John Wangendo and Yancey Hughes

The Evanston Art Center (EAC) is excited to welcome the public to John Wangendo and Yancey Hughes.

These two exhibitions present the works of John Wangendo and Yancey Hughes as an intimate portrait of African youth and culture. Drawing inspiration from their cultural origins and surrounding environment, their distinctive mediums and perspectives offer a dynamic view of contemporary youth in Africa. This exhibition was curated by Fran Joy, independent curator.

John Wangendo:

John Wangendo is a self-taught portrait artist hailing from Kenya, and now based in Skokie, IL. He works primarily in pencil and charcoal, using the human face and figure to represent cultural narratives from various African countries. He was recently featured in this year’s BIPOC and NAACP exhibits held at the Evanston Art Center.

“Being from Kenya, I found it natural to tell the story of my people through portraits that portrayed their culture. I also decided to tell the story about the millions of African kids whose lives are scarred by war, hunger, and disease but go on to better their lives through education mostly funded by well-wishers. It is a story of overcoming the odds. Most of my stories are told through the eyes of the subject.” – John Wangendo

Yancey Hughes:

Yancey Hughes is a world-traveled photographer now based in Chicago, working out of a studio at the Noyes Cultural Art Center. This series of photographs highlights the day-to-day experiences of people, primarily children, in Ethiopia.

“He believes in a small dose of experience but inspiration and curiosity will see you through. He shares with us a wealth of enthusiasm as well as an abundance of knowledge of photography. His deep love and appreciation of the happy accident speaks volumes, for which he declares can only take place with patience and practice; by putting yourself in a position of opportunity. The key is to be flexible and think creatively no matter what reality throws you.”

“An inspired photographer always makes the most of what is given.” – Yancey Hughes

John Wangendo and Yancey Hughes will be exhibited in the Lobby Gallery of the Art Center. The Meet the Artist event and Virtual Artist Talk are free and open to the public. This exhibition is partially funded by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and the EAC’s general membership.

Evanston Art Center, a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization, is dedicated to fostering the appreciation and expression of the arts among diverse audiences. The Art Center offers extensive and innovative instruction in broad areas of artistic endeavor through classes, exhibitions, interactive arts activities, and community outreach initiatives.

Evanston Art Center is located at 1717 Central Street, Evanston, IL. Evanston Art Center Gallery Hours: 1pm – 6pm, Monday – Friday; 9am – 5pm, Saturday; 9am – 4pm, Sunday. First and second floor gallery spaces are accessible. Limited free parking is available.

For more information, please visit us online at www.evanstonartcenter.org or contact Emma Rose Gudewicz, Director of Development & Exhibition Manager, at (847) 475-5300 or egudewicz@evanstonartcenter.org.

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