Memorial Exhibition Bridgeport Art Center | Chicago, IL


Turtel Onli was a trailblazing visual artist, educator, theorist, and publisher whose innovations helped shape the fields of indie comics and Black cultural aesthetics. This memorial exhibition honors his profound contributions through a comprehensive display of original Rhythmistic fine art, along with his independent Black Age comics & graphic novels.

Held in the historic Bridgeport Art Center, the show will span six weeks and feature two Third Friday Open Studio events, as well as community projects & live programming. Visitors will encounter the depth of Onli’s philosophy of Rhythmism—his visionary aesthetic theory fusing African iconography, science fiction, and metaphysical inquiry—as well as his tireless commitment to independent Black creative expression.

This is more than a retrospective—it’s a celebration of a movement, a mentor, and a mind that dared to imagine beyond boundaries. Life in the Rhythmic Zone invites audiences of all ages to engage with a rich legacy that continues to inspire generations of artists, educators, and visionaries.

IMAGE: “The Alchemist” Acrylics on canvas 2000: By Turtel Onli:

Shown in the magical process of turning worthless into precious. A possible metaphor for so many a thing. The full painting shows the Mystic From Kemet turning slabs of lead into bars of gold.