<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770308595/guuokfgqufsqfs1xiodo.jpg"> By Ginny Van Alyea Last week <a style="color: rgb(13, 13, 13);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.expochicago.com/" target="_blank">EXPO CHICAGO</a> announced the first details of its 2026 edition, scheduled for April 9–12, 2026 at Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, with Northern Trust returning as Presenting Sponsor. Under the leadership of newly appointed Director Kate Sierzputowski and Curator Essence Harden, the fair enters a new chapter with what leadership says is a more focused, intentionally scaled format. The 2026 edition will present more than 130 galleries from around the world in a refined floorplan designed to prioritize clarity, discovery, and sustained engagement. The updated approach emphasizes curatorial coherence and accessibility while reinforcing EXPO CHICAGO’s role as a central convening point for the Midwest and international art communities. Sections of the fair also have new names - in addition to the 'galleries' list, there is also Focus, Profile, Embodiment, and Evolution. Curatorial programming plays an expanded role in the fair’s reimagined structure. A new partnership with the forthcoming Obama Presidential Center introduces two initiatives curated by Dr. Louise Bernard, Director of the Obama Presidential Center Museum. Embodiment draws inspiration from the Center’s architecture and commissioned artists, while Evolution presents archival materials connected to the Center’s art commissions. Together, the projects foreground themes of history, identity, and cultural memory rooted in Chicago and shaped by global contexts. Additional curated sections continue this emphasis on depth and intentionality. Focus (formerly Exposure), curated by Kate A. Pfohl of the Detroit Institute of Arts, highlights emerging galleries and artistic practices, offering an accessible entry point into the fair. Profile, curated by Essence Harden, features solo booths and tightly conceived presentations by established international galleries, encouraging sustained engagement with individual artists and projects. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770308595/muqum8nq6u50i1lkvwaq.jpg">Kate Sierzputowski and Essence Harden. Photo by Kevin Serna. “As we build toward EXPO CHICAGO 2026, our priority has been to refocus the fair on what has always defined it: rigorous curation, civic collaboration, and a deep commitment to artists,” said Sierzputowski. Harden added that the fair is uniquely positioned to connect artists with museums and collections, noting that the 2026 presentations reflect “focused, conceptually rigorous practices that resonate with institutional priorities.” The fair continues several key initiatives, including its collaboration with the Galleries Association of Korea, which will bring 12 Korean galleries to the 2026 edition, building on relationships established between Kiaf SEOUL and Frieze Seoul. Thursday is noted at the invitation-only VIP Preview for the fair, but a representative shared that there will be opportunities to purchase tickets for Opening Night on that day. Continuing from last year, the invitation-only early hours will be a collaborative "Vernissage Champagne Brunch” earlier in the day that is a celebration of EXPO CHICAGO hosted by the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago’s Women’s Board. Long-time fair goers will notice that the popular Editions and Books is no longer a section at EXPO CHICAGO. This may be in part due to the IFPDA Print Fair running simultaneously in New York this year, with Midwestern spaces like Manneken Press, F.L. Braswell Fine Art, Tandem Press and Dublin's Stoney Road Press participating. However, EXPO leadership noted that the MCA Chicago Store will return to the main entrance of the fair this year.&nbsp;&nbsp;In March details surrounding the highlights of the fair will be announced. VIP Preview Thursday, April 9, 2026 (by invitation only) General Admission Friday, April 10, 11:00am–7:00pm Saturday, April 11, 11:00am–7:00pm Sunday, April 12, 11:00am–6:00pm __ 2026 EXHIBITORS*GAoK exhibitor GALLERIES 021 Gallery* – DaeguGallery 41* – SeoulAicon Contemporary – New YorkA Lighthouse called Kanata – TokyoAllouche Gallery – New YorkArcadia Contemporary – New YorkGalería Artizar – Tenerife, MadridAvant Gallery – MiamiRichard Beavers Gallery – BrooklynBockley Gallery – MinneapolisBOGENA GALERIE – Saint Paul De Vence, PhoenixCasterline|Goodman Gallery – Aspen, Santa FeEthan Cohen Gallery – New York, BeaconOliver Cole Gallery – MiamiCynthia Corbett Gallery – LondonGallery Dasun* – Gwacheon-siDOCUMENT – Chicago, LisbonEbony/Curated – Cape Town, FranschhoekLes Enluminures – Chicago, New York, ParisGallery Fine* – BusanFriedrichs Pontone – New YorkGBS Fine Art – London, SomersetGefen Gallery – San FranciscoGPG Gallery – New YorkGalleryGrimson* – SeoulRichard Heller Gallery – Los AngelesHexton Gallery – AspenNancy Hoffman Gallery – New YorkRebecca Hossack Art Gallery – London, Miami, SingaporeKarma – New York, Los AngelesKeumsan Gallery* – Seoul, GyeongjuLEE &amp; BAE* – BusanDavid Lusk Gallery – Memphis, NashvilleMcCormick Gallery – ChicagoMiles McEnery Gallery – New Yorkmoniquemeloche – ChicagoGalerie Myrtis – BaltimoreOpa Projects – MiamiNight Gallery – Los AngelesPATRON – ChicagoGalerie Pici* – Seoul, New YorkPontone Gallery – LondonNara Roesler – São Paulo, New York, Rio De JaneiroMichael Rosenfeld Gallery – New YorkSecrist | Beach – ChicagoMarc Straus Gallery – New YorkSun Gallery* – SeoulSuppoment Gallery* – SeoulSundaram Tagore Gallery – New York, London, SingaporeTAI Modern – Santa FeTing Ting Art Space – TaipeiUpsilon Gallery – New York, London, Milan EMBODIMENT GRAY – Chicago, New YorkSean Kelly – New YorkAnton Kern – New YorkGallery Wendi Norris – San FranciscoRegen Projects – Los Angeles PROFILE 47 Canal – New YorkAdegbola Gallery – LagosAffinity Gallery – LagosBabst Gallery – Los AngelesCorbett vs. Dempsey – ChicagoDuru Artspace* – SeoulFort Gansevoort – New YorkGeary Contemporary – Salisburyhalf gallery – New York, Los AngelesILY2 – Portland, New YorkCharlie James Gallery – Los AngelesKevin Kavanagh – DublinVielmetter Los Angeles – Los AngelesTanya Weddemire Gallery – BrooklynWeinstein Hammons Gallery – MinneapolisWizard Gallery – MilanPaik Hae Young Gallery* – SeoulZemack Contemporary Art – Tel AvivZidoun-Bossuyt Gallery – Luxembourg, Dubai, ParisMatéria – DetroitANDREW RAFACZ – ChicagoJessica Silverman – San FranciscoGary Snyder Fine Art MT – WhitehallMindy Solomon Gallery – MiamiSoto Gallery – LagosTHIRD BORN – Mexico CityYenwa Gallery – Lagos FOCUS 56 HENRY – New Yorkapril april – PittsburghArtemin Gallery – TaipeiBertrand Productions – PhiladelphiaBienvenu Steinberg &amp; C – New YorkBianca Boeckel – São Paulo, SalvadorBrandt Gallery – AmsterdamBuffalo Prescott – DetroitJonathan Carver Moore – San FranciscoCircle Art Gallery – NairobiContour Art Gallery – VilniusCOTT – Buenos AiresDM Incubator – New YorkDon't Look Projects – Los AngelesEMBAJADA – San JuanEnari – AmsterdamGood Weather – ChicagoGOCA by Garde – New York, JapanHesse Flatow – New York, AmagansettHigh Noon – New YorkGillian Jason – Gallery LondonK:art Studio – LondonLatinou – Mexico CityLobster Club – Los AngelesM. LeBlanc – ChicagoMAĀT Gallery – ParisMagenta Plains – New YorkMarinaro – New YorkMegan Mulrooney – Los AngelesTHE MISSION PROJECTS – ChicagoMitochondria Gallery – HoustonMitre Galeria – Belo Horizonte, São PauloNature of Things – DallasOSMOS – New YorkPatel Brown – Toronto, MontréalPublic – LondonRed Arrow – Nashvillere.riddle – San FranciscoRivalry Projects – BuffaloSARAI Gallery – Los Angeles, DubaiChris Sharp Gallery – Los AngelesSibyl Gallery – New OrleansSituations – New YorkSPACE 776 GALLERY – New York, SeoulSuperposition Gallery – Los AngelesTERN Gallery – NassauTIAN Contemporain – MontréalVERVE – São PauloWhat Pipeline – DetroitYehudi Hollander Pappi – São Paulo Details at <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.expochicago.com/" target="_blank">expochicago.com</a>

EXPO CHICAGO Announces First Details of 2026 Edition

CGN adds to its&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events" target="_blank">calendar of art events</a>&nbsp;daily, and there is no shortage of new exhibitions, openings, art fairs, talks and family art events to explore. We have put together a preview of what is coming up the rest of this month. Even though it's winter and we are looking to stay in and cozy, there is plenty to see and enjoy throughout the city. Events happen throughout the city as well as in the suburbs and within a day's drive. Whether you have an hour after work or you are looking for a weekend road trip, take a look and do a little planning in order to take a step into the world of art. Everyone is welcome! Highlights are organized by event type. Dates vary and are subject to change. –&nbsp;GinnyCGN Publisher <h3>• Exhibitions</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770155267/whbjjclr7x04fq6ko12k.png"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/ancestral-futures" target="_blank">Ancestral Futures</a></h3><h4> </h4>Feb 5-27, 2026Opening: Friday, Feb 6, 2026 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/arc-gallery" target="_blank">ARC Gallery</a> What does it mean to be a good future ancestor? How might today’s personal, cultural, social, and or environmental actions become legacies for those who come after us? This juried exhibition, curated by artist and ceramicist Donté K. Hayes, shows works that meditate on wisdom, intentionality, and the responsibility of shaping a world that extends beyond ourselves. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770155268/tbf06nlxcmfm4iqky0nv.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/hold" target="_blank">Hold</a></h3> Feb 5-Mar 1, 2026Opening: Saturday, Feb 7, 2026 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> Perspective Gallery presents&nbsp;"HOLD,"&nbsp;Perspective Gallery’s 2026 Invitational Exhibition featuring works by selected BFA students from the School of the Art Institute.&nbsp;Curated by Aimee Beaubien, Professor &amp; Chair in the Department of Photography at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago,&nbsp;"HOLD" features work by six emerging artists currently pursuing their BFA, and working within the Department of Photography at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago: Abigail Brooke Ackles, Ethan Kunoff, Isabel Lim, Collin Lust, Sarah Price, Dev Kili Stolkiner. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770155269/fglvysbqwruce9eigyik.png"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/wont-you-celebrate-with-me" target="_blank">Won’t You Celebrate With Me?</a></h3> Feb 6-27, 2026Opening: Friday, Feb 6, 2026 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/chicago-artists-coalition-cac" target="_blank">Chicago Artists Coalition (CAC)</a> Won't You Celebrate With Me?&nbsp;is an exhibition where artists Reevah Agarwaal, Cay Mims, and Nekita Thomas journey through memory, weaving truth and wonder to investigate what lies beyond the surface.Part personal archive, part apparition, this exhibition explores themes of memory, lineage, and impermanence. Agarwaal, Mims, and Thomas take their past narratives and shape them into new realities, seeking deeper understanding of what may remain unsaid. Together, they question the ways in which we construct and control our own memories. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770155270/xbdoq1j5pxnuu8ycqfbf.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/resilience-in-color" target="_blank">Resilience in Color</a></h3> Feb 7-Feb 28, 2026Opening: Saturday, Feb 7, 2026 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/the-grove-gallery" target="_blank">The Grove Gallery</a> Exhibition of art of and by ВІРОС (Black Indigenous People of Color) Artists <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770155271/b38cxumeidxhsrsb1egp.png"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/the-heresy-of-legacy" target="_blank">The Heresy of Legacy</a></h3> Feb 13, 2026 - Mar 28, 2026Opening: Friday, Feb 13, 2026 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/volume-gallery" target="_blank">Volume Gallery</a> The Heresy of Legacy, the first exhibition at Volume Gallery’s new, expanded, space, explores the cyclical nature of movements and currents in art, architecture, and design—how innovation emerges in friction with established legacies, and how heresy becomes the foundation for new canons. This group exhibition considers what happens when today’s artists engage the paradox of history: honoring the influence of the past while consciously dismantling it. Rooted in the history of the avant-garde, the exhibition acknowledges how reactionary moves have continually propelled art, architecture, and design forward. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770155272/hoyyay7ra77rp5jt6ncq.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/i-dream-i-cross-the-river-in-one-stride" target="_blank">I Dream I Cross the River in One Stride</a></h3> Feb 13, 2026 - Mar 28, 2026 <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/mariane-ibrahim" target="_blank">Mariane Ibrahim</a> This group exhibition gathers the work of Clémence Gbonon (b. 1994), Brittney Leeanne Williams (b. 1990) and Autumn Wallace (b. 1996).&nbsp;I Dream I Cross the River in One Stride&nbsp;takes Lorraine O’Grady’s foundational essay&nbsp;Olympia’s Maid: Reclaiming Black Female Subjectivity&nbsp;as a point of departure. If, as O’Grady argues, the Black female body has long functioned as the unseen reverse side of Western femininity—present as stereotype, absent as subject—these artists reclaim their right to explore an image that is self-authored, multiple and unafraid of its own&nbsp;excess. <h3>• Performances and Special Events</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770155273/aezbyfjuoq8jsmu0em8g.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/glenn-kotche-solo-concert" target="_blank">Glenn Kotche Solo Concert</a></h3> Saturday, Feb 7, 2026 3PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/corbett-vs-dempsey" target="_blank">Corbett vs. Dempsey</a> Corbett vs. Dempsey presents a rare solo concert by Glenn Kotche. Glenn Kotche (b. 1970) is one of the great multi-directional percussionists of our time. Most widely known for his work in the engine room of the band Wilco, Kotche's excursions in experimental and improvised music have been chronicled on many solo records. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770155273/vubp8syjbosnj36oc4mi.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/concert-a-birthday-celebration-for-yoko-ono" target="_blank">Concert | A Birthday Celebration for Yoko Ono</a></h3> Wednesday, Feb 18, 2026 7:30PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/museum-of-contemporary-art-chicago-mca" target="_blank">Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA)</a> On her 93rd birthday and coinciding with the close of&nbsp;Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind, an array of performers come together for an intimate tribute to Ono's life and legacy. Iconic instruction-based artworks, including&nbsp;Sky Piece to Jesus Christ&nbsp;(1965), will be enacted, culminating in a musical set. Northwestern University's Contemporary Music Ensemble, led by renowned conductor Alan Pierson, will perform. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770155274/dch9q0slqnf0tb9xpth8.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/darkroom-annual-benefit-auction-party" target="_blank">DARKROOM Annual Benefit Auction Party</a></h3> Thursday, Feb 26, 2026 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/museum-of-contemporary-photography-mocp" target="_blank">Museum of Contemporary Photography (MoCP)</a> Celebrate MoCP's 50th anniversary at the annual benefit auction party DARKROOM on February 26, 2026. DARKROOM brings together hundreds of photography enthusiasts, artists, and arts patrons for an evening to support the museum. This year, MoCP honors photographer Joel Sternfeld with the Silver Camera Award while showcasing nearly fifty artists in the auction and offering one-of-a-kind live arts experiences on-site at DARKROOM. # <h2><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events?filter=upcoming&amp;page=1" target="_blank">View the full CGN calendar here</a></h2>

CGN Art Preview: February 2026

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770155516/r8okuvexyhlhdlbx2l0f.png"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/wont-you-celebrate-with-me" target="_blank">Won’t You Celebrate With Me?</a>Opening: Friday, February 6, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PMChicago Artists Coalition (CAC) <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770155517/tu8bumyt1bcow8dkvahd.png"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/malcolm-taylor-the-state-of-play" target="_blank">Malcolm Taylor: The State of Play</a>Exhibition begins February 7Krasl Art Center <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770155518/sr9vj9lmlhtwcxprgnqe.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/future-now-virtual-sneakers-to-cutting-edge-kicks" target="_blank">Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks</a>Exhibition begins February 7Kalamazoo Institute of Arts <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770155518/p0iqxhcksbzrtpqjz7oy.png"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/material-memory" target="_blank">Material Memory</a>Exhibition begins February 7Krasl Art Center <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770155519/rbepmkhurye7kbcwfn6u.png"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/emily-endo-estuary" target="_blank">Emily Endo: Estuary</a>Exhibition begins February 7John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC) <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770155520/f9j5yt2wwgvljerk9ixp.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/resilience-in-color" target="_blank">Resilience in Color</a>Opening: Saturday, February 7, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PMThe Grove Gallery

New Exhibitions Begin February 4 - 7 (Part II)

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770155534/ijgpsjjiiwazhlzl1ezm.png"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/hamdia-traors-des-marabouts-de-djenn-and-muslim-portraiture-in-mali" target="_blank">Hamdia Traoré’s “Des marabouts de Djenné” and Muslim Portraiture in Mali</a>February 4Block Museum of Art <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770155536/qqqwxch6wsbnuivczfzh.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/beneath-the-surface-featuring-arlene-byster-and-patricia-markos-dolan" target="_blank">Beneath the Surface: Featuring Arlene Byster and Patricia Markos Dolan</a>February 5gallery 1871 <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770155536/ka07xqznehzvndhlz1af.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/women-artists-in-the-field" target="_blank">Women Artists in the Field</a>Opening: Thursday, February 19, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PMWadsworth Family Gallery at Lewis University <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770155537/dgcad8zhpkk6it6lszrm.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/hold" target="_blank">Hold</a>February 5Perspective Photo Gallery <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770155538/tecztz4nyuxwd8zrjexr.png"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/ancestral-futures" target="_blank">Ancestral Futures</a>Opening: Friday, February 6, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PMARC Gallery

New Exhibitions Begin February 4 - 7 (Part I)

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770099683/y8lens5gjifceqmg6yrp.jpg">The Exterior of Metropolitan Capital Bank &amp; Trust in Chicago By CGN Staff On January 30, 2026 MetCap Bank, formally known as Metropolitan Capital Bank &amp; Trust, was ordered shut down by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation According to a statement on the bank's <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.metcapbank.com/" target="_blank">website</a>, following the order from the Illinois body, subsequently, "the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was named Receiver. No advance notice is given to the public when a financial institution is closed. All deposit accounts, excluding certain brokered deposits, have been transferred to First Independence Bank, Detroit, MI." The bank was found to be in an untenable financial position. It is the first bank in the country to be shut down this year and the second in Chicago in the past two years. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770099684/yzvaddapatj8qftlw4eg.png">Works from a recent exhibition. Photo courtesy Corporate Art Advisory. Locally MetCap, which was housed in the historic Tree Studios, which were once artist studios, built a reputation among the art community as a champion of local artists. An exhibition program was titled Art Works Chicago, and dozens of local artists–from William Conger to Michiko Itatani–were exhibited in the bank's space over the years in collaboration with area galleries and art advisors. In 2025 the bank celebrated 20 years of its exhibition program with an exhibition that looked back on the artists it showcased. MetCap's website described the purpose of the program, "Several shows each year feature artists in the Chicago nexus, enriching an already unique space with fine artwork. This initiative creates a platform for team members&nbsp;and visitors to meet artists, better understand the art making process, and engage in thoughtful dialogue. The art and unique space gives the bank a very non-traditional feel. This non-traditional approach is at the core of what we do – developing creative solutions to complex financial situations for our clients and partners." There is no word yet what will happen to any art currently exhibited at the bank, if any, or if there are works that are part of a permanent collection that will be sold as part of any liquidation. <a style="color: rgb(254, 254, 254);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.fdic.gov/bank-failures/failed-bank-list/metropolitan-capital-bank-trust" target="_blank">FDIC Bank Closing Information for Metropolitan Capital Bank &amp; Trust</a>

Metropolitan Capital Bank - Known for Hosting Exhibitions with Chicago Artists - Shut Down by Regulators

<h3><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770095081/fiftkx8mnwwirzhw9lmy.jpg"></h3>This month, James Rondeau is marking the 10th anniversary of his appointment as president and director of the Art Institute of Chicago. In 2026, he’ll help steer forward a projected $50 million art conservation center project, one step in a larger goal of making over the institution and expanding it to keep its competitive edge.Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Sun-Times<h3> </h3><h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.wbez.org/arts/2026/01/29/art-institute-chicago-president-james-rondeau" target="_blank">James Rondeau is ready to expand the Art Institute’s footprint — and put that airplane incident behind him</a></h3> Running an art museum may be one of the toughest jobs in the arts at the moment. There are cuts in federal support and philanthropic pullbacks to contend with. Sociopolitical jabs from the left and right. Even existential questions about the relevance and purpose of such institutions in the 21st century. Via WBEZ <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artnews.com/list/art-news/news/jeffrey-epstein-art-connections-1234771821/" target="_blank">Jeffrey Epstein’s Art World Connections: A Guide</a></h3> Convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died by apparent suicide in 2019 while in jail facing additional charges related to alleged sex trafficking in New York and Florida, cultivated an expansive network of powerful and influential contacts in a wide array of fields—art very much among them. In addition to his dealings in the worlds of finance, science, and technology, the reputed billionaire engaged with art institutions, collectors, and cultural enterprises now reckoning with their affiliations with a figure whose history is being closely examined.&nbsp; Via ARTnews <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/chicago-volume-gallery-move-west-town-1234771359/" target="_blank">Chicago’s Volume Gallery Triples in Size with a Move to West Town</a></h3> The last couple of years have seen many art galleries close in art hubs around the world amid a struggling market. But one in Chicago is tripling in size with a move to a new neighborhood.&nbsp;Volume Gallery&nbsp;will open on February 13 in a 3,500-square-foot space designed by co-founders Claire Warner and Sam Vinz at 1700 West Hubbard Street, across from mainstays Mariane Ibrahim and Monique Meloche. It’s the gallery’s third space since it opened in 2010.&nbsp; Via ARTnews <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/31/arts/smithsonian-museum-america-250th-anniversary.html" target="_blank">Art for All: A Smithsonian Museum Spreads Its Bounty for America’s 250th</a></h3><h3> </h3>With its recognizable Brutalist-doughnut architecture, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is the&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(50, 104, 145);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.si.edu/museums/hirshhorn-museum-and-sculpture-garden" target="_blank">Smithsonian Institution’s</a>&nbsp;redoubt for modern and contemporary art on the National Mall in Washington. As part of the Smithsonian, it is meant to be a museum for all of America. And to underscore that national mission — and to emphasize that modern and contemporary art need not be exclusive to liberal metropolitan coastal elites — the Hirshhorn has decided to loan scores of artworks from its large collection to smaller museums in all 50 states, red and blue. Via NYT

What We're Reading: 2.3.26

By CGN Staff On Friday, January 30 many Chicago galleries will be closed as they join a call for a nationwide shutdown. Participating galleries as of this posting time are listed below. The movement calls for a nationwide day of no school, no work and no shopping as organizers of the general strike have asked people not to purchase anything on January 30 in order to create an economic blackout as well as a chance for people join the day's local protests against ICE. As this is an evolving event, the list of galleries that will be closed Friday may change, so please check with individual businesses to see if they are open or not. Most plan to re-open Saturday, January 31, 2026. moniquemelocheMariane IbrahimCorbett vs. DempseyGRAYAndrew RafaczDOCUMENTPATRONTalaElise SeigenthalerBodenraderWestern ExhibitionsSecrist | BeachRegardsM. LeBlanc ﻿

Many Chicago Galleries are Closed January 30, 2026 as Part of Nationwide Shutdown

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1769533529/kixetihjh3ugsgr8cmnq.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/world-in-my-eyes" target="_blank">World in My Eyes</a>Opening: Friday, January 30, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PMJoy Machine <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1769533530/pawjdif9qdiobdmnn9z6.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/antonius-tn-bui" target="_blank">Antonius-Tín Bui: here, there is a different kind of sun</a>Opening: Saturday, January 31, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PMmoniquemeloche <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1769533531/aioyj1g5xg3b3hwyctnf.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/jesse-howard-a-woke-diaspora" target="_blank">Jesse Howard: A Woke Diaspora</a>Opening: Saturday, January 31, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PMBert Green Fine Art <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1769533532/bqcdy6880snvtfa6they.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/februarys-youth-art-month-exhibitions" target="_blank">February's Youth Art Month Exhibitions</a>January 31The Art Center Highland Park <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1769533533/l3zzlpruciznqa8uuym3.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/eli-williamson-fellowship" target="_blank">Eli Williamson: Fellowship</a>Opening: Sunday, February 1, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PMEvanston Art Center

New Exhibitions Begin January 30 - February 1

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1769453554/kcekgbzfbwdhngghqdnp.jpg">Darkroom 2025 Benefit committee member Eszter Borvendeg. By GINNY VAN ALYEA The Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College Chicago (MoCP) is gearing up for a milestone celebration—50 years of championing photography in Chicago—with its annual benefit auction party, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.mocp.org/events/darkroom2026/?mc_cid=f534de3cf6&amp;mc_eid=58cea278c7" target="_blank">DARKROOM</a>, happening February 26, 2026.A signature MoCP fundraiser and one of the season’s most anticipated photography events, DARKROOM brings together hundreds of artists, collectors, and art enthusiasts for one unforgettable night honoring the city’s vibrant photo community—past, present, and future. Even the event's name is a nod to how long this photography institution has been around and how foundational it is to appreciating the medium. I am curious how many people actually know what a darkroom is and the kind of magic space it can be. How many have been in one to develop photos and know the smell of the the chemicals that reveal images on blank pieces of paper. A medium many are familiar with on an hourly basis today, thanks to smartphones, has a long and rich history that has continually impacted and influenced our lives. All this and more will be celebrated and appreciated on February 26. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1769453555/wildwtwhkd0pics8wa7g.jpg">Joel Sternfeld,&nbsp;McLean, Virginia, 1978 Silver Camera Award Honoree: Joel Sternfeld This year, MoCP will honor award-winning photographer Joel Sternfeld with the Silver Camera Award, recognizing his influential career and achievements spanning more than five decades. With a career spanning over fifty years, Joel Sternfeld is regarded as a major influence in contemporary landscape photography, in part as an early proponent of working in color. In the tradition of the New Topographics photographers, Sternfeld documents the American landscape, noting the ironic, often destructive impact of human activity on the land. His photographs balance wry social observation with a poetic sensitivity to light and color. Ahead of the party, Sternfeld will also present a Lecture in Photography at noon on Thursday, February 26, 2026, part of MoCP’s public speaker series co-sponsored by Columbia College Chicago’s School of Visual Arts. 50 Artworks + One-of-a-Kind Experiences In celebration of the museum’s 50th anniversary, the DARKROOM auction will feature fifty artworks and unique arts experiences by both rising and internationally celebrated artists who have shaped MoCP’s legacy and the wider field of photography. Featured contributors include: Regina Agu, Uta Barth, Dawoud Bey, Vera Lutter, Abelardo Morell, Aaron Siskind, and Penelope Umbrico (among others). <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1769453556/qbuqxdinqwtnsokgeo9y.jpg">Ward Miller and David Salkin Portraits, Music, and More Darkroom is also set to deliver plenty beyond the bidding. Guests can take part in an exclusive on-site portrait opportunity inside an original installation by Marzena Abrahamik (2025 Guggenheim Fellow and a MoCP permanent collection artist).The night’s soundtrack will be curated by Alejandro Zerah, Smartbar Talent Buyer and a featured name in Newcity Magazine’s Music 45 (2025). This is also, of course, a party and a chance to celebrate MoCP in person, surrounded b photography while enjoying food sponsored by Gage Hospitality Group and craft cocktails by Sovereign Brands Half Acre beer. It's good to know these things in advance so you know what to enjoy first! Supporting museum programming and education initiatives, the Darkroom auction will be available to view in person at the Hokin Gallery February 13–20, 2026, and will be open for in-person and online bidding through the event on February 26, 2026. Tickets are available online and will also be available for purchase at the door. Images by Lisa Gottschalk and Z Marciniak. _________________________________ <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1769453557/dsttunadqwzr8itfvhin.jpg"> DARKROOM Auction Preview ExhibitionFebruary 13-20, 2026Monday-Friday 9am-5pmHokin Gallery623 S Wabash Ave, Fl 1Chicago, IL*Free and open to the public. Lecture in Photography: Joel SternfeldFebruary 26, 202612:00 pmFerguson Lecture Hall600 S Michigan AveChicago, IL<a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://mocp.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9e4250b7536dc23e9352b28ee&amp;id=29bca1f8f7&amp;e=58cea278c7" target="_blank">*Free and open to the public, registration required</a>. DARKROOM Annual Benefit Auction PartyFebruary 26, 2026Columbia College Chicago Student Center754 S Wabash AveChicago, IL •&nbsp;VIP reception with Joel Sternfeld5:30-6:30 pm •&nbsp;Benefit auction party6:30-9:30 pm <a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://mocp.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9e4250b7536dc23e9352b28ee&amp;id=fec3511d5f&amp;e=58cea278c7" target="_blank">*Ticket purchase required</a> DETAILS at <a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.mocp.org/events/darkroom2026/?mc_cid=f534de3cf6&amp;mc_eid=58cea278c7" target="_blank">MoCP.org</a>

Reflecting on 50 Years: MoCP Celebrates with Darkroom Benefit February 26

<h2><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1769449481/lpiqyqfz4xv5h0pqukdf.jpg"></h2>A rare period tintype of Abraham Lincoln: The "Beardstown Portrait," ca 1860. | Estimate $15,000 – 20,000 <h2>By CGN Staff</h2>As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Freeman’s is preparing a major 2026 slate of auctions and public programming that brings America’s past to the auction block—one document, portrait, and artifact at a time. The Philadelphia-founded auction house will present sales and events throughout the year in Philadelphia, New York City, and Chicago. The Semiquincentennial program opens with Printed and Manuscript Americana on January 29, 2026 (Philadelphia), featuring rare primary-source material tied to the country’s early political and diplomatic history. Highlights include an autograph letter signed by George Washington, written in March 1789 just weeks before his inauguration, along with a 1776 Continental Congress document signed by John Hancock appointing Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane, and Thomas Jefferson as commissioners to France. In spring, Freeman’s heads to Chicago for The Fathers and Saviors of Our Country: A Presidential Sale on March 26, 2026, centered on presidential leadership and legacy. The sale includes important material relating to Abraham Lincoln, including a rare early photographic portrait as well as a notable oil painting by Charles Alfred Barry. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1769449482/ovc7nhyl2m6xmvcdhxzx.jpg">Lot 29: Letter of credence appointing Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane, and Thomas Jefferson commissioners to the court of France to negotiate a treaty of alliance, September 30, 1776"&nbsp;|&nbsp;Estimate $150,000 – 250,000 Summer brings How History Unfolds on Paper: Important Americana from the Eric C. Caren Collection, Part X on June 30, 2026 (Philadelphia), showcasing historical documents from one of the most expansive private collections of Americana. The sale will include a signed letter from Thomas Jefferson written in 1783, along with a War of 1812-era ship’s log containing a firsthand account of the Battle of Baltimore and the bombardment that inspired “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Freeman’s will also host previews and programming in New York during Americana Week (January 23–28, 2026) at its Upper East Side gallery (32 East 67th Street), including a panel discussion on January 27. Additional auctions focused on American art and decorative arts will be announced in the coming months.

Freeman’s Marks America’s 250th with a Landmark Auction Year

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770050525/ojb6w4m23lmql4tol4gb.jpg">Installation view of Throat. Photo by Robert Chase Heishman for Bob. By MAC PIERCE Illusions and allusions. A play across the shades of gray. Smooth surfaces and careful entrances. This is the dance of communication, the grammar of the sensual, and the visual language that KC Crow Maddux employs in the recently opened exhibition “Throat” at Tala gallery in Chicago. Curated by Susan Gescheidle, the artworks of “Throat” form a cohesive body of work that articulates the body in flux. The seven artworks in the show take the form of mid-sized wall-mounted dioramas consisting of smooth shallow frames that each bear cutouts in the shape of appendages (and other bits) of the human body in contour. Looking into the openings of each frame, the viewer sees collages of layered airbrush paintings on paper. Formally, the painting depicts abstracted greyscale motifs, composed in a way to illude a traditional depiction of depth. Which isn’t to say that these pieces come across as flat; the depth between the front plane of the box and the stacked paintings imparts perspective as the viewer investigates the cutouts. The contents of these paintings vary widely, with some containing suggestions of meteorological phenomena and others bearing distinct architectural motifs. Additionally, there are several details not immediately apparent that add to the refinement of this work. A detail that I particularly appreciated was the selected embellishing of some areas of the cutout through rounded edges, a small gesture that tickled the sculptor in me. Another was the high degree of finish on the construction of the box, leaving no visible panel gaps to distract from the content of the work. Content that, despite its sparing palette, is deftly composed.&nbsp; Through the sparing openings of the frame and their flat white treatment, Maddux draws the viewer to investigate the interior of the diorama, working through a confused mess of limbs to make out the overall composition. It is work that allows itself to be revealed to the viewer by denying apprehension from afar. You have to be close. You must look into the hole, if only to see what’s inside. The limited palette also works in favor of the content – it’s also a direct denial of the binary; whereby smooth gradients of tone allow for oscillation along a binary that resists bifurcated opposites. In addition, by restricting the whole work to shades of grey, the painted elements are bold without being overwhelming up close. It’s the distinction between the intimate vs. the explicit; inviting the viewer in close as opposed to demanding the viewer pay attention. The very structure of the work reinforcing this feeling–the prominent exterior frames that reference the outward body, while the contents of the diorama, a series of stack pieces of paper, a material classically used to convey the printed word–depicts abstractions of content that suggest an interior domain at the edge of language.&nbsp; <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770050526/fjjovtcpak8knaqsxlpr.jpg">KC Crow Maddux, The Garden, 2025 – Acrylic, Wood, Paper, Museum Acrylic – 24” x 19” x 1.5” - Photo by Tala In sitting with the work, my attention lingered on the openings in the diorama boxes. The average tone of the interior paintings skews towards darker values, which contrast well with the stark white of the box. The shape of the cutouts is unique to each diorama, but all feature repeating motifs of naked limbs, spiraling and entangled, distinct and too frequent to belong to any singular body. Attached to the messes of limbs are other recognizable profiles, like occasional pairs of breasts or the open gullet featuring dangling uvula, after the show’s namesake. Feet, hands, arms, legs, breasts, lips, throats – parts of bodies that never fully resolve into any individual, suggesting multiple bodies or plural identities. Maddux’s artist statement states that he views these works as being “about being trapped in signification,” a claim supported by the work through the illusory way it employs signs. The work is descriptive without being prescriptive, poetry not prose. Each piece takes on an inherent plurality, reflective of an artist who has defined gender on their own terms. Maddux, who is trans, has composed work that deploys sleight of hand against strict classifications – it is paintings and sculpture, spectrums of grey, figurative without a figure. All of which is rendered deftly within expertly constructed artworks. Even the peculiarities of Tala supported this multiplicity, with the gallery being home to white walls, a reading room, storefront, and dance floor. In speaking with Maddux after seeing the work, one of the reoccurring motifs of the show came into sharp focus – that of the maw, the open throat. Each of the works in the show has it depicted as an aspect of the frame cutouts. As explained by Maddux, the throat is a highly charged area, a bidirectional passage through which the individual sustains themselves, while also being the way through which an individual externalizes their own interiority – asserting being. Those two directions allow a person to be, in both the physical the self, and the locus of the throat constitutes an area “where concept meets body.”&nbsp; I struggled to find faults within the exhibition, a rare occurrence for me in a city that has a fetish for unpolished art. Almeda of Tala took a risk in working with a new-to-the-gallery curator, but the presentation of this work is precise and Gescheidle has created a tight presentation of Maddux’s art, a show that thrives in the grey areas it slyly depicts.&nbsp;The work is expertly crafted and thoughtfully composed, an excellent presentation by an artist who excels at his craft. ThroatExtended through February 7, 2026Open Th–Sa 1-6pm and by appt.Tala1644 W. Chicago Ave. (60622)<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://talachicago.com/" target="_blank">talachicago.com</a> # <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1770050526/kor5kbcwngghwgy3vmcr.jpg">Detail of The Specter by KC Crow Maddux, 2025 – Acrylic, Wood, Paper, Museum Acrylic - Photo by Tala

Getting Head(y): "Throat" by KC Crow Maddux at Tala

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1769103437/q1qv4pweqqq5trrj2h4y.jpg"> By CGN Staff<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://mcachicago.org/" target="_blank">The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago</a> (MCA) has announced the appointment of&nbsp;Ionit Behar, PhD, as&nbsp;Marilyn and Larry Fields Curator, a position endowed in 2012 by philanthropists Marilyn and Larry Fields. Dr. Behar will join the museum on&nbsp;February 9, 2026.Grounded in Latin American and Latinx art, understood as an expansive and continually shifting field, Dr. Behar’s curatorial practice centers artists, practices, and forms of labor that have been historically excluded from dominant narratives. Her work is shaped by research-driven exhibition making and long-term collaboration with artists, moving across cultural, linguistic, and disciplinary contexts.“Ionit brings a remarkable combination of intellectual rigor, curatorial insight, and an unwavering commitment to community,” said&nbsp;Dr. Joey Orr, Deputy Director and Chief of Curatorial Affairs at the MCA. “Her appointment will further strengthen the museum’s legacy as a home for artists, audiences, and communities.”“It has been a dream of mine to work at the MCA since I arrived in Chicago more than fourteen years ago,” said Dr. Behar. “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to join the museum at this moment and look forward to collaborating across departments while continuing my commitment to supporting Chicago-based artists alongside artists working internationally.”Dr. Behar most recently served as&nbsp;Curator at DePaul Art Museum, where she organized exhibitions including&nbsp;Alice Tippit: Rose Obsolete&nbsp;(2026),&nbsp;Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle: A Want for Nothing&nbsp;(2025),&nbsp;Selva Aparicio: In Memory Of&nbsp;(2024), and&nbsp;LatinXAmerican&nbsp;(2021), among others. Recent independent projects include&nbsp;Del Otro Lado&nbsp;(2023) at O’Hare International Airport;&nbsp;50 años&nbsp;(2023) at SUBTE, Montevideo; and&nbsp;Nelly Agassi: No Limestone, Nor Marble&nbsp;(2022) at the Chicago Cultural Center.Previously, she served as Curator of Collections and Exhibitions at the&nbsp;Spertus Institute&nbsp;and as a research assistant for&nbsp;Hélio Oiticica: To Organize Delirium&nbsp;(2017) at the Art Institute of Chicago.Dr. Behar holds a&nbsp;PhD in Art History from the University of Illinois at Chicago, an&nbsp;MA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and a&nbsp;BA from Tel Aviv University.﻿Newly appointed Marilyn and Larry Fields Curator Dr. Ionit Behar. Photo by Maria Ponce Berre.

The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago Appoints Dr. Ionit Behar as Marilyn and Larry Fields Curator

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1769195057/rwnrafdtojf5ald7jwak.png"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/mocp-at-50-collecting-through-the-decades" target="_blank">MoCP at 50: Collecting Through the Decades</a>Exhibition begins January 22Museum of Contemporary Photography (MoCP) <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1769195057/vxmrkztkiefvkwk50ude.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/a-person-chosen-named-or-honored" target="_blank">a person chosen, named, or honored...</a>Jan 24, 2026 - Mar 7, 2026Opening: Saturday, Jan 24, 11:00 AM – 7:00 PMPATRON <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1769195058/xm9l51smglo5myukk9ch.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/the-92nd-exhibition-of-visual-artist-members" target="_blank">The 92nd Exhibition of Visual Artist Members</a>Exhibition begins January 24. Reception rescheduled for January 27, 6-8pm.The Arts Club of Chicago <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1769195059/og1bhdbqseqmfxmltzcx.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/world-in-my-eyes" target="_blank">World in My Eyes</a>Update: Opening: Friday, January 30, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PMJoy Machine <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1769195060/litghywhpiohek2axrgn.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/shelf-show" target="_blank">Shelf Show</a>Opening: Friday, January 23, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM and Saturday, January 24 12-4pm.SAWHORSE <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1769195061/dnuazkm7jgtes8kbchg9.png"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/yoonshin-park-prompt-and-prompted" target="_blank">Yoonshin Park: Prompt and Prompted</a>Exhibition begins January 24Hyde Park Art Center <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1769195063/umnhgqrvfr29u5qhyvsp.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/living-with-modernism-kelli-connell" target="_blank">Living with Modernism: Kelli Connell</a>Exhibition begins January 24Elmhurst Art Museum <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1769195064/pve7bwm6flfveonidkt9.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/lisa-ridgers-linc-thelen-fresh-tracks" target="_blank">Lisa Ridgers &amp; Linc Thelen: Fresh Tracks</a>Jan 24, 2026 - Mar 2, 2026Opening: Saturday, Jan 24, 2026 4:00 PM – 6:00 PMAnne Loucks Gallery

New Exhibitions Begin January 22 - 24

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1768501966/ycrrx2vvrbims2w6bfw1.jpg">Left: Amanda Williams. Right: Esther Grimm. Photo by&nbsp;Z Marciniak for Bob. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1768501967/zvffp0zskb854ugp1ar0.jpg">Left: Amanda Williams and Nora Daley. Right: Esther Grimm and Norman Teague. Photo by&nbsp;Z Marciniak for Bob. By GINNY VAN ALYEA In the busy lead up to the holidays, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.hydeparkart.org/gala/" target="_blank">Hyde Park Art Center</a> hosted its 86th annual gala at the Center on Saturday, November 15, 2025. The lively event honored arts leader&nbsp;Esther Grimm&nbsp;and artist&nbsp;Amanda Williams,&nbsp;and was co-chaired by&nbsp;Mirja Spooner Haffner, Founder of The Laksmi Project,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Christy MacLear,&nbsp;President of&nbsp;Good Chaos.&nbsp; More than 300 attendees wore&nbsp;“creative cocktail” attire and mingled with collectors, curators, arts supporters and of course artists. Cocktail hour was a chance to peek into&nbsp;resident artist open studios and explore various spaces on both floors of HPAC.&nbsp;At a packed, seated dinner in the Art Center’s main space, and amidst a buzzy, celebratory atmosphere&nbsp;Art Center leadership shared remarks about HPAC’s storied history of supporting artists at key moments in their career and how they have come to be one of the most significant creative incubators on the South Side and throughout the city.&nbsp;The large crowd was accommodated with seating in a large white tent that temporarily expanded HPAC's main gallery 1 space. When it came time to honor Grimm and Williams, both women were equally excited to be in each other’s company, with Grimm sharing how&nbsp;deeply humbled but also giddy she felt to be on stage with Williams. Williams emphasized just how important it is to watch what happens at Hyde Park Art Center. "Supporting artists makes this city&nbsp;great,” she said. “I can&nbsp;imagine no other&nbsp;pairing of organizations that have been as important 3arts and Hyde Park Art Center.&nbsp;We are so spoiled in Chicago. This is where it happens before it’s cute.” Williams pointed out that she got her first big award from HPAC in 2015, and that she hasn’t slept since. She said she’s not the only one, pointing to other artists like Edra Soto, Sabina Ott, Turtel Onli, Joyce Owens and Kerry James Marshall, all of whom were championed and invested in locally before gaining national reputations. “Things happen here,” Williams said.&nbsp; <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1768501968/dewrbhsbxy0h8t2ykbpc.jpg">Aaron Rodgers and Jeannette Tremblay Chambers. Photo by&nbsp;Z Marciniak for Bob.&nbsp;During the event, the Art Center’s co-Executive Directors&nbsp;Jeannette Tremblay Chambers&nbsp;and&nbsp;Aaron Rodgers&nbsp;announced a partnership with 3Arts on a new residency program at the Art Center.&nbsp;Beyond Bodies of Work, a six-month residency for artists with disabilities who have previously completed a 3Arts/Bodies of Work Residency, will be held at the Art Center starting in 2026. Its first resident,&nbsp;Pooja Pittie, is a self-taught painter and fiber artist based in Chicago. Living with a progressive form of muscular dystrophy, Pittie’s work draws on the dynamics of a slowing body and an active, curious mind.&nbsp;The event saw its largest attendance since before the pandemic and also raised&nbsp;$515,000. According to the Hyde Park Herald, this significant number is particularly notable and needed, considering HPAC's decision in 2025 not to apply for funding from the National Endowment for the Arts because of federal guidelines that prohibit funding organizations that offer diversity, equity and inclusion programs. As a result HPAC knew they would grapple with a $100,000 funding deficit. The gala has a reputation as one of the city’s most “hands-on” art parties, and though I didn’t stay for the after-party in collaboration with Lumpen Radio, many others did, continuing the revelry and participating in Interactive Artist Interventions, enjoying&nbsp;performances, DJs, and late-night bites. The chance to be together was a night to celebrate artists as well as this special South Side institution and its impact for years to come.&nbsp; <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1768501969/mjhf92m2qjd1r67y6kda.jpg">Artists in a HPAC studio space. Photo by&nbsp;Z Marciniak for Bob. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1768501970/m4pfbc85e1ci1bgtokko.jpg">Photo by&nbsp;CGN

Hyde Park Art Center Honors Amanda Williams and Esther Grimm at Annual Gala

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1768236483/eyp9nkvjejiy6iqwmcoy.jpg"> Via PR Chicago - Mariah Keller&nbsp;will become the new Executive Director of Wrightwood 659, an arts space in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Tadao Ando. Founded in 2018, Wrightwood 659&nbsp;hosts exhibitions on socially engaged art and architecture, on issues facing LGBTQ+ communities, and on Asian art and architecture.“We are thrilled to welcome Mariah Keller as the new Executive Director of Wrightwood 659,” says&nbsp;Fred Eychaner, Co-Founder, Wrightwood 659. “Mariah brings a wealth of experience from respected cultural institutions, and her leadership, vision, and commitment to excellence align perfectly with our goals. We are confident her expertise will guide Wrightwood 659 into an exciting new chapter.” <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1768236484/x2xdd35siw7sn1kpurnl.jpg"> Keller notes, “I am delighted to be joining this extraordinary gem in Chicago. The museum’s commitment to socially engaged art and architecture, its leadership in presenting exhibitions addressing issues facing LGBTQ+ communities, and its deep engagement with Asian art and architecture make it a truly singular place. I look forward to working alongside the dedicated and deeply committed staff as we continue to expand its impact and reach.”Prior to her appointment, Keller held several leadership roles at the Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University Bloomington, a 112,000-square-foot museum designed by I.M. Pei. She was most recently interim director where she led the museum’s academic research and teaching collaborations, day-to-day operations, and the execution of a robust exhibition program and acquisitions strategy. During her tenure there since 2016, Keller oversaw publishing, marketing and communications, graphic design, photography and museum technology and also served as a member of the museum’s senior leadership team, contributing to strategic planning and management of the operating budget. Keller also served as Head of Publications and Digital Media at the Saint Louis Art Museum, and, as founder of Keller Editing, successfully shepherded more than 50 books to completion from concept to print. Earlier in her career, Keller was senior editor at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, editor at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and a program assistant at the National Gallery of Art.&nbsp;Keller succeeds&nbsp;Jan Kallish, who has led Wrightwood 659 since 2021, and who is retiring and returning to entrepreneurial projects in theatre and the performing arts. “We extend our deepest gratitude to Jan for her four years of dedicated leadership,” says Eychaner. “Jan joined us full time while the world was still emerging from COVID&nbsp;and did a remarkable job stabilizing and expanding our footprint, leading our talented staff to mount 20 successful exhibitions. Her energy and enthusiasm will never be forgotten, and she has promised she will remain&nbsp;engaged with Wrightwood 659 as she returns to her first love—the theatre.” In addition to her work on critically acclaimed exhibitions, Kallish expanded Wrightwood 659’s industry-leading Educator program, which trains early-career participants to serve as gallery guides and conversation partners.&nbsp;&nbsp;Next at Wrightwood 659 will be two exhibitions on view April 17 – July 18, 2026:&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://wrightwood659.org/exhibitions/martin-wong-chinatown-usa/" target="_blank">Martin Wong: Chinatown USA</a>, the first U.S. monographic museum exhibition since 2017 of Chinese American artist Martin Wong (1946–1999), and&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://wrightwood659.org/exhibitions/dispossessions-in-the-americas/" target="_blank">Dispossessions in the Americas: The Extraction of Bodies, Land, and Heritage from La Conquista to the Present</a>, bringing together over 40 works by 36 contemporary artists from across Latin America whose work broadly seeks to critique and unsettle the long-standing politics of dispossession. For more information, please visit <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://protect.checkpoint.com/v2/r01/___http:/www.wrightwood659.org___.YzJ1OmFscGhhd29vZGZvdW5kYXRpb246YzpvOjhkYzMwMzk1YjYyMWI0Njc1NmM3YWNjOWQxMDc5NTdmOjc6NjVmYTozOTJmNGE3ZjY4OGFlMDkyMTY5MGVjZTg5NGMxZDJmNmFjZTBjZDlkZDc2NThlYWI0MjE3ZjZmM2Q5MzdmZThlOnA6VDpG" target="_blank">www.wrightwood659.org</a>.

Mariah Keller Named New Executive Director of Wrightwood 659

CGN adds to its <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events" target="_blank">calendar of art events</a> daily, and there is no shortage of new exhibitions, openings, art fairs, talks and family art events to explore. We have put together a preview of what is coming up the rest of this month. Even though it's winter and we are looking to stay in and cozy, there is plenty to see and enjoy throughout the city. Events happen throughout the city as well as in the suburbs and within a day's drive. Whether you have an hour after work or you are looking for a weekend road trip, take a look and do a little planning in order to take a step into the world of art. Everyone is welcome! Highlights are organized by event type. Dates vary and are subject to change. –&nbsp;GinnyCGN Publisher <h3>• Exhibitions</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1768237167/ncx7gcseriuego9rrxsc.jpg"> <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/housewarming" target="_blank">Housewarming</a></h4> On view as of January 9, 2026 <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/elise-seigenthaler-gallery" target="_blank">Elise Seigenthaler Gallery</a> “Housewarming” marks the inaugural exhibition at Elise Seigenthaler Gallery, with works by Amira Diaw, Rebekka Federle, Ava Peterson, and Olivia Porter. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1768237168/hna8yzwi3tw56fdlsuge.jpg"> <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/leah-ke-yi-zheng-change" target="_blank">Leah Ke Yi Zheng: Change</a></h4> Thru Apr 12, 2026 <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/the-renaissance-society" target="_blank">The Renaissance Society</a> Leah Ke Yi Zheng’s upcoming exhibition presents a complete series of 64 paintings based on the hexagrams of the&nbsp; I Ching (Book of Changes), a foundational text in Chinese philosophy that offers insights into the changing nature of existence. Each painting reflects on a hexagram not through literal representation, but through an evolving visual language shaped by abstraction, intuition, and the interplay of light and material. As she works with silk and hand-built hardwood stretchers, in continual difference, the exhibition becomes a meditation on change itself: how it is read, made visible, and experienced through painting.Zheng’s practice brings together traditional Chinese materialities and conceptual art methodologies to explore transformation, multiplicity, and the logic of variation. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1768237169/e8a2fkwzudlh3qlgesu5.png"> <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/mocp-at-50-collecting-through-the-decades" target="_blank">MoCP at 50: Collecting Through the Decades</a></h4> Jan 22, 2026 - May 16, 2026 <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/museum-of-contemporary-photography-mocp" target="_blank">Museum of Contemporary Photography (MoCP)</a> Since opening in 1976 and initiating collecting in 1979, MoCP has acquired over 18,000 objects by more than 2,000 artists, representing a broad scope of aesthetics, technologies, and processes. The variety of artworks collected has allowed the museum to engage in conversations across political, social, and cultural landscapes. To celebrate this milestone,&nbsp;MoCP at Fifty&nbsp;examines the evolving practice of building a dynamic collection, presenting a range of objects, from the rarely exhibited to newly acquired works. Together, these selections question and reflect on the role cultural institutions play in shaping the photographic canon. Each of the museum’s five galleries represents a decade of collecting, beginning with the most recent acquisitions (2016-2026) in the first gallery, then moving backwards through time. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1768237169/dn2l2jza3n3fh5zgdddr.jpg"> <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/the-92nd-exhibition-of-visual-artist-members" target="_blank">The 92nd Exhibition of Visual Artist Members</a></h4> Jan 23, 2026 - Mar 7, 2026 <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/the-arts-club-of-chicago" target="_blank">The Arts Club of Chicago</a> The Arts Club’s Exhibition of Visual Artist Members is a beloved tradition that brings great pride and prestige to the institution and its membership. Following an inaugural exhibition of paintings by John Singer Sargent in 1916, the second exhibition ever mounted at The Arts Club was of work by our members. Although its structure has changed over the past century, the goal of the exhibition remains the same: to celebrate and showcase the creative efforts of our artist members across a range of media, styles, genres, and forms. To continue The Arts Club’s tradition of showcasing a current and dynamic representation of our members’ practices, participants are asked to submit works completed within the past two years. Some of the artists members are participating in this exhibition for the first time; others have participated for several decades. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1768237170/heokzukxrrafprukkhql.jpg"> <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/living-with-modernism-kelli-connell" target="_blank">Living with Modernism: Kelli Connell</a></h4> Jan 24, 2026 - Apr 27, 2026 <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/elmhurst-art-museum" target="_blank">Elmhurst Art Museum</a> Presenting two series by the Chicago-based artist, Connell’s nationally traveling exhibition&nbsp;Pictures for Charis&nbsp;responds to the iconic photographs of Highland Park-born artist&nbsp;Edward Weston&nbsp;through a queer, feminist lens. Her second major body of work—Double Life—explores the evolution of intimate relationships shaped by the changing nature of identity over time, and features new commissions responding to the architecture of the&nbsp;Mies van der Rohe-designed McCormick House. The exhibition marks the largest presentation of Connell’s work in Chicago, placing queerness, power structures, and shifting ecologies in the twenty-first century in conversation with two giants of modernism. <h3>• Special Events</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1768237171/wdnoliiizbhux5jhbzzo.png"> <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/mlk-day-2026-chaos-or-community" target="_blank">MLK Day 2026: Chaos or Community?</a></h4> Monday, Jan 19, 2026 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/hyde-park-art-center" target="_blank">Hyde Park Art Center</a> HPAC proudly presents&nbsp;a free public Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration&nbsp;MLK DAY 2026: CHAOS OR COMMUNITY&nbsp;on&nbsp;Monday, January 19, from 11 AM – 4 PM&nbsp;at 5020 South Cornell Avenue. Eclectic programming for all ages blends live music, thought-provoking film, artmaking, and meditation, to highlight art as a vessel for collective memory, liberation, and joy, while reflecting on Dr. King’s profound impact on social justice and cultural movements. Registration is recommended at&nbsp;<a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://hydeparkart.org/" target="_blank">HydeParkArt.org</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1768237172/hahgupw0ivh58qezd1rk.jpg"> <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/winter-newberryfest" target="_blank">Winter NewberryFest</a></h4> Saturday, Jan 24, 2026 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/newberry-library" target="_blank">Newberry Library</a> The Newberry will hold an event on Saturday, January 24, designed to help both new and returning visitors learn more about the independent research library in Chicago’s Gold Coast.&nbsp;“Winter NewberryFest”&nbsp;is an open house-style event that will lean into the library’s extensive collection of maps, dating from the 1500s through present.&nbsp; <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1768237173/fyoucgr9exi09zqnvnsi.jpg"> <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/chicago-museum-member-swap-weekend" target="_blank">Chicago Museum Member Swap Weekend</a></h4> Jan 29, 2026 - Feb 1, 2026 Chicago’s first Museum Member Swap Weekend takes place during the last weekend of January. Members of the following museums can visit 11 other museums around the city with a single member card free of charge.&nbsp; Participating institutions include: <ul><li>American Writers Museum</li><li>Driehaus Museum</li><li>Glessner House</li><li>Illinois Holocaust Museum presents Experience360</li><li>International Museum of Surgical Science</li><li>Intuit Art Museum</li><li>Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago</li><li>National Museum of Mexican Art</li><li>National Public Housing Museum</li><li>National Hellenic Museum</li><li>Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art</li></ul> <h3>• CGN News </h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1768237174/q9309bixjo9wlox0cboc.jpg"> <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/articles/publishers-letter-the-cgn-arts-guide-turns-ten" target="_blank">2026: The CGN Arts Guide Turns Ten</a></h4> <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/articles/publishers-letter-the-cgn-arts-guide-turns-ten" target="_blank">Ten years of</a> CGN Arts Guides. Artists from left: Carlos Rolon, Scott Reeder, Judy Ledgerwood, Bethany Collins, Tony Tasset, Andrew Holmquist, Amanda Williams, Christina Ramberg, Jonathan Higgins, Diego Marcon

CGN Art Preview: January 2026

We received the following message from Justin Witte, Dir. at Cleve Carney Museum of Art and are sharing this news in case some of you would like to help artist Andi Crist following a fire at her home on January 1, 2026.– GV <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1768413311/wq32loxgx6hiinca9ezb.jpg">Andi Crist, Installation view of Live, Laugh, Labor, 2025 at CCMA From Justin WitteDirector and Curator<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/the-cleve-carney-museum-of-art-ccma" target="_blank">Cleve Carney Museum of Art</a> Last week at the very start of 2026, our current featured artist,&nbsp;Andi Crist, and her family experienced an unimaginable loss. On New Year’s Day, their Chicago home was destroyed by fire.Beyond the loss of a house, Andi and her family lost the artworks, personal objects, and everyday items that made it a home. Like so many artists, her work and her living space were intertwined, making this loss both personal and professional. As Andi and her family begin the long process of rebuilding and moving forward, they are facing enormous challenges. A GoFundMe has been created to help cover immediate needs and support their recovery during this difficult time. If you are able, we encourage you to consider donating. Any contribution, large or small, makes a real difference, and sharing the campaign helps extend that support even further.Thank you for being part of a community that shows up for artists not only in moments of celebration, but also in moments of need. <a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://q8w2.engage.squarespace-mail.com/r?m=695ea4685353385de97e8b7e&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gofundme.com%2Ff%2Fhelp-jp-andi-and-ollie-rebuild-after-house-fire&amp;w=610a97870a7b92681378bfb2&amp;c=b_695e9fef5353385de97dca75&amp;l=en-US&amp;s=7O-3GCWFcX_lvMueSavv97UGz_8%3D" target="_blank">Donate to Andi Crist’s GoFundMe</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1768413312/tsd4h2xtt3uwel1fsoqu.jpg"> Image of Andi Crist’s home after the January 1, 2026 fire

Call to Support Artist Andi Crist After Fire Loss

<h3><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1767819548/asw1lj8aylcz9zibgxmw.jpg"></h3><h3> </h3><h3>MoCP's DARKROOM Tickets are on Sale</h3> Celebrate MoCP and the museum's 50th anniversary at their annual benefit auction party next month, DARKROOM taking place February 26, 2026. DARKROOM brings together hundreds of photography enthusiasts, artists, and arts patrons for an evening to support the museum. This year, MoCP honors photographer Joel Sternfeld with the Silver Camera Award while showcasing nearly 50 artists in the auction and offering one-of-a-kind live arts experiences on-site at DARKROOM. Purchase DARKROOM Tickets <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.mocp.org/events/darkroom2026/?mc_cid=040406e83c&amp;mc_eid=d76e1da35a" target="_blank">here</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1767819549/q2tigiuca0di5arhbmnl.png"> <h3>Chicago Museum Member Swap Coming Up Jan 29–Feb 1</h3> A perk of being a member at many of Chicago's smaller museums and institutions is that you can explore Chicago’s incredible collection of museums with the new Chicago Museum Member Swap weekend event!&nbsp;&nbsp;From January 29-February 1, present your participating membership card at any of the participating Chicago museums, and enjoy free admission!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Participating museums are&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://qjxtjxbbb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001pnbMEVkcmkHzK3idzbXYR6qBJSkn0bnErij3f1Jm8P8nPYtUxzIwbu55NZ3YwL90PRQKYH8MKR1nVKKK4TFStE4Le6scGH7vmAnZMI547Ea-ZFruVXAarmQwxkCwm9ydST3f9fW2dDVDVPPGrJC45xa5B8Cdt1yBjjyanMS-NDAH6KuZzwhT6beUQszoeceHFvjv5KtqcKXnp4esrCvvJP-W5NGBb8EsRGrt2gIU0uDd0KK-m-LQ4E7c0_ZPxXVQ&amp;c=eVJ9DkFpR4800twZBA4W7PkFajvj6SE2ZJ6jNYrLIAB2cENj2FBoSg==&amp;ch=QzF5M7FjeYXXWJjjXG7UAq65EfSzTag7sOfxNdCQ_LvgAQjeUiI-gg==" target="_blank">American Writers Museum</a>,&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://qjxtjxbbb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001pnbMEVkcmkHzK3idzbXYR6qBJSkn0bnErij3f1Jm8P8nPYtUxzIwbu55NZ3YwL90JV23JouDolcchK7epsZbK7Y58l8hL0NBwfi-je6-nTnRmMyDZLdjcNXgZXIkj22PEALIOm2mWCnu22eCZOtvsXT0y6jG4J3t&amp;c=eVJ9DkFpR4800twZBA4W7PkFajvj6SE2ZJ6jNYrLIAB2cENj2FBoSg==&amp;ch=QzF5M7FjeYXXWJjjXG7UAq65EfSzTag7sOfxNdCQ_LvgAQjeUiI-gg==" target="_blank">Driehaus Museum</a>,&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://qjxtjxbbb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001pnbMEVkcmkHzK3idzbXYR6qBJSkn0bnErij3f1Jm8P8nPYtUxzIwbu55NZ3YwL90RLwrpxePtgodJ9Yi___mHtex1PbJwJbCRuurf9D1975mQ9Y9CHnWLIriwx7pNBDjxgwYHqT4GElm8ZoxrEwmrD4L8zPIsA9R&amp;c=eVJ9DkFpR4800twZBA4W7PkFajvj6SE2ZJ6jNYrLIAB2cENj2FBoSg==&amp;ch=QzF5M7FjeYXXWJjjXG7UAq65EfSzTag7sOfxNdCQ_LvgAQjeUiI-gg==" target="_blank">Glessner House</a>,&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://qjxtjxbbb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001pnbMEVkcmkHzK3idzbXYR6qBJSkn0bnErij3f1Jm8P8nPYtUxzIwbu55NZ3YwL90-2XXo0eC_e497mtys7lSsrfB9ZzIh_eVgNzGP7wHJQIjfla0W8ChVdJJ0aEcMkFVcugxeLS8VKGJumJ_EvQLDOyMNxPEFKTEKdk76muypu_hv6aucogvTB2nPgvXIODReCYJJTDtW4U=&amp;c=eVJ9DkFpR4800twZBA4W7PkFajvj6SE2ZJ6jNYrLIAB2cENj2FBoSg==&amp;ch=QzF5M7FjeYXXWJjjXG7UAq65EfSzTag7sOfxNdCQ_LvgAQjeUiI-gg==" target="_blank">Illinois Holocaust Museum</a>,&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://qjxtjxbbb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001pnbMEVkcmkHzK3idzbXYR6qBJSkn0bnErij3f1Jm8P8nPYtUxzIwbu55NZ3YwL90ON2EETql2hW9_WS9yE2lTBDCybjqdZedbkOCjV1p7xg3oGRRPpBQr8CQuKI4afwbkrWxCxJxXvaEIOVkiFDOUg==&amp;c=eVJ9DkFpR4800twZBA4W7PkFajvj6SE2ZJ6jNYrLIAB2cENj2FBoSg==&amp;ch=QzF5M7FjeYXXWJjjXG7UAq65EfSzTag7sOfxNdCQ_LvgAQjeUiI-gg==" target="_blank">Museum of Contemporary Art</a>,&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://qjxtjxbbb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001pnbMEVkcmkHzK3idzbXYR6qBJSkn0bnErij3f1Jm8P8nPYtUxzIwbu55NZ3YwL90GpgNKW4CLsf0SgrFeYh7VZtvEIpl3bIkdvmW5KMKi02f9lkJkyQU2SkFBgP44rBzpQD7WMMbQno=&amp;c=eVJ9DkFpR4800twZBA4W7PkFajvj6SE2ZJ6jNYrLIAB2cENj2FBoSg==&amp;ch=QzF5M7FjeYXXWJjjXG7UAq65EfSzTag7sOfxNdCQ_LvgAQjeUiI-gg==" target="_blank">Museum of Surgical Science</a>,&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://qjxtjxbbb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001pnbMEVkcmkHzK3idzbXYR6qBJSkn0bnErij3f1Jm8P8nPYtUxzIwbu55NZ3YwL90YlGcjYUhEQJL8ghDjNfWek0lhl3oLdwZIsXiYVfHdD-Svp92EtQhO03djnBSCuBqPNoqgLEgwKxoTSsUnNtUkT6G0tT9cVlNSeCkLZQ9qt0=&amp;c=eVJ9DkFpR4800twZBA4W7PkFajvj6SE2ZJ6jNYrLIAB2cENj2FBoSg==&amp;ch=QzF5M7FjeYXXWJjjXG7UAq65EfSzTag7sOfxNdCQ_LvgAQjeUiI-gg==" target="_blank">National Museum of Mexican Art</a>,&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://qjxtjxbbb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001pnbMEVkcmkHzK3idzbXYR6qBJSkn0bnErij3f1Jm8P8nPYtUxzIwbu55NZ3YwL90O0LZvpTGGRitgl7XhCDpnGE3jTw6AsICDqeoU5p9s6BK4NwFc6540iucMW2xbsG5WPAprQIiI6U=&amp;c=eVJ9DkFpR4800twZBA4W7PkFajvj6SE2ZJ6jNYrLIAB2cENj2FBoSg==&amp;ch=QzF5M7FjeYXXWJjjXG7UAq65EfSzTag7sOfxNdCQ_LvgAQjeUiI-gg==" target="_blank">National Public Housing Museum</a>,&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://qjxtjxbbb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001pnbMEVkcmkHzK3idzbXYR6qBJSkn0bnErij3f1Jm8P8nPYtUxzIwbu55NZ3YwL90iohySwS5gvaNy2fZjrPuqx6oI4pch8DHOLd6S6nyIPTu3qrt4lD3t46trpEmT2W64U65AxhyqU34Dux1xA_A_ACIosVVBzIjKVmGSWR3SuQ=&amp;c=eVJ9DkFpR4800twZBA4W7PkFajvj6SE2ZJ6jNYrLIAB2cENj2FBoSg==&amp;ch=QzF5M7FjeYXXWJjjXG7UAq65EfSzTag7sOfxNdCQ_LvgAQjeUiI-gg==" target="_blank">National Hellenic Museum</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://qjxtjxbbb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001pnbMEVkcmkHzK3idzbXYR6qBJSkn0bnErij3f1Jm8P8nPYtUxzIwbj8-81TJC5nR3Jjl_sxAka_fb4in2O5JIFKOow65jcnrDJiYEth-WvFWAlkDP92umQbM_B1IZ4kqfRJsxiqLY2ERumVQfv5skQ==&amp;c=eVJ9DkFpR4800twZBA4W7PkFajvj6SE2ZJ6jNYrLIAB2cENj2FBoSg==&amp;ch=QzF5M7FjeYXXWJjjXG7UAq65EfSzTag7sOfxNdCQ_LvgAQjeUiI-gg==" target="_blank">Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art</a> and the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://art.org/" target="_blank">Intuit Museum of Art</a>&nbsp;The offer extends to the cardholding member plus one guest and any children 16 years old and younger.&nbsp;Check participating&nbsp;museums’&nbsp;websites&nbsp;for expectations around&nbsp;advance registration&nbsp;or walk-in visits. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1767819550/mzgpdqies3xgrvoslt8y.jpg"> <h3>Les Enluminures Closing New York Location but Keeping Chicago and Paris</h3> Founder Sandra Hindman shared: As of February 1, we will be closing the New York gallery of <a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.lesenluminures.com/" target="_blank">Les Enluminures</a>. Since we opened there 14 years ago, we have met so many wonderful people and hosted many exhibitions and special events, With the opening of our new space on the Palais Royal in Paris, we have decided it’s time to narrow our focus to our two “home” spaces – Paris where the business began and Chicago where I am based and which is increasingly active.&nbsp; Please be assured that we will still have a presence in New York. We will continue to participate in the Winter Show in January and the New York Antiquarian Book Fair in the Spring, as well as other ad hoc events. And -- New York is a mere 1 ½ hours away from Chicago by air! <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1767819551/ju5nghk2ozct2u3jvnpr.jpg"> <h3>Newberry Library Announces Winter NewberryFest January 24</h3> The Newberry will hold an event on Saturday, January 24, 12-3pm designed to help both new and returning visitors learn more about the independent research library in Chicago’s Gold Coast.&nbsp; “Winter NewberryFest”&nbsp;is an open house-style event that will lean into the library’s extensive collection of maps, dating from the 1500s through present. NewberryFest arrives as a current exhibition,&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.newberry.org/calendar/mapping-outside-the-lines" target="_blank">Mapping Outside the Lines</a>, takes visitors through a vast array of maps from mundane textbooks to avant garde art. Winter NewberryFest&nbsp;will take place on the first floor of the library (60 West Walton Place, Chicago) with a wide variety of activities that are free and open to all, including: <ul><li>Coming face-to-face with extraordinary maps and related items&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.newberry.org/collection" target="_blank">from our collections</a> and having questions answered by our expert librarians and curators.</li><li>Learning from our map curator about how to find and enjoy materials in our collection in a half-hour session, 12-12:30pm.</li><li>Making map-inspired art through collage and papermaking from 1-3pm.</li><li>Shopping a used book sale, which promises to offer literary treasures at low prices.</li><li>Visiting our latest exhibitions,&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.newberry.org/calendar/mapping-outside-the-lines" target="_blank">Mapping Outside the Lines</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.newberry.org/calendar/from-page-to-pixel" target="_blank">From Page to Pixel: Discovering the Digital Newberry</a>.</li><li>Joining a docent-led building tour to learn about the library's nearly 140-year history.&nbsp;</li><li>Visiting the&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.bookshop.newberry.org/" target="_blank">Newberry Bookshop</a>, which includes much more than just books. All attendees receive 10% off their purchase.</li><li> </li></ul><a style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.newberry.org/calendar/newberryfest" target="_blank">Registration is encouraged to receive updates and reminders about the event.</a>

CGN Art World Recap: 1.7.26

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1767884805/tq4ndklu7iv9m0fcxwna.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/housewarming" target="_blank">Housewarming</a>Opening: Friday, January 9, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PMElise Seigenthaler Gallery <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1767884806/owlnckroi57i9znbsyey.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/spaces-for-people-systems-for-spaces" target="_blank">Spaces for People, Systems for Spaces</a>Opening: Friday, January 9, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PMWestern Exhibitions <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1767884807/mpdwhuipmj7wiewtzcnm.png"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/from-its-own-ashes" target="_blank">From Its Own Ashes</a>Opening: Friday, January 9, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PMChicago Artists Coalition (CAC) <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1767884808/wnnwnbwhhivnxbbbeocv.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/jimmy-desana-and-paul-mpagi-sepuya" target="_blank">Jimmy DeSana and Paul Mpagi Sepuya</a>Opening: Friday, Jan 9, 2026 5:00 PM – 8:00 PMDOCUMENT <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1767884809/lydqpg6b8ku3wkx0efhc.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/goldilocks-moment" target="_blank">Goldilocks Moment</a>Opening: Friday, January 9, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PMSoNa Chicago Contemporary Art <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1767884811/uaswjnz4dkg1bdbyzkgg.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/leah-ke-yi-zheng-change" target="_blank">Leah Ke Yi Zheng: Change</a>Opening: Saturday, January 10, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PMThe Renaissance Society <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1767884812/segz4ojripx7jfg4i12z.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/triptych-kate-berry-brown-vanessa-filley-and-darren-oberto" target="_blank">Triptych: Kate Berry-Brown, Vanessa Filley and Darren Oberto</a>Opening: Saturday, January 10, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PMThe Grove Gallery <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1767884813/j31as0x64ka0hhp6ynrj.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/william-harper-fugue" target="_blank">William Harper: Fugue</a>Opening: Saturday, January 10, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PMPerspective Photo Gallery

New Exhibitions Opening January 9 & 10

<h3><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1767819536/vp4zmqmcqdgnmjetf3km.jpg"></h3>A bell inside the Dom Tower in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Thousands of Dutch church bells were destroyed by the Nazis, melted down for weapons and ammunition. A few of the oldest were protected as monuments, marked with an “M.”<h3> </h3><h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/27/arts/nazis-church-bells-ww2.html" target="_blank">The Nazi Plunder of Church Bells Changed the Sound of Europe</a></h3> In a diary entry in the summer of 1943, Anne Frank wrote that she had lost all sense of time. The bells in Amsterdam’s tallest church tower, the Westertoren, right next to her own attic hiding place in a canal house, had stopped ringing. During World War II, Hitler’s Germany requisitioned some 175,000 church bells from across Europe, so that they could extract their metal components, mostly copper and tin. Via NYT<h3> </h3><h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/01/05/how-much-should-art-cost-the-pitfalls-and-paradoxes-of-pricing-works" target="_blank">How much should art cost? The pitfalls and paradoxes of pricing works</a></h3> In the cyclical booms and busts of the art market, downturns tend to reverse prevailing trends. In 2015, for example, the reign of the Zombie Formalism trend died of a 7% contraction in global sales. In Miami that year, Jeffrey Deitch and Larry Gagosian mounted the figurative group show&nbsp;Unrealism&nbsp;in its wake, officially anointing figuration as the art market’s next big thing. The art economy recovered, and figuration ascended until the next inflection point in 2022, when, with rising interest rates, prevailing trends again began to reverse. Confident collectors became cautious, expanding galleries downsized, and during this year’s autumn fairs, headlines boasted of Millennials’ rising interest in Old Masters, the ultimate referendum to the ultra-contemporary bubble that just burst. Via The Art Newspaper <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/art-world-insiders-2026-market-predictions-new-years-1234768290/" target="_blank">Art World Insiders Make Their New Year’s Predictions for 2026</a></h3> 2025 was a disorienting and destabilizing year, both in the art market and farther afield. But amid all the doom and gloom of gallery closures, tariff announcements, and Trump proclamations, there were hints of brighter days ahead. For every gallery that shut its doors, another opened, and this fall saw the art market seemingly spring to life after a dismaying first six months.2026, then, offers much to look forward to. Art Basel and Frieze will launch new fairs in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, respectively, and two of the most anticipated biennials—the Whitney Biennial and the Venice Biennale—will return. If nothing else, the new year will likely reveal whether the art world’s pivot to the Gulf, and auction houses’ deepening emphasis on luxury categories, were good choices. Via ARTnews <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://hyperallergic.com/in-2026-democracy-needs-museums/" target="_blank">In 2026, Democracy Needs Museums</a></h3> Believe it or not, the future of our nation may rest on how museums in the United States perform in 2026.&nbsp; We must deliver content about the 250th anniversary of our nation and its democracy that is thoughtful and comprehensive. We must make access to museums within reach of all Americans. And finally, museums must issue a challenge to the communities we serve: It’s time to know your nation’s history, if for no other reason than that it is our only path to building a more perfect union. It’s tempting to be dispirited as a museum professional these days. Headlines about a highly partisan political environment, a cynical public, and a tidal wave of industrial and cultural change driven by AI might lead one to think that museums have been relegated to the sidelines of our nation’s future.&nbsp;&nbsp; Via Hyperallergic

What We're Reading 1.5.26

<h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/12/18/independent-and-nimble-art-fairs-are-redrawing-the-art-market-map" target="_blank">In 2025, new ‘independent and nimble’ art fairs began redrawing the market map</a></h3> Although gallery closures and tepid auction results loom largest, art fair casualties have been another signal of the market’s challenges in 2025. The Art Dealers Association of America postponed the 37th edition of its Manhattan fair, the Art Show, this summer, days before Taipei Dangdai’s 2026 iteration was called off. The forthcoming editions of Photofairs Hong Kong, the India Art Fair’s Mumbai expo and the Baltimore Fine Art Print &amp; Photo Fair were all cancelled, too.Amid these retrenchments, however, 2025 brought alternative fairs from Paris to the Berkshires.&nbsp; Via The Art Newspaper <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/arts/design/louvre-heist-thief-museum-security.html" target="_blank">After the Louvre Heist, Museums Look for Lessons to Help Stop Thieves</a></h3> The brazen&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(50, 104, 145);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/world/europe/louvre-paris-robbery.html" target="_blank">daylight heist</a>&nbsp;at the Louvre has left many American museums reassessing their security measures, focusing on perimeter control, the adequacy of their security cameras and the timely availability of armed responders, security consultants and museum officials say. Like all crimes, the Paris theft had its idiosyncratic factors, but all three of these elements&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(50, 104, 145);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/world/europe/inside-louvre-jewel-heist.html" target="_blank">played a crucial part</a>&nbsp;at the Louvre, where thieves drove a stolen truck up to the museum on a quiet Sunday morning, extended an electric ladder to a second-floor window and broke in. They used disc grinders to extract jewelry valued at about 88 million euros, or $102 million, from cases in the gilded Apollo Gallery. None of the stolen material has been recovered. “The biggest takeaway is, ‘Are your security people watching your perimeter aware of who is working at the museum?’” Via NYTimes <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/art-bites-mona-lisa-louvre-heist-2708512" target="_blank">The Theft That Made the Mona Lisa Famous</a></h3> The robbery that took place at the Louvre on October 19, 2025—when thieves disguised as construction workers&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(31, 31, 31);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/louvre-robbery-2701689" target="_blank">stole</a>&nbsp;$102 million in French crown jewels—has already gone down as one of the most infamous art heists in recent history. However, it hardly holds a candle to the scandal that rocked Paris in 1911, when criminals took off with the museum’s most treasured possession: Leonardo da Vinci’s&nbsp;Mona Lisa. Like the recent heist, the 1911 robbery was similarly cartoonish in its&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(31, 31, 31);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thecollector.com/how-did-vincenzo-peruggia-steal-the-mona-lisa/" target="_blank">execution</a>. The main culprit, an Italian handyman and museum employee named Vicenzo Peruggia, hid inside a supply closet until closing time.&nbsp; Via Artnet Top photo: Courtesy of CGN <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artforum.com/news/white-house-reiterates-funding-threat-against-smithsonian-1234741259/" target="_blank">White House Intensifies Funding Threats Against Smithsonian</a></h3> The Trump administration, which&nbsp;<a style="color: currentcolor;" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artforum.com/news/smithsonian-exhibitions-white-house-scrutiny-1234733703/" target="_blank">this past August announced that it would review</a>&nbsp;current and forthcoming Smithsonian exhibitions “to assess tone, historical framing and alignment with American ideals,” has reiterated its threat to pull funding if the Smithsonian does not comply. Although the Smithsonian provided the White House with documentation in September, Domestic Policy Council director Vince Haley and White House budget director Russell Vought on December 18&nbsp;<a style="color: currentcolor;" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Smithsonian-Letter-20251218.pdf" target="_blank">sent a letter</a>&nbsp;to Smithsonian secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III complaining that what was sent “fell far short of what was requested,” according to a&nbsp;<a style="color: currentcolor;" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/art/2025/12/20/trump-smithsonian-funding-withhold-content-review/" target="_blank">Washington Post</a>&nbsp;report.&nbsp; Via Art Forum

What We're Reading: 12.29.25

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1766950862/kkgymz6ljogamnnnqmuo.jpg"> By CGN Staff There will be a lot to see at home and on the road this year. Highlights for 2026 include a wealth of under-the-radar shows, anniversary celebrations, international art fairs, and shining&nbsp;moments for artists throughout the Midwest. The Obama Presidential Center will finally open, a famed local museum turns 50, and this fall visitors to the Art Institute will see an Impressionist in a new light. There are also many shows yet to be announced in the galleries, and events are&nbsp;frequently added to <a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events?filter=upcoming" target="_blank">chicagogallerynews.com</a> To stay up to date with galleries and museums in 2026&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicagogallerynews.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">subscribe to CGN or purchase a copy</a>&nbsp;of the print edition of our annual Arts Guide, out now. Happy 2026! <h3> </h3><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1766950863/hjlteljenlqliljlmd3f.jpg"> <h3>• MoCP at 50:&nbsp;Collecting Through the Decades</h3> Since opening in 1976 and initiating collecting in 1979, the Museum of Contemporary Photography has acquired over 18,000 objects by more than 2,000 artists and engaged in conversations across political, social, and cultural landscapes. To celebrate MoCP at 50 examines the evolving practice of building a dynamic collection. Together, these selections question and reflect on the role of cultural institutions in shaping the photographic canon. Museum of Contemporary PhotographyJan 22–May 16, 2026 • <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.mocp.org/" target="_blank">mocp.org</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1766950864/mc2c01qkez8xeapxsxav.jpg"> <h3>• Edra Soto: The Place of Dwelling</h3> Edra Soto alters and recontextualizes common functional objects—wrought-iron screens, plastic lawn furniture, and electric fans, ubiquitous in her native Puerto Rico—to create objects and environments that celebrate the voices of working-class communities. Soto’s installation, the place of dwelling, is commissioned for Kemper Museum’s tenth annual Atrium Project and invests the space with personal memories of her Catholic upbringing, a gesture that both questions methods of colonial indoctrination and celebrates sacred sites filled with signs and symbols offering guidance and direction. Kemper Museum of Art, Kansas City, MOJanuary 30, 2026—January 2, 2027<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.kemperart.org/exhibition/edra-soto-the-place-of-dwelling" target="_blank">kemperart.org</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1766950864/xy5lfdud2hmkmjkfhf75.jpg">Left: Alex Chitty; right: Norman Teague. <h3>• Chair-ish: Alex Chitty and Norman Teague</h3> Chair-ish is an exhibition of Chicago-based artists Alex Chitty and Norman Teague. Working together for the first time, in this exhibition Chitty and Teague explore material, memory, and spatial dialogue through distinct yet complementary practices. While Chitty’s sculptural investigations often disrupt perception and gesture toward the poetic in the everyday, Teague’s work draws on vernacular design, cultural heritage, and the social histories embedded in form. Cleve Carney Museum of ArtJan 22–Apr 11, 2026 • <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.theccma.org/" target="_blank">theccma.org</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1766950865/yj5i6ps10nn7yaz2ntpm.jpg">Andrea Carlson, Red Exit, 2019, acrylic, ink, oil, gouache, watercolor, colored pencil, marker and graphite on paper, 10’ x 14’. Collection of Whitney Museum of Art <h3>• Andrea Carlson: Endless Sunshine</h3> Through a practice that combines intergenerational history, archival research, and the histories and theories of art and film, Andrea Carlson (b. 1979) creates incisive works of resistance and sovereignty that disempower colonial storytelling and practices of erasure. A descendant of the Grand Portage Ojibwe and Scandinavian settlers, Carlson centers an institutional critique and perspective that has been systematically excluded from or historically romanticized in narratives, practices, and presentations of American art. Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (CAMSTL)Mar 6 – Aug 9, 2026 • <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://camstl.org/exhibitions/andrea-carlson-endless-sunshine/" target="_blank">camstl.org</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1766950866/nqg17p40fbf7gynvtone.jpg">Orin Pinhassi, Truth Teller (detail), 2024. Steel, burlap, sand,&nbsp;polymer and rock. 93 x 30 x 24 in (236.2 x 76.2 x 60.9 cm). Photo by Elisabeth Bernstein. Courtesy of&nbsp;the artist and Lehmann Maupin Gallery. <h3>• Oren Pinhassi</h3> Artist Oren Pinhassi sculpts anthropomorphic forms at great scale that appeal to the senses and intellect at once. He brings to The Arts Club a series of figural/architectural works that occupy the gallery in an encompassing configuration, aiming to trigger the physical engagements of desire and fragility. Pinhassi’s towering or sprawling creatures draw upon such ordinary materials as sand, stone, or vinyl. In a process he has named “erotic construction,” Pinhassi uses sensual appeal, rough texture, suggestive pose, and intimate detail to press against the confines of a restrictive society. Mar 31–Aug 8, 2026 • The Arts Club of&nbsp;Chicago • <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artsclubchicago.org/" target="_blank">artsclubchicago.org</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1766950867/n6jdkhsnuj9q6m7bwiup.jpg"> <h3>• RenBen: Maurizio Cattelan</h3> Maurizio Cattelan will conceive and orchestrate The Renaissance Society’s RenBen 2026 during Chicago’s EXPO Art Week. RenBen is the institution’s annual artist-centered gala and most important fundraising event. Each edition invites a single artist to design every aspect of the evening, from the space and performances to the food and choreography. The Renaissance SocietyApril 8, 2026 • <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://renaissancesociety.org/" target="_blank">renaissancesociety.org</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1766950867/evgoz5sgff0v5x2owrka.jpg"> <h3>• EXPO&nbsp;CHICAGO</h3> Under the vaulted architecture of Navy Pier’s&nbsp;Festival Hall, and under the new leadership of Director Kate Sierzputowski and Curator Essence Harden, EXPO CHICAGO will bring together&nbsp;global galleries and unrivaled programming,&nbsp;alongside unforgettable events citywide. Festival Hall, Navy Pier&nbsp;April 9–12, 2026 • <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.expochicago.com/" target="_blank">expochicago.com</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1766950868/rgbotnxhf9wicoyl6txj.jpg"> <h3>• The Opening of the Obama Center</h3> The much anticipated opening of President Barack Obama's Obama Presidential Center in the heart of the South Side of Chicago will be a defining event in Chicago this spring. Bits and pieces about the opening, as well as the artists who have been commissioned to create various works and installations for the Center, have been arriving regularly leading up to the actual opening. The Center is touted to be a lively community hub, economic anchor, and beacon of democracy on the South Side, bolstering a great deal of the cultural nexus in the city for years to come. Spring 2026<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.obama.org/presidential-center/" target="_blank">obama.org/presidential-center</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1766950868/oxlqebclpykn52mlvolu.jpg">Mary Cassatt, Sleepy Nicolle,&nbsp;c. 1900 <h3>• Mary Cassatt:&nbsp;After Impressionism</h3> Marking the centennial of her death, Mary Cassatt: After Impressionism examines her paintings, pastels, and prints when she took her art making in new directions. In the prime years of her career—the late 1880s through the early 1900s—Cassatt explored the theme of mothers and caretakers with children, creating complex color prints, and undertaking a mural commission for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The Art Institute of ChicagoSept 6, 2026–Jan 3, 2027&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artic.edu/exhibitions/10487/mary-cassatt-after-impressionism" target="_blank">artic.edu</a> # <h3>View CGN's full calendar of art events, updated daily, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events" target="_blank">here</a>.</h3>

CGN's 2026 Culture List

<h4><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1766530987/kgtcnpz00e9hz0106zfg.jpg"></h4><h4> </h4><h4>2025 was a year. Whether you look back on it wondering where the time went, or how you made it through, there were notable events, milestones and passings in Chicago's art community and beyond. CGN covered much of what happened locally and also explored art further afield. It was a year of transition. We even lost some dear friends, whose impact will last for years to come.&nbsp;</h4><h4> </h4><h4>CGN interviewed artists, collectors and gallery figures, and we shared hundreds of exhibitions, openings and events all year long. All of this makes up 12 months to remember, while we prepare to meet a new year of art and culture. Following are some of our top interviews and articles from a full year.</h4><h4> </h4><h4>Thank you to our readers, partners and supporters who help us continue to grow and share CGN each year. In 2026 we celebrate 44 years of promoting the visual arts.</h4><h4> </h4><h4>To purchase a copy or subscribe to the 2026 edition of the CGN Arts Guide,&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(9, 78, 192);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicagogallerynews.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">click here</a>.&nbsp;</h4><h4> </h4><h4>Happy new year, and see you in the galleries!&nbsp;</h4><h4> </h4><h4>– Ginny Van Alyea, CGN Publisher</h4> <h3> </h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1766530989/wyffpcjl3jpd4ctd9xhl.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/articles/carl-hammer-gallery-announces-closing-after-45-years" target="_blank">Carl Hammer Gallery Announces Closing after 45 Years</a></h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1766530992/l04qbkgqj0qvwuzuad7m.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/articles/connecting-change-through-the-decades-rhona-hoffman" target="_blank">Connecting Change Through the Decades: Rhona Hoffman</a></h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1766530994/m2qzrmfjeocdwucti4q8.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/articles/amanda-williams-her-kind-of-blue" target="_blank">Amanda Williams: Her Kind of Blue</a></h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1766530998/iknq1x85e1ll1xlz83yg.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/articles/landscape-survey-whats-on-in-chicagos-outer-spaces-minionotics-at-weatherproof" target="_blank">Landscape survey: What's on in Chicago's Outer Spaces: Miniotics at Weatherproof</a></h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1766530999/e0dpboxto3mqhbazicxi.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/articles/ari-emanuels-new-company-buys-frieze-owner-of-expo-chicago" target="_blank">Ari Emanuel's New Company Buys Frieze, Owner of EXPO CHICAGO</a></h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1766531001/i0hf1eyu0pj8cugufwgu.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/articles/designs-on-collecting-architect-dirk-denison" target="_blank">Designs on Collecting: Architect Dirk Denison</a></h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1766531003/b47cgpopkaoxmjhbfuhx.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/articles/jonathan-worcester-painting-with-creative-precision" target="_blank">Jonathan Worcester: Painting with Creative Precision</a></h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1766531005/jancoqrian7epddetd7m.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/articles/expo-founder-tony-karman-to-step-down-as-director" target="_blank">EXPO Founder Tony Karman to Step Down As Director</a></h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1766531007/ncqt6mwemgnmzdmvmouw.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/articles/intuit-art-museum-reopens-to-welcome-the-public-inside" target="_blank">Intuit Art Museum Reopens to Welcome the Public Inside</a></h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1766531008/qy3elt75yhhjqnhhviqm.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/articles/jacqueline-surdell-an-artists-voice-helps-scale-her-art" target="_blank">Jacqueline Surdell: An Artist’s Voice Helps Scale Her Art</a></h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1766531012/pvcdtwky6cwwkh2yvtyl.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dedicated to Collecting: Melissa Weber and Jay Dandy</a></h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1766531041/yqu7td1oxhbhonjahpsl.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="Art, Ambition, and the Weight of Stars: Dining at Esmé in Chicago" target="_blank">Art, Ambition, and the Weight of Stars: Dining at Esmé in Chicago</a></h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1766531044/t8ogtgeynfrcrz3lzwb6.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/articles/french-encounters-a-family-trip-through-art-and-history" target="_blank">French Encounters: A Family Trip Through Art and History</a></h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1766531047/zvtlagouszznrjgkfhy1.png"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/articles/commissioner-of-cultural-affairs-clinee-hedspeth-resigns" target="_blank">Commissioner of Cultural Affairs Clinee Hedspeth Resigns</a></h3> <h3> </h3><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1766531049/c9qwvcvdleqyabzxvjrj.gif"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/articles/artist-tony-fitzpatrick-has-died-at-age-66" target="_blank">Artist Tony Fitzpatrick Has Died at 66</a></h3> <h3>Read all of CGN's news <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/articles" target="_blank">here</a></h3> #

2025: CGN's Year in Review

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1765944744/k521rkf5yvcjm7twtp3z.jpg">Theaster Gates, Photo by Akilah Townsend, Courtesy of The Obama Foundation. By CGN Staff The Obama Foundation has announced a major new commission by GRAY artist Theaster Gates for the Hadiya Pendleton Atrium at the forthcoming Obama Presidential Center, slated to open in 2026. The new installation will draw from photographic material housed in the Johnson Publishing Company image archive and the personal collection of photographer Howard Simmons. Continuing Gates’s longstanding artistic practice, the work elevates and preserves Black cultural legacies through the care of archives and everyday materials, bringing renewed attention to the stories, creativity, and collective memory that have shaped American life. “I’ve known Theaster since his days as the first transit arts planner for the Chicago Transit Authority 25 years ago, and he is the ideal artist for this marquee space,” said Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation. “His boundless creativity, commitment to public art, passion for educating and sharing art with others, and gift for translating history into the present make him a singular talent. People from around the world will be awestruck by his work—but just as importantly, those of us from the South Side will see our community continue to be elevated to the world-class status it has always deserved.” Gates expressed deep personal and professional resonance with the commission. “I am deeply honored to be commissioned to create a new artwork for the Obama Presidential Center, a beacon of democracy, just a couple of blocks from where my nonprofit, Rebuild Foundation, has invested in land and cultural assets as tools for creative self-determination for over two decades,” he said. “This opportunity moves me to bring forward the photographic legacies that capture moments of great strength and elegance from the Johnson Publishing Company archive—images by Moneta Sleet, Jr. and Isaac Sutton—as well as the personal archive of photographer Howard Simmons.” “My hope,” Gates continued, “is to ground the power of these visual histories in a new context, reminding us of the collective resolve that shapes our communities. At a time when artists are increasingly playing a critical role in protecting memory and contributing to the democratic ideals that shape who we are and what we strive to become, it is deeply meaningful to contribute to this historic space.” The Hadiya Pendleton Atrium is located within the Forum Building, a public gathering space named in honor of Hadiya Pendleton, the 15-year-old Chicago student who marched in President Obama’s second inauguration parade and was tragically killed a week later as a result of gun violence. The atrium stands as a powerful symbol of community, strength, and civic action. Gates’s installation reflects on collective resilience while honoring the everyday individuals whose lives and practices sustain movements for justice and social change.Built into the landscape of Jackson Park, the Forum Building will serve as a welcoming hub for the local community. In addition to the atrium, it will house the Elie Wiesel Auditorium, a restaurant, a Media Suite, Democracy in Action Lab (DIAL) Program Rooms, and staff offices. Drawing on imagery from the Johnson Publishing Company Archives—an archive Gates has engaged with and honored through his artistic practice for more than a decade—and the personal archive of Howard Simmons, a former staff photographer at Johnson Publishing Company, the installation celebrates the power and intimacy of Black life as seen in the pages of Ebony and Jet. These publications helped define the visual and cultural language of the 20th century. Rendered on industrial aluminum and extending more than 175 feet, the installation foregrounds images of crowds and Black women, honoring the collective labor, energy, care, and collaboration that continue to propel movements forward. In 2016, Gates began archiving and working with approximately 20,000 photographs from the Johnson Publishing Company Archives, ensuring that this vital visual record of Black cultural heritage could continue to generate new value and remain a source of creative and entrepreneurial inspiration for Chicago’s South Side. His stewardship of these materials reflects a broader mission to preserve and reimagine historical records through art, architecture, and civic space—an approach that closely aligns with the Obama Presidential Center’s commitment to empowerment and community building.

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