounters with Conceptual Art in a Flyover City, 1984–2015, curated by Iris Colburn and Gareth Kaye, will revisit some key moments of Chicago’s own art history in order to put them back on the map. The exhibition, which will run for three weeks and be free and open to the public, explores key post-conceptual exhibitions staged by pioneering Chicago dealers such as Rhona Hoffman, Donald Young, Feature Inc., Feigen Inc., and Robbin Lockett. focusing on works that marked pivotal moments in an artist’s practice, reflected enduring dealer-artist relationships, or engage themes of temporality, transmission, and memory. Located at 400 N. Peoria Street, CXW’s hub site,&nbsp;Over My Head&nbsp;examines Chicago’s oft-forgotten position as a nerve center for post-conceptual art in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. The exhibition opens to the public on Friday, September 19, 2025 and is on view through October 11, 2025. <h3>CXW Hub and Opening Weekend</h3> 400 N. Peoria – CXW’s central hub – is set within a raw industrial site in Fulton Market. The site will host an exhibition as well as conversations produced in partnership with Independent Curators International (ICI), curator-led walk-throughs as well as programming in conjunction with the Chicago Art Book Fair. The space is intended to be a resource before and after visiting galleries, offering a look at history as well directions to participating local galleries. The exhibition’s opening weekend promises to be as layered as the art on the walls. Public hours run September 19 (12–8 pm), September 20 (10 am–6 pm), and September 21 (10 am–6 pm), followed by regular hours through October 11. A September 18 preview dinner—led by acclaimed chef Agustin Mallmann, traveling to Chicago just for the occasion—offers an intimate prelude and keeps up the weekend's super-party rep. Tickets are sold out. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758136688/xn20blwbkhbtavr7bqyx.jpg">Faheed Majeed and Monique Brinkman-Hill CXW is also launching a conversation series with Independent Curators International (ICI), curated by Scott Campbell, ICI’s Midwest Programs Manager. Two marquee talks bookend the weekend:<ul><li>Zoom Out: Sept 19, 6 pm: Faheem Majeed and Monique Brinkman-Hill reflect on the South Side Community Art Center’s historic and evolving role in supporting Black artists.</li><li>Zoom In: Sept 21, 3 pm: Hamza Walker and John Corbett revisit the friendships and cultural networks that helped shape Chicago’s conceptual art scene.</li></ul> Also don't miss: • Maintenance Works: Art, Labor, and Care, Saturday, September 20, 2-3pm at SECRIST | BEACH: 1801 West Hubbard Street Chicago, IL 60622 Artists Brendan Fernandes and Molly Gochman in conversation, moderated by Samara Furlong. Maintenance Works: Art, Labor, and Care&nbsp;will delve into caregiving, collective memory, and the role of art as an act of maintenance and connection. Together, Fernandes and Gochman will reflect on how performance, participation, and collaboration shape their practices—examining how undervalued gestures of care, cleaning, and tending become sites of dignity, connection, and transformation.<h3> </h3><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758136688/y5laohbnej9xhfiqelvc.jpg"> <h3>Books</h3> Adding another dimension, the Chicago Art Book Fair (CABF) will set up shop inside the hub. Known for championing independent publishers, zinemakers, and printmakers, CABF offers an international yet distinctly Chicago showcase of experimental printed matter—from zines and books to limited-edition prints. The partnership this year with CXW will raise the fair's profile and be sure to exchange audiences. <h3>A Biennial</h3> CXW also coincides with the opening of the 6th Chicago Architecture Biennial: SHIFT: Architecture in Times of Radical Change, which has a base at the Chicago Cultural Center but also offers programming city-wide out of a commitment to showcase the collective strength of&nbsp;over 60 citywide partners, fom museums and cultural institutions to architecture firms and government agencies. The Biennial officially opens to the public on&nbsp;September 19, 2025, with exhibitions at the&nbsp;Chicago Cultural Center,&nbsp;Graham Foundation,&nbsp;Stony Island Arts Bank, a site-specific installation on the grounds of the&nbsp;Griffin Museum of Science and Industry,&nbsp;and special performances throughout the day.&nbsp;In case opening weekend is busy enough, CAB is on view through February 2026. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1758136689/c0tomua110vphah8tbio.png">CXW's route curators <h3>The Invitation</h3> For CXW organizers and curators the hub is more than a venue. It’s a launch pad: a place to meet friends, soak up context, and set out to explore the city’s galleries and institutions during a weekend that celebrates the people and stories making Chicago’s art scene second to none –&nbsp;finally a destination in its own rite and not flyover on the way to somewhere else. There are also many opportunities to go into dozens of spaces and businesses that make Chicago what it is. Visitors will also have the option of choosing a curated route from one of Chicago’s cultural movers and shakers to help guide you to destinations around the city. Trust these route curators for their selections, from participating galleries and institutions to under-the-radar restaurants and shops. To view the full list of participating galleries and their own programs and exhibition openings, visit <a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagoexhibitionweekend.com/" target="_blank">chicagoexhibitionweekend.com</a>.

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