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The Alliance Française de Chicago offers a wide variety of events that reflect the richness and diversity of the Francophone world. As the Alliance Française de Chicago celebrates 130 years, we look back at more than a century of opening doors—to ideas, to cultures, to one another. For our 2026–2027 season, we turn our gaze outward once again, searching the four corners of the Francophone world to bring together a vibrant selection of voices, stories, traditions, and ideas. Across film and literature, music and the visual arts, gastronomy and movement, this season explores the many ways Francophone cultures continue to evolve, challenge, connect, and inspire. Note that our events location (unless specified) is 54 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60610

Alliance Française de Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago is one of the world’s largest, most comprehensive and most loved art museums. Home to the greatest Impressionist collection outside of Paris, the Art Institute also holds work by many of history’s greatest artists; highlights include Georges Seurat’s A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, Grant Wood’s American Gothic, Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks, Henri Matisse’s Bathers by a River, René Magritte’s Time Transfixed, Mary Cassatt’s The Child’s Bath, and many others. The Art Institute of Chicago also offers visitors a unique collection of works by celebrated artists from Chicago, such as Harry Callahan, H.C. Westermann, Ed Paschke, Jim Nutt, Roger Brown, Leon Golub, Julia Fish, and others. Highlighted Chicago architects include: Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Jeanne Gang, Dirk Lohan, Bertrand Goldberg, among others.Contemporary masterpieces are on view in the spectacular Modern Wing. Travel the globe through galleries devoted to the art of ancient Greece, Japan, Africa, and the Americas. View the much loved miniature Thorne Rooms, and more. Advance ticket purchase is required for the public. Members do not need tickets.&nbsp;Image: Francis Picabia, Edtaonisl (Ecclesiastic), 1913. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Armand Bartos. © 2020 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris&nbsp;

The Art Institute of Chicago

Artists in Public Schools creates artists residencies in CPS to provide expansive experiences for professional artists, school communities, and students. The Chicago Public School (CPS) system is the nation's fourth largest school district, serving over 325,000 students in 634 schools. Further, CPS predominantly serves students of color, with 70% of CPS students reported to come from low-income households. Research underscores that students from disinvested communities benefit significantly from arts programming, which fosters critical thinking, community building, and civic engagement (Source: NEA, Arts Education in America). Artist-founded in 2017, Artists in Public Schools (formerly CPS Lives) was created by photographer Suzette Bross to integrate artists and cultural producers into CPS through paid artist residencies. Artists in Public Schools offers these artist residencies to CPS at zero-to-low cost, ensuring accessible collaboration between the artists, the students, and the school community. Since its inception, Artists in Public Schools has transformed public school environments into vibrant hubs of creativity, cultivating opportunities for professional, working, and emerging artists to connect with CPS students and faculty to create meaningful art experiences. Over the course of an Artists in Public Schools artist residency, CPS students and faculty are connected with professional artists, encouraged to explore their own creativity, and collaborate on meaningful artwork. Working together, the unique stories of students and public schools are celebrated through art and creativity that can be widely celebrated throughout the city. Artists in Public Schools ultimately showcases these artworks – these stories – by exhibiting them at local community spaces, virtual and in-person gallery shows, and internationally renowned art fairs. Artists in Public Schools makes art a vital part of public schools. Each donation fuels collaborations that inspire students and elevate artists, bringing diverse voices to the forefront of Chicago’s cultural landscape. All donations, no matter the amount, are greatly appreciated and help our organization make a lasting impact on the lives of artists, CPS students and faculty, and their communities. Visit our website for exhibitions and events during the year.&nbsp; Image: Sage Lin 林書慈 - Haines Elementary School (CIS)

Artists in Public Schools

Since 1916, The Arts Club of Chicago has been a preeminent exhibitor of international art, a forum for established and emerging artists, and a celebrated venue for performers from around the world. For over 100 years, The Arts Club has opened its membership to artists and patrons of the arts, and its exhibitions to the public.&nbsp; Image: Haegue Yang, artist. Photo: Michael Tropea

The Arts Club of Chicago

F.L Braswell Fine Art is a private dealership focusing on modern and contemporary art by European and American artists. Based in Chicago, Illinois and founded in 2000, areas of specialty include original prints, works on paper and abstract art from the 1930s to present. We also provide consultative services to assist new and established collectors in the acquisition of artwork, framing and installation. Featuring works by: Pablo Picasso, Joan Mitchell, Ellsworth Kelly, Sam Francis, Georges Braque, Pat Steir, Richard Diebenkorn, Grace Hartigan, Jean Arp,&nbsp;Robert Mangold, Joan Miro, Henry Moore, Sonia Delaunay, Alex Katz We welcome clients in Chicago by appointment. Image: Sam Francis,&nbsp;“The Upper Yellow,” 1960,&nbsp;27.5 × 35 inches Member of the International Fine Prints and Drawings Association (IFPDA) <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1762908891/h3l7odymg49wxicn6z4s.png">

F.L. Braswell Fine Art

Established in 2020 by a collective of Native artists and writers who realized the need for proper representation, the Center for Native Futures (CfNF) has rapidly become an epicenter of community and creativity. The organization is entirely led and run by Indigenous artists based in Zhegagoynak (Chicago) and serves as a vital platform for marginalized Native artists. Our existence challenges the pervasive and inaccurate portrayals of Native people. By fostering Native artists of all backgrounds—including those with mixed identities whose perspectives are often overshadowed—we provide a powerful lens through which art can illuminate the past, enrich the present, and realize a thriving future. CfNF offers unparalleled opportunities and platforms designed to nurture and elevate Indigenous artists at every stage of their careers. Our Native artists experiment and expand their creative practices, while also connecting with broader audiences. At the heart of our philosophy is Indigenous Futurism, an artistic approach that expands possibilities and realities by imagining our lives beyond colonial limitations. We are dedicated to showcasing the futurity of Native people as living cultures by acknowledging and advancing contemporary Native fine arts and insisting on our inclusion in the city’s overarching narratives through exhibitions, residencies, and programming. Photos courtesy of Center for Native Futures ﻿<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1794419008/r2bijsqo7h7wx4txppke.jpg"> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1794419008/wltgzcqirazoj50zwl0g.jpg"> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1794419008/ej6cpkuklp9yhk15dgxd.jpg"> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1794419009/x2kjefrvphltr6rqp2jj.jpg">

Center for Native Futures

The Chicago Architecture Biennial convenes the world to explore innovative ideas and collectively imagine the future of design. The Biennial’s large-scale exhibitions, talks, performances, films, and other events, create opportunities to engage timely global issues through the lens of architecture and design, emphasizing creativity and community participation. Free and open to the public, the Chicago Architecture Biennial stands as North America’s largest international survey of contemporary architecture and design. * ﻿CAB 6: SHIFT: Architecture in Times of Radical Change The 6th edition runs September 19, 2025–Feb 28, 2026 <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org/" target="_blank">chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org</a> Image: Image:100 Links: Architecture and Land, in and out of the Americas, 2023,&nbsp;The Buell Center and AD—WO, Columbia University. Photo by Cory Dewald

Chicago Architecture Biennial

The CAC is a nonprofit cultural organization dedicated to inspiring people to participate in building vibrant communities. The Center’s riverfront location features nearly 10,000 square feet of exhibition space with views of a century of iconic skyscrapers. Permanent exhibitions include a city model experience, and two galleries of rotating exhibitions that highlight architectural creativity, innovation and the cultural significance of our built environment.

Chicago Architecture Center

The Chicago Cultural Center is a historic and architectural gem located in the heart of downtown Chicago. Originally built in 1897 as the city’s first public library, the Cultural Center is a stunning example of neoclassical architecture, featuring a grand marble staircase, magnificent Tiffany stained-glass dome, and ornate mosaics throughout the building.&nbsp; The Cultural Center is a vibrant hub of arts and culture, offering a wide range of free public programs, exhibitions, and events. Visitors can explore the building’s many galleries, performance spaces, and event rooms, which showcase a diverse array of visual art, music, dance, and theater. Whether you’re a local resident or a visitor to the city, the Cultural Center offers an enriching and inspiring experience that celebrates the power of art to unite and inspire. Image: the exterior of the Chicago Cultural Center as see from Michigan Ave.

Chicago Cultural Center

The Richard H. Driehaus Museum engages and inspires the global community through exploration and ongoing conversations in art, architecture, and design of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Its permanent collection and temporary exhibitions are presented in an immersive experience within the restored Samuel Mayo Nickerson Mansion, completed in 1883, at the height of the Gilded Age, and the 1926 Murphy Auditorium. The Museum’s collection reflects and is inspired by the collecting interests, vision, and focus of its founder, the late Richard H. Driehaus.&nbsp;The Museum is located just steps from the Magnificent Mile. The exquisite building was saved twice, first by a collective of over 100 Chicago citizens in 1919, and then by philanthropist Richard H. Driehaus, who sponsored its restoration from 2003-2008.&nbsp;More information is available at <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://driehausmuseum.org" target="_blank">driehausmuseum.org</a> Our new entrance:&nbsp;50 E. Erie, at the Murphy Auditorium The Museum offers both private and guided tours and has a downloadable&nbsp;app for a self-guided experience. Consult the website for more information&nbsp;Image: The Maher Gallery. Photo by Alexander Vertikoff, 2011

The Driehaus Museum

Intimate East Erie Gallery established in 2022, specializes in legacy art from local and regional, contemporary artists, in a variety of mediums (oils, acrylics, pastels, watercolor, graphite, clay, mixed media) and styles (abstract and representational paintings, drawings, collage and ceramics). NO AI (Artificial Ingredients or Intelligence!). Our desire is to connect patrons and art lovers with original work, to add too or start their own collection, within an in-person experience.&nbsp; We are located in the Streeterville neighborhood, steps away from Michigan Ave., and housed in the newly land-marked, Erie Street Row Building, built in 1877. Exhibitions and events throughout the year. Visit our website for details. Image: Gallery Front Room Entrance

East Erie Gallery

Under the vaulted architecture of Navy Pier's Festival Hall, the exposition&nbsp;will bring together global&nbsp;galleries and&nbsp;unrivaled programming, alongside&nbsp;unforgettable events&nbsp;throughout the city during EXPO ART WEEK. April in Chicago. Be Here.

EXPO CHICAGO

Bert Green Fine Art exhibits emerging, mid-career, queer and underrepresented artists. We present smart, challenging work and site-specific exhibitions, and publish original limited edition prints in various media.&nbsp; Email sign-up on our <a href="https://www.bgfa.us" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">website</a>. Image: BGFA is located in the Willoughby Building on Michigan Avenue; exterior view pictured above.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Bert Green Fine Art

The International Museum of Surgical Science (IMSS) is the only museum in North America devoted exclusively to the history of surgery, while also embracing contemporary art exhibitions that engage with medicine, the body, and related themes. The IMSS is a division of the International College of Surgeons, founded by Max Thorek in 1934. The museum is housed in a historic 1917 mansion originally designed by architect Howard Van Doren Shaw for socialite Eleanor Robinson Countiss. The design was inspired by the French Petit Trianon (at Versailles). The building features four floors of gallery space and remains a fine example of early-20th-century luxury residential architecture now adapted for museum use. The IMSS aims to enrich people’s lives by enhancing their appreciation and understanding of the history, development, and advances in surgery and related subjects in health and medicine. While its core is medical history and surgical science, the museum also explicitly supports contemporary art exhibitions that explore the body, medicine, diagnostics, technology, and how they intersect with culture.&nbsp; For more information visit&nbsp;<a href="http://imss.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">imss.org</a>. Image: Hall of Immortals, Michael Robinson Photography&nbsp;

International Museum of Surgical Science (IMSS)

Note: On&nbsp;Tuesday, September 22, 2026,&nbsp;the Italian Cultural Institute will open its doors to the public in its new space at 150 N Michigan Ave, Suite 1580, Chicago, IL 60601. The Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago is the cultural office of the Consulate General of Italy in Chicago. Founded in 1985, it is one of six cultural institutes of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in the United States.&nbsp; Located in the heart of Chicago along the iconic Magnificent Mile, the Institute is a vibrant center for Italian culture. It operates as a source of information on Italian life and culture and showcases Italy’s classical and contemporary heritage, with particular reference to art, music, cinema, design, architecture, literature, fashion, theatre, cuisine, science and technology. Image credit:&nbsp;Robert Chase Heishman

Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago

Founded by Dr. Sandra Hindman 30 years ago and with current galleries in Chicago and Paris, Les Enluminures is a premier dealer in manuscripts, miniatures, and historic rings and jewelry from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Les Enluminures has forged long-standing relationships with major museums and prestigious private collections throughout the world. The gallery exhibits at major art fairs. Sandra Hindman is responsible for numerous publications on medieval manuscript illumination and historic jewelry; her scholarship over many decades has established a model for study in this field, and descriptions of works available in the gallery meet the same level of professionalism. Located in major cities in the United States and abroad, her large team is composed of noted specialists.&nbsp; Les Enluminures’ two websites offer access to different gallery initiatives. A series of podcasts transform the past into the present. A YouTube channel hosts a wide range of videos. View nearly every work offered by Les Enluminures either in person at one of our locations or in our accessible videos. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: @LesEnluminures&nbsp; We welcome all inquiries from serious collectors, museums, and libraries, as well as from anyone who delights in experiencing and knowing about the European Middle Ages, at any level. Image by R. Hanel Photography

Les Enluminures

Located one block east of the historic Water Tower, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago has been at the forefront of showcasing new and experimental work since its inception in 1967. Be inspired by their ever-changing, provocative exhibits and programs; indulge in&nbsp;innovative cuisine crafted by one of the city’s foremost chefs at their restaurant, Marisol; and shop at one of the best gift stores in Chicago. Visit the MCA’s <a href="http://www.mcachicago.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">website</a> to plan your next visit. The MCA offers&nbsp;FREE admission for&nbsp;anyone under 18 all&nbsp;year long. Photo: T. McDonald&nbsp;Photography (@tmcd.chi)

Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA)

The Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College Chicago (MoCP) is the world’s premier college art museum dedicated to photography, with a permanent collection of over 18,000 works. As an international hub, MoCP generates ideas and provokes dialogue among students, artists, and diverse communities through groundbreaking exhibitions and programming. Founded by Columbia College Chicago in 1976 as an intimate and comprehensive visual study center for students, educators, and general audiences alike, MoCP presents public programs and exhibitions that foster a greater understanding of the artistic, cultural, and political implications of the image in our world today. MoCP continues to offer a stimulating and innovative forum for the collection, creation, and examination of contemporary images from diverse aesthetic traditions and technologies. Visit <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/mocp.org" target="_blank">mocp.org</a> for a list of upcoming exhibitions and events.&nbsp; Image courtesy of Museum of Contemporary Photography&nbsp;

Museum of Contemporary Photography (MoCP)

The Newberry Library is an independent research library located in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood that has been free and open to all since 1887. The Newberry fosters a deeper understanding of our world by inspiring research and learning in the humanities and encouraging conversations about ideas that matter to diverse audiences. Our mission is rooted in a growing and accessible collection of rare and historical materials that spans more than six centuries of human experience. Image: View of the Newberry Library. Credit: Anne Ryan

Newberry Library

Pistachios is a contemporary art jewelry and objects gallery in downtown Chicago, curating the most talented and cutting edge artists from around the world. What sets art jewelry apart is the studio practice and creative expression behind each piece. For 30 years, we’ve made it our promise to bring you the best in innovative design and quality craftsmanship. We take pride in the dedication of our small team, bringing you an art experience that’s inviting, accessible and friendly. Visit our website for our full artist list and exhibition calendar. Image: Gallery view

Pistachios Contemporary Art Jewelry and Objects

SAIC Galleries33 E Washington St.Chicago, IL 60603Tel 312-845-5910Mon-Sat 11-6<a href="mailto:exhibitions-saic@saic.edu">exhibitions-saic@saic.edu</a><a href="http://www.saic.edu/sullivangalleries/">www.saic.edu/exhibitions</a>The home of SAIC's gallery operations, including regular MFA and BFA exhibitions.&nbsp;&nbsp;SITE of the School of the Art Institute of ChicagoSITE Columbus280 S. Columbus Dr., Suite 113, Chicago, IL 60603&nbsp;SITE Sharp37 S Wabash Ave. Chicago, IL 60603&nbsp;Gallery HoursMonday—Friday: 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. | Saturday: 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.Tel 312-899-5131sugs@saic.edu<a href="http://blogs.saic.edu/sugs/">blogs.saic.edu/sugs/</a>Professional exhibition spaces exclusively for students since 1994.&nbsp;Visiting Artists Program37 S. Wabash Ave, suite 1220Chicago, IL 60603Tel 312-899-5186events@saic.edu<a href="http://www.saic.edu/vap/current/">www.saic.edu/vap</a>&nbsp;All events are FREE, non-ticketed, and open to the public.&nbsp;Rubloff Auditorium280 S. Columbus Dr.Chicago, IL 60603&nbsp;

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