<h3><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1757612928/iqnt1qxxlfzayt7dlkc9.jpg"></h3>Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle, Well 35°58’16”N - 106°5’21”W (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM), 2014. Pictured: Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle. Courtesy of the artist.<h3> </h3><h3> </h3><h3>This interview appears in CGN's fall 2025 magazine.&nbsp;To receive a copy of the print edition&nbsp;<a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://835ba3.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">click here.</a></h3> By JEFFERSON GODARD Ambiguity can be a place of uncertainty and frustration, but for Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle, it is where his practice thrives. Manglano-Ovalle is a Chicago-based artist who has created an art practice over the past 40 years that ultimately asks more questions than provides answers.&nbsp; His achievements and accolades are numerous indeed. A 2001 John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Award and 2009 John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellow winner, Manglano-Ovalle was born in Spain, lived in Colombia, and studied at Williams College (BA in 1983), and The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (MFA in 1989). He has shown internationally at institutions including the Guggenheim New York and Bilbao, MoMA, Tate Liverpool, MCA Chicago, The Art Institute of Chicago, and Frankfurter Kunstverein, just to list a few. Iñigo currently serves as the Lorraine H. Morton Professor of Art at Northwestern University and will present new work at the DePaul Art Museum this September in a solo show titled Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle: A Want for Nothing, curated by Dr. Ionit Behar.&nbsp; My first encounter with Manglano-Ovalle’s work was through an architecture publication that extolled his video artwork Le Baiser/The Kiss (1999) in which he played a window washer. Yet the window he was cleaning was not your average pane of glass. This window was part of the storied Farnsworth House (1945-1951) by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and the kiss alludes to the sound that the squeegee makes when contacting the glass, but the piece also speaks to class and entitlement. It wasn’t until eight years later that I got a chance to experience a work of his in person, and I was gobsmacked.&nbsp; Travelling to Documenta in Kassel, Germany in 2007, I walked into a darkened space where a large, hulking metal sculpture of a truck was tucked up against the back wall. In an adjacent space sat a small transistor radio sat amidst a room flooded with orange light cast from a filter over the glass. This culminated to create a sparce and looming feeling that was overwhelming, and I was hooked. Phantom Truck was the title of this full-scale recreation of a supposed bioweapons truck that former US Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke of when he addressed the UN Security Council prior to the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. Located within this dimly lit space, the viewer had to make sense of this through the ambiguity. It was both present and absent at the same time, reinforcing the foreboding history it held inside.&nbsp; Recently, I had a chance to speak with DePaul Art Museum Curator Dr. Ionit Behar about the upcoming exhibition, Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle: A Want for Nothing. In our conversation, we spoke about this enthralling exhibition that questions utility, how we understand systems, and how art can move beyond representation. One question that the exhibition initially posits is “How does the work draw us in, and how do we, in turn, respond to it—right here, right now?”&nbsp; * Jefferson Godard (JG): Let’s begin by unpacking the term usefulness. The press release makes mention of this term. Can you talk more about how you feel Iñigo’s art has a useful factor to it, or is this more of a way of sharing how he makes work that is so ambiguous?&nbsp; Ionit Behar (IB): My initial answer references the title of the show, A Want for Nothing. This title came out of many conversations with Iñigo which very much resonated with me when he said, “what I want out of this world, or out of my practice, or even my existence in this world is to really want nothing.”&nbsp; I interpret this not as a rejection of desire, but as a form of radical openness, a way of being that doesn’t cling or impose. It’s akin to holding a coin in an open palm rather than gripping it tightly. In this openness, meaning can circulate freely. Iñigo’s practice embodies that spirit, leaving room for interpretation and inviting viewers to sit with uncertainty, rather than being told exactly what to see or feel.&nbsp; It also reinforces a particular way of being in the world. Iñigo’s work fosters a quiet yet profound dialogue about what it means to exist within this world, not just to move through it, but to be in relation to it. A Want for Nothing is not a denial of desire or a rejection of living. Rather, it speaks to a deeper yearning, an inquiry into what we ask of the world and what it asks of us in return. It’s a subtle but powerful shift in perspective. If we were to reconsider our relationship with the world through this lens, perhaps things could begin to change, on both personal and collective levels. This was part of our earliest conversations, and where the exhibition first began to take shape.&nbsp; <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1757612928/bf0b8lqrtvhuz1yiszpm.jpg">Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle, Well 34°01’03’’N-118°29’12’’W [detail], 2015, Stainless steel, aluminum and brass. Courtesy of the artist and Christopher Grimes Gallery <h4>_____________________________________________________________________________________________</h4><h4> </h4><h4>“One of the works in the show, ‘An Attempt to Say Something that Can Actually Hold Water,’ started out to test whether or not my statements could actually hold water. Using the Coopering technique, a craft process of making buckets, I created a bottomless bucket that ultimately doesn’t hold water.”</h4><h4> </h4><h4>– Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle</h4> <h4>_____________________________________________________________________________________________</h4><h4> </h4> JG: It is great to learn the ethos of the show and some of his philosophy. Can you walk us through A Want for Nothing?&nbsp;IB: I don’t want to give too much away, but the first gallery features quieter, more intimate works Iñigo calls “discrete objects,” pieces that blur the line between function and art. It also highlights his making by hand, distilling forms to their most minimal expression. For example, there is a piece entitled, An Attempt to Say Something that Can Actually Hold Water that appears to be a simple bucket—but it has no bottom. At first, it suggests utility: a container for water, a familiar and everyday object. But by removing its base, Iñigo renders it non-functional. It still carries the memory and form of a bucket, but its purpose has been subverted. This quiet gesture unsettles our assumptions and gently redirects our attention towards what the object implies, what it lacks, and what it might mean.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Well project will also be present, rooted in Iñigo interest in land art. His recent research in the Sonoran Desert—walking the terrain and engaging with a range of people—adds a rich, layered context to the work.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;JG: Much like the Well project, ritual, interstitial space, and failure are important elements in his work. Can you comment on how this show addresses these themes?&nbsp; IB: There’s something deeply ritualistic in the making of his work, laborious, repetitive, almost monk-like. This process invites contemplation and evokes a sensibility reminiscent of 1960s and 70s artists like Walter de Maria, Richard Serra and Robert Barry, or even earlier figures such as Marcel Duchamp. He actively seeks critique, much like a student, and embraces contradiction as a generative space. After all, living is full of contradictions. I appreciate that he allows this tension to surface through his objects, rather than forcing a statement that might otherwise feel contrived.&nbsp; <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1757612929/kgcugd4omhrdkfl75a5j.jpg">Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle, Untitled, 2023, Pine and graphite. Courtesy of the artist. JG: Iñigo prefers the viewer to take what they want from the work and the overall exhibition. Did this inform your decision on whether or not to use wall labels?&nbsp; IB: There won’t be any wall labels in the exhibition, something that differs from our usual approach at DPAM, but it’s important to honor the artist’s preferences. One of the things I appreciate most about DPAM is that we don’t follow a single model for presenting interpretive text. Instead, we consider each exhibition individually, asking what kind of textual support will best serve the work. In this case, the goal is to keep interpretation as open as possible while remaining generous to the viewer. Short texts will be available as handouts, which visitors can choose to read—or not—as they move through the galleries and engage with the works on their own terms. JG: While a strong exhibition will fulfill visual and even psychological aspects, what do you hope your show with Iñigo will fulfill?&nbsp; IB: This exhibition offers an opportunity to return to basics, and ultimately, to ourselves. I hope it encourages us to see things in a new light. That’s part of what Iñigo brings to his work: a way of provoking reflection without repetition. If there’s one message to take from this show, it’s an invitation to imagine what a different future could look like, rather than simply looking back. I also think the show seeks to remind us of our humanity, our capacity for stillness, for care, for contradiction, and for imagination. After all, living is a contradiction in itself. In a world that often feels rushed, fragmented, or transactional, the works gently call us back to an attentive way of being. They ask us not just to look, but to feel; not just to interpret, but to be present.&nbsp; Being part of this process and working with him has been incredibly meaningful. I hope that sense of connection and possibility will resonate with viewers as well. # <h4>Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle: A Want for Nothing</h4><h4>DePaul Art Museum&nbsp;</h4><h4>September 11–February 8, 2026</h4><h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://resources.depaul.edu/art-museum/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">artmuseum.depaul.edu</a></h4>

Open to Interpretation: Ionit Behar Curates a Show of Work by Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle at DPAM

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1757646047/gdo5dl3aicqxcaaslr25.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/bethany-collins-dusk" target="_blank">Bethany Collins : DUSK</a>Opening: Thursday, Sep 11, 2025 5:00 PM – 7:30 PMPATRON&nbsp; <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1757646048/q6xigd9igvouh9rgpybt.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/aaron-curry-richard-hawkins-human-non-human" target="_blank">Aaron Curry &amp; Richard Hawkins: Human Non-Human</a>Opening: Thursday, Sep 11, 2025 6:00 PM – 8:00 PMCorbett vs. Dempsey <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1757646048/lnf63ess0ikieukosgdx.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/artists-talk-for-fragments-and-shadows" target="_blank">Artists' Talk for Fragments and Shadows&nbsp;</a>Thursday, Sep 11, 2025 7:00 PM – 8:00 PMPerspective Photo Gallery <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1757646049/nsffbz1jvttqy4f6ymcs.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/tiffany-lamps-beyond-the-shade" target="_blank">Tiffany Lamps: Beyond the Shade</a>Sep 12, 2025 - Mar 15, 2026The Driehaus Museum <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1757646050/ltilqi9ss1qgaw5ky1cf.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/kiah-celeste-and-gordon-hall-artifact-unidentified" target="_blank">Kiah Celeste and Gordon Hall: Artifact Unidentified</a>Opening: Friday, Sep 12, 2025 5:00 PM – 8:00 PMDOCUMENT <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1757646051/sqzsrlkc1qyzrrhm4dh0.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/angels-now-in-technicolor-berninis-celestial-bodies-reimagined" target="_blank">Angels: Now in Technicolor</a>Opening: Friday, Sep 12, 2025 5:00 PM – 8:00 PMGallery Victor <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1757646052/chnlrkfvjm1jx9asxscn.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/misha-goro-images-of-the-city" target="_blank">Misha Goro: Urban Echoes</a>Opening: Friday, Sep 12, 2025 5:00 PM – 8:00 PMAddington Gallery <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1757646053/cacwixiqt5jndbqziqfr.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/porfirio-gutirrez-modernism" target="_blank">Porfirio Gutiérrez: Modernism</a>Opening: Friday, Sep 12, 2025 5:00 PM – 8:00 PMVolume Gallery <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1757646054/dtkjixbacifmvfpr4rkv.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/the-real-real" target="_blank">The Real Real</a>Opening: Friday, Sep 12, 2025 6:00 PM – 8:00 PMRosenthal Fine Art, Inc. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1757646054/oevm2fcxqbl8vc1fucqy.png"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/csi-project-space-by-degrees-iv" target="_blank">CSI Project Space: By Degrees IV</a>Sep 13, 2025 - Oct 3, 2025Chicago Sculpture International (CSI) <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1757646055/wijbrva5eh7pwrckic3r.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/diego-marcon-krapfen" target="_blank">Diego Marcon: Krapfen</a>Opening: Saturday, Sep 13, 2025 4:00 PM – 7:00 PMThe Renaissance Society <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1757646056/tljnx9qyx4c2ilcb5bpe.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/oscar-joyo" target="_blank">Oscar Joyo</a>Sep 13, 2025 - Oct 11, 2025VSG Contemporary <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1757646058/h1oib902snmoaff3tuhy.jpg"> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/the-futurepast-indian-art-deco-1925-1950" target="_blank">The FuturePast: Indian Art Deco 1925-1950</a>Opening: Saturday, Sep 13, 2025 6:00 PM – 8:00 PMThe Golden Triangle

Exhibitions Openings for September 11 -13

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1757613430/ryayornrgseh1r6ul713.jpg">A rendering of the Obama Presidential Center By CGN Staff The Obama Foundation has revealed ten new artist commissions for the forthcoming Obama Presidential Center, slated to open in spring 2026 in Jackson Park. The expansive 19.3-acre campus will include a museum, public library, gardens, and community spaces—and will feature over 25 site-specific works of art, most free and open to the public. <h3>Diverse, Global Voices with Chicago Roots</h3> The newly announced artists bring a dynamic cross-section of contemporary art: <ul><li>Nick Cave &amp; Marie Watt – This Land, Shared Sky, a monumental textile installation combining Indigenous and Black traditions (Museum Main Lobby).</li><li>Nekisha Durrett – Hem of Heaven, a freestanding sculpture of thousands of ceramic tiles reimagining Harriet Tubman’s shawl (Forum Courtyard).</li><li>Jenny Holzer – Text-based painting memorializing the Civil Rights–era Freedom Riders (Museum Skyroom Vista).</li><li>Jules Julien – A digital mural of eleven illustrations on democratic participation (Museum Level 5 &amp; Civics Gallery).</li><li>Idris Khan – Sky of Hope, an immersive ceiling painting of thousands of words from President Obama’s Selma speech (Museum Skyroom).</li><li>Aliza Nisenbaum – Reading Circles/ Weaving Dreams/ Seeding Futures, a sweeping mural celebrating libraries as civic spaces (Library Main Reading Room).</li><li>Jack Pierson – A found-letter word sculpture spelling HOPE, echoing Obama’s signature campaign message (Museum Entry Pavilion).</li><li>Alison Saar – Torch Song, a towering bronze figure inspired by the Statue of Liberty and Chicago blues (Women’s Garden).</li><li>Kiki Smith – Receive, a celestial bronze celebrating our shared connection to the cosmos (Museum Hope &amp; Change Lobby).</li></ul> These artists join a distinguished roster already announced—Lindsay Adams, Spencer Finch, Richard Hunt, Maya Lin, and Julie Mehretu—with more to come. <h3>Art as Civic Catalyst</h3> “Art has the power to reflect who we are and to shape who we aspire to become,” said Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation. “These extraordinary commissions will invite every visitor to feel inspired, respected, and connected.” Dr. Louise Bernard, founding director of the Center’s Museum, added that each commission is “a meditation on civic life…speaking to resilience, memory, identity, and hope.”Curated by Virginia Shore (Shore Art Advisory), the program underscores the Obamas’ belief in the arts as central to democracy—an extension of their White House legacy of welcoming diverse voices and creative practices. The Obama Presidential Center is planned to open in spring 2026 and is envisioned as a vibrant cultural hub and gathering space. Alongside the museum and library, the site will feature a fruit and vegetable garden, athletic center, and sweeping public grounds designed for both neighborhood and global visitors. Through art installations, performances, workshops, and conversations, the Center aims to inspire creativity and civic engagement across generations. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://obama.org/presidential-center/" target="_blank">obama.org</a>

Nick Cave, Jenny Holzer and others to Create Site-Specific Works for Obama Center

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1757387888/cvtmilxxqxqejl1mqymi.jpg">Jennifer Armetta <h3>This interview appears in CGN's fall 2025 magazine. To receive a copy of the print edition&nbsp;<a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://835ba3.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">click here.</a></h3> By JEFFERSON GODARD Chicago’s cultural scene is always in need of a tireless arts champion. Jennifer Armetta is up for the challenge. Several years ago I had the pleasure of first meeting Jennifer at Verge, a donor affinity group at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Chicago. Verge was a group of arts enthusiasts who would help the museum acquire works from emerging artists like Manon de Boer, Michelle Grabner, and Jordan Wolfson. This group would ultimately morph into Emerge which still brings exciting works from up-and-coming artists into the MCA’s collection today. Since we met Jennifer has moved between Chicago, Minneapolis, and Ojai, California, carving out a well-earned reputation for herself. Currently Jennifer directs two organizations in Chicago: Engage Projects in West Town, and most recently, the Chicago Architecture Biennial. And if that were not enough, she is a licensed Real Estate agent working with Eugene Fu. She also volunteers her time on multiple boards and foundations. As Director of this year’s Chicago Architecture Biennial, entitled “SHIFT: Architecture in Times of Radical Change,” Jennifer will work alongside Artistic Director Florencia Rodriguez. The Biennial’s programs and exhibitions will be located at the Chicago Culture Center as in years past, with many satellite locations or hubs throughout Chicago.&nbsp; Engage Projects is Jennifer’s commercial art space, where she brings a nuanced conversation to the gallery model. One of these is Engage Showroom, an in-home exhibition model that further pushes her work-life balance while revisiting the classic ‘apartment gallery’ that Chicago is so well known for fostering.&nbsp; During our lively conversation, I learned more about her passion for artists, the upcoming Biennial, Engage Projects, and what sparked Jennifer’s energy early on. * Jefferson Godard (JG): You graduated with a degree in art history. What did you initially set out to do, and what brought you to the art world?&nbsp;Jennifer Armetta (JA): I actually started off as a Psychology major and didn’t switch to Art History until second semester junior year. What compelled me to change was being inspired by and ultimately falling in love with art. I thought artists were just so brave and fearless in the way that they put themselves out there. It seemed as though they were ready to be criticized. And, instead of it deterring them, they would do it all over again. I wanted to be part of that and help in any way I could as I felt they were truly courageous. Upon graduating, I worked at a Chicago art gallery but sadly could not support myself. The art world, as you know, is a difficult place to sustain oneself. So, I pivoted and went to work for a pharmaceutical company. As a bit of a science-nerd, I ended up enjoying and learning a lot from this experience. One aspect that stood out was the training that they give us. They taught us how to establish a rapport, how to build relationships, and how to communicate effectively in a very short period of time. In some way I still credit many of my interpersonal skills to this experience.&nbsp; JG: When you created Engage Projects, what were your goals for the gallery? What do you still feel like you have to accomplish? JA: What I wanted to accomplish was to make a mark on the Chicago art scene and work with both emerging and mid-career artists. Another aspect was the name. Using “projects” was very intentional, because I didn’t want it to function only as a gallery. Galleries are fabulous and wonderful, but they’re a very tricky business. I wanted to have the flexibility to do things a bit differently, and operate outside of our space, exploring different partnerships. Some questions that I continually ask myself are, what does it mean to represent artists, as well as how people consume and experience art. JG: How do you feel the relationship between the artist and the gallerist has changed? JA: Every artist has different wants and needs, ambitions, and goals. My goal is to focus on the needs of the artists. To facilitate that, I really want to be able to address their needs. The relationship between the gallerist and artist needs to be more individualized and not just fit into a program. And, for me, an art gallery is not like a shop, so it is important that it is more personalized and geared towards the goals of the artist.&nbsp; JG: Another important aspect of your life is supporting causes you believe in. While you have served, and continue to, on many boards, I am most interested in your relationship with Carolyn Glasso-Bailey and her foundation.&nbsp; JA: Carolyn was my childhood friend, and I’ve known her since she was 12. We were best friends, and in many ways, we were like family. Carolyn got started in the art world very young. In high school she started interning at a local gallery in Minneapolis. That was part of my exposure to the arts at a young age. She loved it and went on to have her first gallery in Minneapolis in her early 20’s, and in Chelsea, New York after that. She then pivoted to being an art consultant in Ojai, California. She and I had similar paths, but she started at a younger age. Sadly, she was diagnosed with Glioblastoma in 2014 and passed away a year later in November 2015.&nbsp; Carolyn’s whole mission was that artists came first. She would give her car to an artist if theirs broke down. She would pay out artists before she got paid. She set a real example in the art world of what to do. The foundation that’s named for her, which supports The Ojai Institute, was begun by her sister Lila Glasoe Francese, and her widower Chris Bailey, an artist. I joined artists Rob Fisher, Sharon Loudon, and Sanford Biggers to help create a foundation that gives out grants and supports a residency program. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1757387889/f49wxs2ajzlgayux3cfi.jpg">House, by Sara Fitzsimons, 6018 North JG: The last thing we’ll talk about is the Chicago Architecture Biennial, titled SHIFT: Architecture in Times of Radical Change. With the Biennial opening soon, how is your and Florencia Rodriguez’s vision taking shape? What changes did you set out to make for this year?&nbsp; JA: The title is both apropos and, in a way, a bit ironic. Florencia has put together an incredible exhibition program and she is thematically referring to our exhibitions as ‘capsules.’ She also wanted to address a lot of the social, cultural, and economic issues that are affecting us all. For example, what does the built environment mean and how can it be solutions-oriented?&nbsp; We also wanted to return to architecture. There are a lot of terrific artists in the exhibition, but this year there is a deliberate focus on returning to architecture.&nbsp; This Biennial will incorporate over 100 projects from more than 30 different countries. One thing that we set out to do was to work with more partners throughout Chicago. This year, we have expanded our network, and the Chicago Architectural Biennial will have pop-ups or hubs all over the city. Stay tuned for an exciting Biennial that opens in September! * SHIFT: Architecture in Times of Radical ChangeSeptember 19, 2025–February 28, 2026On view at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington Blvd., as well as many locations throughout the city. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org/" target="_blank">chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org</a> View programming at Engage Projects at&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.engage-projects.com/" target="_blank">engage-projects.com</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1757387889/zrjihyrobzwbdauydbse.jpg">100 Links, The Buell Center. Installed at the Chicago Cultural Center for CAB5 in 2023. Photo by Tom Harris.&nbsp;

Jennifer Armetta: Championing the Arts One Project at a Time

<h3>Fall is always an incredibly busy&nbsp;season in Chicago’s art world, with new&nbsp;exhibitions opening across galleries and museums.&nbsp;Behind the scenes, many people in the community&nbsp;are working tirelessly to support artists and bring&nbsp;fresh perspectives to the public. We spoke&nbsp;with five insiders about what excites them now&nbsp;and what they anticipate next.</h3><h3> </h3><h3>To receive a copy of the print edition&nbsp;<a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://835ba3.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">click here.</a></h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1757447030/fzolvmabw9dxtoc5auui.jpg"> “SoNa Chicago is pleased to open the Fall season with the culminating exhibition of the Industry of the Ordinary (IOTO) Summer Residency 2025. The exhibition offers viewers a unique opportunity to participate in a one-time full activation on September 6, from&nbsp;5–8 pm, when all 15 artists will inhabit the entire gallery complex, including the building in the rear and exterior spaces. Visitors can expect a mix of time-based, performative, and spatial interventions alongside two- and three-dimensional works. An artist walkthrough will take place on September 13, from 5–7 pm when all the artists will offer deeper insight into their processes and the evolution of the work. The exhibition is on view through September 27. We also have a wonderful show planned for 2026 to coincide with EXPO Chicago, featuring Tony Fitzpatrick and nine other collage artists. It has been a joy to work with Tony on this exhibition, as he has selected most of the artists in the show. We look forward to sharing these artists’ work with Chicago and the international audience coming to the city next spring. The exhibition will run April 8–May 30, 2026.”

Anticipating a Season of Art: Five to Talk to – Laura Botwinick – SoNa Chicago

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756958460/cqzpksalbdghxacjapce.jpg"><h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/audrey-niffenegger" target="_blank">Audrey Niffenegger: Wayward Bodies</a></h3> On view Sept 5–Oct 11Opening: Friday, Sept 5, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PMZolla/Lieberman Gallery <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756958460/er3peoizqbflkgywagcx.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/the-scenic-route" target="_blank">The Scenic Route</a></h3> On view Sept 5 - 27Opening: Friday, Sep 5, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PMVertical Gallery <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756958461/esotetbpv49xauln2awj.png"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/holding-space" target="_blank">Holding Space</a></h3> On view Sept 5 - 27Opening: Friday, Sep 5, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PMOliva Gallery <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756958463/h8psw5qa36mbqhofwiql.png"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/a-world-undone-paula-shur" target="_blank">Paula Shur: A World Undone</a></h3> On view Sept 4–28Perspective Gallery <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756958464/eqgbl4chboh3rvobpkg8.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/diane-jurado-the-ambiguous-narrative" target="_blank">Diane Jurado: The Ambiguous Narrative</a></h3> On view Sept 4 - 26Opening: Friday, Sep 5, 2025 5:00 PM – 8:00 PMARC Gallery <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756958465/tpfocoiemwihjoiknhho.png"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/somewhere-in-between-christina-cooley" target="_blank">Somewhere Between, Christina Cooley</a></h3> On view Sep 4 - 28Opening: Friday, Sep 5, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PMGallery Seven <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756958466/hfeesf9irr8isckgutzn.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/true-colors-expressive-landscape-paintings" target="_blank">True Colors: Expressive Landscape Paintings</a></h3> On view Sep 6 - Oct 26Opening: Saturday, Sep 6, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PMThe Grove Gallery <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756958467/ivlrma6sz8dmhlknr323.jpg"> <h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/industry-of-the-ordinary" target="_blank">Industry of the Ordinary Summer Residency 2025 Exhibition</a></h3> On view Sep 6 - 27, 2025Opening: Saturday, Sep 6, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PMSoNa Chicago Contemporary Art # <h3>View the full CGN calendar of upcoming art events <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events?filter=upcoming&amp;page=1" target="_blank">here</a>. </h3> <h3>Sign up for our free weekly newsletter <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/newsletter" target="_blank">here</a>.</h3>

New Exhibitions: September 4–6

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756916278/p8t1nug9jsozm3zs5gc8.jpg"> Via PR MILWAUKEE, WI – September 3, 2025 – <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://mam.org/" target="_blank">The Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM)</a> announced today that Kim Sajet has been selected as the organization’s next Donna and Donald Baumgartner Director. Kim Sajet is a museum leader and arts advocate, and until recently was the director of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. During her twelve-year tenure, she expanded the gallery’s reach through innovative exhibitions and public programs that brought a contemporary focus to the museum’s collections. Under Sajet’s leadership, museum attendance doubled and major capital improvements were made—including reinstalling the America’s Presidents gallery. She also raised more than&nbsp; $85 million for the gallery’s operations and endowment.&nbsp;&nbsp; “MAM’s ability to attract talent of Kim Sajet’s caliber—who is among only a handful of world-class, values-based museum leaders—speaks to the excellent reputation and collections represented by the Museum and its role as a cultural cornerstone of our community and the nation,” said Andy Nunemaker, Chairman of the Milwaukee Art Museum Board of Trustees. “This moment marks a unique opportunity to bring in a leader who can unlock the Museum’s full potential and advance its vision of connecting people with art and with each other, creating experiences that inspire, spark curiosity, and bring joy, while also sharing the Museum’s story on the national and international stage.” A resident of the United States for nearly three decades, Sajet brings a truly international perspective to her role, having been born in Nigeria to Dutch parents and raised in Australia. Before directing the National Portrait Gallery, she served as President &amp; CEO of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Vice President and Deputy Director at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and Director of Corporate Relations at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. She has also directed two museums in Victoria, Australia, and has close ties to museums in the Netherlands. Sajet holds a BA and MBA from Melbourne University, an MA in Art History from Bryn Mawr College, and a doctorate in Liberal Studies from Georgetown University. She is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the International Council of Museums (ICOM), and the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD), where she served on the board from 2021 to 2025. Formerly the host of the PORTRAITS podcast—nominated for a Webby Award in 2025—Sajet is currently completing a book with Princeton University Press on early photography and the carte-de-visite album of American social reformer Emily Howland.&nbsp;As the new Director of the Milwaukee Art Museum, Sajet is excited to be leading a museum with a significant international collection in one of America’s most innovative and entrepreneurial cities. “From the first moment that I started talking to the search committee,” she reflected, “I was impressed with how passionate everyone was about the museum and how they saw it as a central part of what makes Milwaukee a world-class city. The general vibe is entrepreneurial, culturally vibrant, and refreshingly authentic. This sense of experimentation is also a major part of the museum’s collecting and exhibition history. Since 1982, for example, the Currents series has provided an important platform for contemporary artists such as Cindy Sherman, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Isaac Julien and Lawrence Weiner to launch their careers, and international artists such as Damien Hirst and Idris Kahn to have their first American showing. I am keen to expand on this commitment to living artists and also explore the educational opportunities that flow from the art and design of the past. The museum itself is gorgeous, and I want to invite everyone across the country to see for themselves what a special place this is.” “Kim brings with her a passion for making museums educational and meaningful while also ensuring accessibility and fun,” said Nunemaker.&nbsp; “We believe more visitors and patrons to the Museum is a good thing, not only to support the sustainability of the organization, but to engage in the Museum’s vision of connecting with art and each other.”&nbsp; Sajet joins the Museum at a milestone moment, as it celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Bradley Collection of Modern Art—nearly 400 modern masterpieces that transformed the Museum and put Milwaukee on the cultural map. This remarkable gift brought major artists such as Wassily Kandinsky, Pablo Picasso, Mark Rothko, and Andy Warhol to Milwaukee, establishing the Museum as a leading center for modernism. The Museum will mark this anniversary with the Art Forward Gala on September 20 and will open a special tribute exhibition, The Bradley Collection of Modern Art: A Bold Vision for Milwaukee, on September 25. “To begin my tenure during this milestone exhibition is a privilege, and a reminder of the impact that art—and the generosity behind it—can have on a community for generations,” said Sajet.Sajet begins her role effective September 22, 2025.

Milwaukee Art Museum Names New Director: Kim Sajet

<h3>Fall is always an incredibly busy&nbsp;season in Chicago’s art world, with new&nbsp;exhibitions opening across galleries and museums.&nbsp;Behind the scenes, many people in the community&nbsp;are working tirelessly to support artists and bring&nbsp;fresh perspectives to the public. We spoke&nbsp;with five insiders about what excites them now&nbsp;and what they anticipate next.</h3><h3> </h3><h3>To receive a copy of the print edition&nbsp;<a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://835ba3.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">click here.</a></h3><h3> </h3><h3> </h3><h3><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756916363/ygxqms1q4dkt9thrtgc2.jpg"></h3>Photo by: Sandro <h3>Bob Faust – Artist</h3> “It has been a busy season in the studio as I continue to self define exactly what my practice is. Where I have landed is a statement that is actually an example of my work its own right, “Art is Design is Art is Design is Art is Design and so on.” It’s my acknowledgement of design as an equal to art, as well as informative to each another. It’s about language and text, pattern and image, as well as installation and object.&nbsp; To that end I have a few projects I am thrilled to be working on and toward. On September 5, I open a two-person show with Mayumi Lake called “Shakkei” at the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/shakkei-work-by-mayumi-lake-and-bob-faust" target="_blank">Elmhurst Art Museum</a>. Shakkei means “borrowed scenery” and for me it’s the acknowledgement of a works connection and conversation with the space and all who have an encounter with it. You will see work that sits squarely in the design space but is without question art, and work that sits in the art space that is unquestionably designed. This is a show that is allowing me to comfortably own my space in the center of both. Additionally, I am designing a new book about Nick Cave’s upcoming show at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, titled “<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/nick-cave" target="_blank">Mammoth</a>”, that will share the entire making process inspired by field guides. It is a very special book, as it has much personal attention across every page, making it unlike any other book we have done before.” <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.bobfaust.com/" target="_blank">bobfaust.com</a>

Interview with artist Bob Faust Fall 2025

Anticipating a Season of Art: Five to Talk to – Bob Faust

<h3>Curated Highlights for What’s Ahead in Chicago’s Art Scene</h3><h3> </h3><h3>September is here and it's a very busy, full, exciting month of art. With the arrival of our new fall issue of CGN, covering September-December, we have been sharing several seasonal previews&nbsp;–&nbsp;some that offer highlights through December as well as weekend previews of openings. We hope you enjoy all the coverage and see what you can in the coming days and weeks.</h3><h3> </h3><h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicagogallerynews.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> here to receive a print copy in the mail and be sure to share all the events and news with friends.</h3><h3> </h3><h3>– CGN</h3> <h3>• Exhibitions</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756916386/hdc2uak1rvppah3cjcrv.jpg"> <h3>Channeling: body ← Image → viewer</h3><h4> </h4>Sep 2, 2025 - Dec 20, 2025<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/museum-of-contemporary-photography-mocp" target="_blank">Museum of Contemporary Photography (MoCP)</a> This exhibition features eleven international artists whose work communicates through and with the body, positioning the viewer to a consciousness of their body and self, or how bodies channel and defy societal oppression and malevolence. Gestures such as crawling, lying, climbing, kneeling, pointing, running, and walking backward evoke memory, history, and rhetoric. This exhibition situates the body politic and ways in which history imprints upon us as a reminder that we are human, both in and out of the body. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/channeling-body-image-viewer" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756916387/xibridwunkk6h9eryfn0.jpg"> <h3>Diego Marcon: Krapfen</h3><h4> </h4>Sep 13, 2025 - Nov 23, 2025Opening: Saturday, Sep 13, 2025 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/the-renaissance-society" target="_blank">The Renaissance Society</a> Diego Marcon, an artist known for his radical rethinking of cinema, sound, and space, makes his U.S. debut at the Renaissance Society this September. Marcon’s practice is rooted in entertainment and structural cinema—eschewing traditional storytelling to explore the mechanics of filmmaking itself. His works challenge the hierarchy between subject and image, dissolving narrative into abstraction. For this exhibition, Marcon presents&nbsp;Krapfen, a newly commissioned musical dance film that stages an encounter between the kid, performed by dancer Violet Savage, and four characters represented by costume props: gloves, foulard, trousers, and pullover.&nbsp;Krapfen&nbsp;is also an encounter between the golden age of American animation and Italian opera. The choreography—a mix of contemporary dance, classical ballet, and popular entertainment forms—reflects the juxtaposition of traditional and digital filmmaking processes, a hallmark of Marcon’s practice. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.hydeparkart.org/exhibition/mark-me-too-five-artists" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756916388/mbnivbwanugoyqxb9ft3.jpg"> <h3>Luke Agada: To Translate is to Move Across</h3><h4> </h4>Saturday, Sep 20, 2025 4:00 PM – 7:00 PMOpening: Saturday, Sep 20, 2025 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/moniquemeloche" target="_blank">moniquemeloche</a> Luke Agada’s&nbsp;practice examines themes of globalization, migration and cultural dislocation within the framework of a postcolonial world and its impact on neo-cultural evolution. Agada's surrealist paintings of disembodied figures and dream-like grounds reference identity and the transformation of the postmodern human, where both time and space produce complex bodies of difference. Overlapping the past and present, the other and the self-reflect the ambiguity of our identiy within post-structuralist theory. Agada's work has been inspired by the postcolonial writings of Homi Bhabha, Edward Said, and literary works by Nigerian authors Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. His work is a continuous reflection of his investigative approach to history and critical theory with regards to the examination of the culture of dominance through globalization. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/luke-agada-to-translate-is-to-move-across" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756916389/wonyyuvkto1eqwkvewmp.jpg"> <h3>You're All Dead to Me: Guest Curated Show by Marc LeBlanc</h3> Sep 26, 2025 - Oct 30, 2025Opening: Friday, Sep 26, 2025 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/circle-contemporary-arts-of-life" target="_blank">Circle Contemporary (Arts of Life)</a> To celebrate M. LeBlanc’s 8th anniversary, the gallery has collaborated with local non-profit Arts Of Life on an extraordinary exhibition/event.&nbsp;Over twenty artists have generously donated their work for an exhibition and raffle to be held on Devils Night at Midnight in support of the Arts of Life studio and program. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/youre-all-dead-to-me-guest-curated-show-by-marc-leblanc" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756916390/fr85c3s6dhlyuzans863.jpg"> <h3>Erosion: Olivia Petrides</h3> Sep 5, 2025 - Sep 26, 2025Opening: Friday, Sep 5, 2025 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/chicago-grand-gallery" target="_blank">Chicago Grand Gallery</a> Erosion&nbsp;explores the intersection of politics, ecology, and the fragility of the human condition through abstract, gestural works that blur the line between atmospheric and political realities. Using simple materials—ink, paper, watercolor, gouache, and fragments of newspapers—the artist creates layered, visceral images that echo both the turbulence of the natural world and the chaos of contemporary social discourse. <a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/erosion-olivia-petrides" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756916390/sdbktp0clkdzyikwiba0.jpg"> <h3>Tiffany Lamps: Beyond the Shade</h3> Sep 12, 2025 - Mar 15, 2026<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/the-driehaus-museum" target="_blank">The Driehaus Museum</a> From the 1890s to the 1920s, Tiffany Studios created a captivating range of decorative lighting fixtures that embraced the technological shift from oil lamps to electricity and simultaneously met the styles and tastes of nineteenth and twentieth century consumers. Drawn from the expansive collections of the Museum and the private art collection of Richard H. Driehaus (now in the Art Exhibition Lending Foundation), the exhibition explores how the artisans at Tiffany Studios used a range of materials—including bronze, enamel, pottery, and glass—to bring Tiffany’s innovative lighting designs to life.&nbsp; <a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/tiffany-lamps-beyond-the-shade" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <h3>• Markets &amp; Auctions</h3> <h3> </h3><h3><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756916391/g48szxjfy5tkqenajyzd.jpg"></h3> <h3>The Maloof Collection of Vivian Maier Gallery Talk and Photographs Reception</h3> Wednesday, Sep 10, 2025 5:00 PM – 7:00 PMOpening: Wednesday, Sep 10, 2025 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/heritage-auctions" target="_blank">Heritage Auctions</a> Heritage Auctions Director Sarahjane Blum gives a gallery talk about collector John Maloof’s journey and passion&nbsp;to protect and celebrate the legacy of Vivian Maier. Accompanying this Gallery Talk is a Preview of Photographs and The Maloof Collection. Enjoy this deeply personal look into the life and work of Maier consisting of ephemera and gallery prints accompanied by works from iconic names like Ansel Adams, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Nan Goldin, and more. <a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/the-maloof-collection-of-vivian-maier-gallery-talk-and-photographs-reception" target="_blank">More info ›</a><h4> </h4> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756916392/xccbuxnew2ucwwodf4tt.jpg"> <h3>Fall Fashion</h3> Wednesday, Sep 10, 2025 10:00 AM<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/freemans-hindman" target="_blank">Freeman's | Hindman</a> Highlights from the auction's house's latest fashion offerings. <a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/fall-fashion-25" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756916393/ghotf4ysp3alzpokewfe.jpg"> <h3>Randolph Street Market Festival</h3> Sep 27, 2025 - Sep 28, 202510am to 5pm both days<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/randolph-street-market" target="_blank">Randolph Street Market</a> Chicago’s world-famous European style antique and vintage market festival returns September 27+28, 2025! Named Top Ten USA Markets by Travel &amp; Leisure, Architectural Digest, goop, USA Today and more! <a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/randolph-street-market-festival" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <h3>• Fundraisers</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756916394/gkljhbox3zj8wm6rsw7f.png"> <h3>WMG Fundraiser 2025</h3> Friday, Sep 5, 2025 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/woman-made-gallery" target="_blank">Woman Made Gallery</a>22 W. Washington St, Morningstar's venue &amp; patio <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://womanmade.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=77610ec6940e4a7c0d652a863&amp;id=f1df8847ca&amp;e=a3993dd90f" target="_blank">ART AND THE CITY</a>&nbsp;is Woman Made Gallery’s largest annual fundraiser, supporting the underrepresented voices of women and non-binary artists. Surprises and delights await on Morningstar’s sleek 7th-floor venue and outdoor patio: Silent auction, drinks and bites, mystery bags, music and unique performances and guests experiences. <a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/wmg-fundraiser-2025" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <h3>• Tours</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756916394/kyarnypeoifffompqpbn.jpg"> <h3>Weekend Art Walk: West Chicago Avenue Galleries</h3> Saturday, Sep 20, 2025 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/art-encounter" target="_blank">Art Encounter</a> Explore Chicago’s West Town gallery scene with Art Encounter co-founder Joanna Pinsky. Visit Patron Gallery's a solo exhibition by Bethany Collins, then Volume Gallery for an exhibition of weavings by California based artist Porfirio Gutiérrez, see large scale representational graphite drawings by Journie Cirdain at Western Exhibitions as well as work by New York based artist Simone Mantellassi. End the tour at Document Gallery with a two person show of sculptors Kiah Celeste and Gordon Hall. <a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/weekend-art-walk-west-chicago-avenue-galleries" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756916396/iomamydl7yhptl6s0g0y.jpg"> <h3>Special McCormick House Tour</h3> Sunday, Sep 21, 2025 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/organizations/elmhurst-art-museum" target="_blank">Elmhurst Art Museum</a> Join expert guest docent&nbsp;Bobbi Pinkert from the Chicago Architecture Center&nbsp;for a special McCormick House tour in celebration of the 2025 Chicago Architecture Biennial. As a self-named “archiholic,” Bobbi Pinkert has been a CAC docent since 1999. She is the leader of many tours including the First Lady, Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise. Pinkert will share her expertise about the McCormick House, Mies van der Rohe, and modernist architecture. The McCormick House is a single-family home designed in 1952 by Mies van der Rohe, one of the great architects of the 20th Century. It is one of only three free-standing residences designed and built by Mies in the United States--and one of only two open to the public.&nbsp;Advance tickets recommended due to limited capacity. <a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/special-mccormick-house-tour" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <h4> </h4> <h4> </h4><h2> </h2>

CGN Art Preview: September 2025

Jacqueline Surdell: An Artist’s Voice Helps Scale Her Art

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756792275/ede20d6h7rc3uwpveqe8.jpg">Pictured: the fall 2025 cover of CGN featuring art by Jacqueline Surdell <h4>﻿To subscribe to receive a print copy of the fall 2025 issue of CGN <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicagogallerynews.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">click here</a>.</h4> By GINNY VAN ALYEA I say it regularly, but I am an optimist. I am not, however oblivious. I have worked at CGN for 23 years, through many market ups and downs, neighborhood changes, art fair evolutions and more. I go back through Chicago’s art world history often, and when I look to CGN’s founding in 1982, we have weathered a lot. I have been privy to several conversations this year about the current art market’s slower sales, high overhead and tightening margins. One question looms largest: where is the next generation of collectors? Today’s likely pool of art buyers doesn’t hesitate to snap up concert tickets or plane tickets. They go big for innovative experiences and dining instead of acquiring a lot of ‘stuff.’ However, plenty of people engage with artists on Instagram and tune in to the world’s current events through a conceptual lens. A young generation’s buying power has the potential for lasting impact: to put it in perspective, a month’s worth of $30 salads and $15 smoothies could instead be $800 towards a work on paper by a young artist. Thoughtful saving and spending can start an art collection, launch an artist’s career and sustain a new gallery.&nbsp; The money is out there. And so is the generational engagement. New collectors will still emerge—not from traditional wealth pipelines, but from creative industries, tech, and mission-driven professions. Entry-level collecting often begins with drawings, prints, photography, emerging art—mostly (hopefully) under $5,000. It also begins with love–when you find something you just have to have and will cherish for years to come. Also like falling in love, art shouldn’t be a trophy, it is a commitment—to the person who created it, and also a declaration to yourself to live with art and explore it.&nbsp; The art world is working towards meeting collectors where they currently are–improving pricing transparency and online buying, offering flexible payment options and outreach. Events that prioritize education, access and fun—not just exclusivity—go a long way towards making any potential buyer feel welcomed rather than intimidated. And buyers need to spend the time, speak up, and ask questions. Long-term sustainability means collectors and galleries supporting each other. This will depend not just on high-net-worth clients, but on broader audiences who see collecting as part of their cultural life—not just as luxury.&nbsp; This fall issue of CGN offers so many ways to discover and engage with art, from reading about our cover artist Jacqueline Surdell's September exhibition at Secrist | Beach, to following contributor Susan Gescheidle on her journeys to new and upcoming spaces. We interviewed Melissa Weber and Jay Dandy about their shared passion for supporting local artists and we also asked other area collectors to share their own stories and lessons. We also spoke with five people in the art world to see what they are looking forward to. And we have put together lists of highlights happening this season, from the return of Chicago Exhibition Weekend to a slate of dynamite exhibitions, art fundraisers and galas you won't want to miss. Future collectors–we know you’re out there and we encourage you to partake! CGN is always here as a friendly resource. We welcome you to the art world! # <h4>To subscribe to receive a print copy of the fall 2025 issue of CGN <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicagogallerynews.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">click here</a>.</h4> <h4>Read CGN's fall 2025 cover interview with artist Jacqueline Surdell <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/articles/jacqueline-surdell-an-artists-voice-helps-scale-her-art" target="_blank">here</a></h4> Top cover image: Jacqueline Surdell, Suddenly,&nbsp;she was hell-bent and ravenous (after Giotto), 2024. Nylon cord, steel, polyester fabric, steel spool top,&nbsp;steel chain and meat hooks. 65 (body) x 252 (pole to pole) x 7 inches.

Publisher’s Letter: Fall 2025

<h3>Fall is always a busy&nbsp;season in Chicago’s art world, with new&nbsp;exhibitions across galleries and museums opening every week.&nbsp;Right after Labor Day many new exhibition will be open, often through October and beyond. Listed here are a few highlights we are looking forward to seeing through the city, the suburbs and an hour or two away in Michigan and Wisconsin.</h3><h3> </h3><h3>Soon we will also share more features about events and exhibitions happening this fall, from the return of the Chicago Architecture Biennial to the 3rd Chicago Exhibition Weekend, as well as many upcoming benefits and galas – all excellent ways to see art and support the dynamic institutions in our region.</h3><h3> </h3><h3>Our fall magazine covers events taking place from September-December, and it also includes interviews with many area artists, collectors and other members of the art community.</h3><h3> </h3><h3>To subscribe to CGN in print <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicagogallerynews.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">click here</a>.</h3><h3> </h3><h3>– CGN</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756916594/sd42d25m4xeljububiic.jpg"> <h4>The Opening of the Chicago location of the Illinois Holocaust Museum</h4> Illinois Holocaust Museum presents Experience360&nbsp;provides a panoramic view through history and truth, inviting visitors of all backgrounds to&nbsp;witness stories of survival, ask questions, and reflect on the past in ways that inspire empathy, respect, and hope. Featuring cutting-edge technology and immersive storytelling,&nbsp;Experience360&nbsp;offers visitors an opportunity to engage with history in deeply personal and interactive ways.&nbsp;Now open in downtown Chicago 360 N. State Street, Chicago<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ilholocaustmuseum.org/experience360/" target="_blank">ilholocaustmuseum.org/experience360</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756916595/kgz4720yzo3vebr55xwx.jpg">Jaume Plensa. Hortense in Slumberland, 2021. Bronze, Edition of 11.&nbsp;30 x 22 x 20 cm. Photo: Roberto Ruiz © Plensa Studio Barcelona <h4>Jaume Plensa: A New Humanism –</h4><h4>Frederik Meijer Gardens &amp;&nbsp;Sculpture Park</h4> This exhibition in Michigan explores Jaume Plensa’s career-long engagement with themes common to our shared humanity such as dreams, desire, justice and mortality. While Plensa’s oeuvre is marked by diversity in format and media, the human condition remains the primary subject of his art. Featuring both monumental and intimate-scaled sculptures and select two-dimensional works that span three decades, this is the first retrospective of this internationally acclaimed artist in the United States. Oct 24, 2025–Mar 15, 2026&nbsp;•&nbsp;Grand Rapids, MI<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.meijergardens.org/" target="_blank">meijergardens.org</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756916596/rwk9s0quokejddh66pot.jpg"> <h4>Roger Brown Study Collection–</h4><h4>The Art Preserve, John Michael Kohler Art Center</h4> The Chicago home collection of Roger Brown contains more than 2,000 artworks by other Chicago Imagists and non-mainstream artists. A dedicated student of artist Ray Yoshida, the collection echoes many of Yoshida’s sensibilities—folk and Indigenous art, objects from material and popular culture, costumes, souvenirs, and fine art. Brown’s southern heritage, sense of humor, and love of the silhouetted form are also evident throughout the collection. Operated as a semi-private house museum, the collection was acquired by the Arts Center from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) by Kohler Foundation, Inc. This introductory installation of a portion of Brown’s collection at the Art Preserve, will give visitors a sense of the rich trove of objects he collected. Oct 11–Spring 2026 • 3636 Lower Falls Rd., Sheboygan, WI • <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.jmkac.org/" target="_blank">jmkac.org</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756916596/l8xbk4sf2e3xeyd0e5fc.jpg"> <h4>Silver Lining:&nbsp;The Prints of Derrick Adams–</h4><h4>Tandem Press</h4> Derrick Adams (b. 1970, Baltimore, Maryland) is a multidisciplinary artist who closely considers the influence of popular culture on the formation of self-image. His work also questions how African American experiences intersect with art history, American iconography, and consumerism. Oct 8–Dec 19&nbsp;•&nbsp;1743 Commercial Ave.Madison, WI (53704)<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://tandempress.wisc.edu/" target="_blank">tandempress.wisc.edu/</a>

This Season’s Highlights: Fall 2025 Part II

<h3>Fall is always a busy&nbsp;season in Chicago’s art world, with new&nbsp;exhibitions across galleries and museums opening every week.&nbsp;Right after Labor Day many new exhibition will be open, often through October and beyond. Listed here are a few highlights we are looking forward to seeing through the city, the suburbs and an hour or two away in Michigan and Wisconsin.</h3><h3> </h3><h3>Our fall magazine covers events taking place from September-December, and it also includes interviews with many area artists, collectors and other members of the art community.</h3><h3> </h3><h3>To subscribe to CGN in print <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicagogallerynews.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">click here</a>.</h3><h3> </h3><h3> </h3><h3>– CGN</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756916651/iawudtubo9oa7gmgoq8j.jpg">Yoko Ono with Glass Hammer, 1967, from Half-A-Wind Show, Lisson Gallery, London, UK, 1967. Artwork © Yoko Ono. Photo © Clay Perry.<h4> </h4> <h4>Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind –</h4><h4>Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago</h4> The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Chicago will become the exclusive U.S. venue for Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind, a comprehensive solo exhibition dedicated to the artist, musician, and activist Yoko Ono. Traveling from Tate Modern in London, where it achieved record-breaking attendance, and developed in close collaboration with Ono’s studio, this groundbreaking retrospective spans 70 years of Ono’s innovative career. The exhibition features over 200 works, including participatory instruction pieces and scores, installations, a curated music room, films, music, photography, and archival materials. The exhibition highlights significant works from throughout Ono’s decades-long career, including the landmark performance work Cut Piece (1964); her collaborations with prominent musicians such as John Cage, Ornette Coleman, and her late husband, John Lennon; artwork activations, films, public artworks and more.&nbsp; Oct 18, 2025–Feb 22, 2026220 E. Chicago (60611)&nbsp;•&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://mcachicago.org/" target="_blank">mcachicago.org</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756916651/zcd6k1fetiihrfwupxzp.jpg">Bob Faust,* heavy wait* (detail), 2025, wallwork on paper, dimensions variable, courtesy of the artist. <h4>Shakkei: Work by Mayumi Lake and Bob Faust–&nbsp;</h4><h4>Elmhurst Art Museum</h4> Shakkei: Work by Mayumi Lake and Bob Faust is the first major museum exhibition for Chicago-based artists Mayumi Lake and Bob Faust, who are mutually inspired by the Japanese principle of Shakkei (“borrowed scenery”), a design philosophy that incorporates organic features and architectural designs. The artists’ kaleidoscopic works use color and pattern to create immersive optical experiences, interpreting the Eastern concept broadly as a metaphor for empathy, adaptability, and the ability to hold multiple viewpoints simultaneously. The exhibition will feature recent large-scale artworks by Lake and Faust in separate galleries, as well as a collaborative new work combining their design languages.&nbsp;For this exhibition, each artist will bring their own perspective to the concept of Shakkei, reflecting their unique experiences and history. While Lake’s imagery is based on the symbolic floral motifs found in antique Japanese girls’ kimonos, Faust often incorporates the surroundings of the project or exhibition venue into his “wallworks,” creating site-specific perspectives manipulated from digital photographs. Sept 6–Jan 5, 2026150 Cottage Hill Ave., Elmhurst (60126)&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://elmhurstartmuseum.org/" target="_blank">elmhurstartmuseum.org</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756916652/inqhno3kqgb5vequm64x.jpg"> <h4>CAB 6–</h4><h4>Chicago Architecture Biennial</h4> Over the past decade, the Chicago Architecture Biennial (CAB) has sustained an international forum on architecture and urbanism centered in Chicago and has continued to produce the largest exhibition of contemporary architecture in North America every two years. This year marks CAB’s tenth anniversary with CAB 6 and it will be led by Artistic Director Florencia Rodriguez. Titled SHIFT: Architecture in Times of Radical Change, CAB 6 will present an expansive and multi-faceted exploration of the field of architecture and the built environment globally, specifically as they respond to and are remade by a rapidly changing world. September 12, 2025–February 28, 2026 •&nbsp;Chicago Cultural Center and city-wide locations<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org/" target="_blank">chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756916653/ncztr4gjdzz0gixzwqcs.jpg">Temitayo Ogunbiyi, You will feel out of many one people, 2019. Varnished Japanese ink and acrylic on found fabric, 54 x 36” <h4>Temitayo Ogunbiyi: You will have revelations along felled branches and longer roots/routes –&nbsp;</h4><h4>The Arts Club of Chicago</h4> Lagos-based artist Temitayo Ogunbiyi draws attention to the medicinal capacities and visual complexities of local flora, showing drawings, paintings, and sculpture that respond to Chicago’s social and natural environments. The exhibition considers exchanges of friendship and translations of language by referencing places the artist has visited. Various community programming is planned, including bespoke ice cream!&nbsp; Sept 17–Dec 19, 2025 • 201 E. Ontario (60611) • <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artsclubchicago.org/" target="_blank">artsclubchicago.org</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756916654/zcvdlsc2jmcmosnneg8c.jpg">Helen Frankenthaler, Altitudes, 1978. Lithograph on paper, 22 × 31 in. Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art, Northwestern University, gift of the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation. 22 1/4 x 30 5/8 inches (56.5 x 77.8 cm) © 2024 Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, Inc. / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / Universal Limited Art Editions (ULAE), West Islip, New York Photograph by Thomas Barratt, courtesy Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, New York <h4>Pouring, Spilling, Bleeding: Helen Frankenthaler&nbsp;</h4><h4>and Artists’ Experiments on Paper –&nbsp;</h4><h4>The Block Museum of Art</h4> Helen Frankenthaler (American, 1928–2011) began printmaking in 1961, working across lithography, woodcut, and etching for the next 50 years. Frankenthaler is known for her abstract paintings and especially her signature “soak-stain” technique—allowing paint to sit, spread, and pool on untreated canvas. She brought this same sensibility, what she described as a “pouring, flooding, spilling, bleeding one,” to works on paper.&nbsp;&nbsp; While printmaking is often characterized by precision and control, Frankenthaler’s prints allow for chance encounters between pigment and surface—unintentional effects that emphasize the agency and alchemy of materials. The exhibition will focus on her print practice and call attention to the unpredictability, chance, and accident in Frankenthaler’s work. The exhibition will include works by other artists in The Block’s collection who similarly have embraced chance, accident, or aesthetic surprise in their artworks–Joan Mitchell, Grace Hartigan, and Robert Motherwell—and many others. In 2023, The Block Museum was one of ten university museums to receive artwork as part of the Frankenthaler Print Initiative. The exhibition will feature this extraordinary gift and bring it into conversation with prints in the collection. Sept 17–Dec 14&nbsp;•&nbsp;Northwestern University, Evanston, IL<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.blockmuseum.northwestern.edu/" target="_blank">blockmuseum.northwestern.edu</a>

This Season’s Highlights: Fall 2025 Part I

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756482746/x70sia8lakp1bmz2wobj.jpg">Installation view of deathmatch By SUSAN GESCHEIDLE Photos by Mikey Mosher <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://bgfa.us/" target="_blank">Bert Green Fine Art</a> (BGFA), directed by its namesake, Bert Green, sits in Chicago’s historic Willoughby Tower.&nbsp;The gallery, says Green, is dedicated to thought&nbsp;provoking and timely exhibitions that push boundaries, in compliment to a print publishing division, which makes affordable limited editions for new and established collectors.The small venue complements its latest exhibition, Mac Pierce’s deathmatch, which explores themes of combat, war, and mortality, and is particularly well-suited to a more intimate environment.&nbsp; Fueled by his passion for technology, Chicago artist Pierce, a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Art &amp; Technology Studies program, explores the complex and often troubling relationship between technological advancement and warfare. Pierce observes a disconnect between simulated and actual conflict. This phenomenon, he argues, has led to the erosion of social trust through the proliferation of misinformation. The artist describes himself as a “tinkerer and maker,” and his artistic approach is hands-on and experimental. He utilizes cutting-edge tools like AI, 3D printing, coding, and modding to deconstruct and critically examine the mechanisms of emerging weaponized technologies and surveillance. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756482747/ftjrssgbybegjbwphwf0.jpg">Mac Pierce, Untitled (army man), 2025 - 3D printed PETG, Loctite® 4070,&nbsp;Nylon threaded rod, 65 x 48 x 18”. This innovative spirit shines through in Pierce’s third solo exhibition at BGFA. The exhibition includes an eclectic mix of works, including found objects, combat games, drone footage, and even classic toys, all serving to explore the multifaceted impact of technological advancements on conflict and societal control. Gallery owner Bert Green said of the artist, “Mac Pierce caught my eye as a young and up and coming artist who has a brilliant conceptual approach to his work that resonates beautifully with our current era of disruptive technologies. “ The show’s title, deathmatch, comes from video game terminology referring to a competitive game mode where players score points by defeating opponents, popularized by Doom in the early 1990s and still common in first-person shooter games. Pierce’s early understanding of conflict and war was significantly shaped by his grandfather, a World War II veteran. His grandfather introduced him to Army Men miniatures, a popular children’s toy that Time Magazine recognized in 2011 as one of the top 100 toys of all time. These small figures, coupled with a hand-carved wooden rifle from his grandfather and playing “Cowboys and Indians”—a game now viewed as culturally insensitive—instilled in Pierce his initial understanding of combat. However, contemporary perspectives now scrutinize these influences for two key reasons: the history of Native American genocide and concerns about violent games affecting children. Still, playing with miniature soldiers and enacting combat scenarios might, for some, stimulate imagination and strategic thinking. This exhibition features two artworks by Pierce, directly informed by these formative experiences, illustrating a journey from childhood play to artistic expression. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756482748/kpfa9bw2plkaeqvgx9zi.jpg">Mac Pierce, Real Toys for Real Boys, 2024, Plywood, edition of 6, 44 x 8 x 1”. Upon discovering a damaged, discarded Army Men toy on a Chicago sidewalk, Pierce was inspired to create a scaled-up replica of the compelling footless soldier. A local engineering firm that conducts industrial scans performed a CT scan of the toy soldier, enabling Pierce to create an identical larger 3D-printed version. Untitled (army man,) is a green 3D-printed sculpture (65” x 48” x 18”) stamped with CHINA, referencing its origin and themes of global production and commodified war imagery. Pierce regards the human-sized sculpture as commentary on the monstrosity of war and its consequences. The nearby display of the original toy prompts viewers to consider its role as a symbol of conflict. Real Toys for Real Boys is a piece consisting of six life-sized replica firearms crafted from plywood. The title originates from a former website, which advertised its wooden toy guns with the slogan “Real Toys for Real Boys.” Placed haphazardly around the gallery, the guns blend playful innocence with real firearm symbolism. Each wooden gun features an edition number mirroring a firearm serial number. The installation critiques the normalization of guns by displaying them as scattered toys. I really like C/S/TS (Confidential, Secret, Top Secret,) a modestly sized linoleum print on paper (12 x 9 inches) created by Pierce in 2023. Though small in scale, it has a big impact within the exhibit because of the subject matter. It incorporates text from classified Pentagon documents leaked by Jack Teixeira in 2022 on the Discord platform. Teixeira, an IT specialist in the Massachusetts Air National Guard, shared sensitive details—like Ukraine troop movements, data on Chinese spy balloons, and weaknesses in Taiwan’s air defenses. The print visually mimics the original documents, showing creases and folds from pages Teixeira smuggled out. He stated that his actions were intended to address misinformation, but reports indicate his motivation was to impress online friends; he received a 15-year sentence in November 2024. The artwork draws on this event (that mirrors similar leaks, like the Pentagon Papers, WikiLeaks, Manning, and Snowden) to highlight ongoing issues of surveillance, data security, and misinformation. By using text of actual leaked material, C/S/TS prompts viewers to reflect on trust, accountability, and the complexities of information warfare and secrecy in the digital age. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756482749/w9tjf3wgecyrdsgwucwj.jpg">Mac Pierce, We’re So Over, We’re So Back, 2025. (Detail pictured below) <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756482750/es94nodzxq4b4zzhdh59.jpg"> Creative Technologist Pierce incorporates digital technology to craft engaging experiences. For The Effects of Terrestrial Events upon Celestial Mechanics, he uses recovered footage from a damaged drone found at the intersection of Monroe and S. Wabash streets, with scenes appearing to be shot in Chicago and Brazil. This footage is displayed on a wall-mounted Steam Deck alongside the drone, mounted on a stick on the wall. Pierce integrated drone footage from Ukrainian Telegram channels but deliberately excluded Russian footage due to Telegram’s perceived association with pro-Kremlin propaganda. In a corner of the gallery sits Pierce’s&nbsp;KDR (Kill-Death-Ratio): an acrylic tombstone featuring a faint message,&nbsp;“YOU DIED,” in big block letters, burned into an embedded OLED monitor. Pierce kept the single text image on the monitor 24-7 for six months to create the ghosting. The piece, etched with a skull, rests on a polished concrete base atop a pedestal, mimicking a cemetery plot. This piece is one of my favorites—it’s intimate, and everyone has experienced loss and visited cemeteries. Pierce describes it as both a tribute to endless virtual gaming deaths and a stark reminder of mortality, especially in the context of war. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1756482751/w0gczxszixlggbfcupxv.jpg">Top: KDR, 2025, OLED gaming monitor, acrylic, polished concrete, laser cut aluminum, vacuum formed ABS, 3D-printed ABS, modified monitor mount, Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W, stainless steel hardware, HDMI cable, USB-C Cable, 20v AC adapter, DC step-down converter, heat-set inserts, wiring, ghosts, 25 x 17 x 11”. We’re So Over, We’re So Back is a stunning 28 x 24 x 6-inch aluminum sculpture of a tech-ouroboros—a gleaming serpent caught in an eternal snack of its own tail. A blood red, water-cooled PC as its belly transforms its scales into a high-tech radiator, blurring the lines between human, machine, and reptile. The serpent’s gaze is fixed on an attached, adjacent monitor where a modified Counter-Strike game has gone rogue! Bots battle on ever-changing landscapes, hinting at technological and warfare loops. Pierce spent nine months learning the necessary skills through YouTube tutorials to construct the ouroboros sculpture, which runs the video game. A public build log documents his process, highlighting the power of self-learning and encouraging others to embrace their creative spirit. Pierce’s creation, like a perfectly executed move by a Counter-Strike professional, is brilliant and thought-provoking, sparking discussions on hacking, surveillance, and firearms. In the digital realm, the end is merely the beginning, and the game is always afoot!&nbsp; deathmatchThru October 18, 2025&nbsp;Open Friday 12–4PM, and by appt.Bert Green Fine Art, 8 S. Michigan Avenue, Ste. 620, Chicago<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://bgfa.us/" target="_blank">bgfa.us</a> #

deathmatch by Mac Pierce at Bert Green: An Intimate Artistic Exploration of War and Games, Both Real and Pretend

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755789370/c1yucihdx3cxjfq2pwqt.jpg"> Via PR ROMAN SUSAN ART FOUNDATION NFP4750 N Sheridan Road #534, Chicago 60640(773) 270-1224 | <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://romansusan.org/" target="_blank">romansusan.org</a> Open Hours1224 W Loyola Ave, Chicago ILSeptember 18, 2025 - September 30, 2025 We’re open! Join us for the last thirteen days of our thirteenth and final year at 1224 W Loyola Ave. Let’s celebrate what you bring to the space. Show up, sign up, and share. Days will have broad themes, and responsive updates – recurring elements will include drawing the walls, making columns, and holding forth. We will be open daily at 5 PM (starting a little earlier, or staying a little later, depending on the day). Check our calendar for daily iterations, and visit while we’re here. We’re excited to share open participatory events with Marc Fischer, Siobhan Leonard, AJ McClenon, Carole McCurdy, dj peripheral, Gwyneth Zeleny Anderson, and others – and to be a platform for people to show up and express themselves. This space is an artwork we’ve made together. Come help add the final touches! 1224 W Loyola Ave has been the site of 185 projects with the contributions of 913 artists from November 2012 through September 2025. Help us carry this spirit forward by supporting our future(s) beyond Loyola Ave. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755789382/xg99lfpm6gpexkmnibuu.jpg"> We are incredibly humbled and grateful to have shared this space together in Rogers Park since November 2012. In particular, we’re taking this time to thank all of the artists who have gifted us their curiosity and their work: Kristin Abhalter Smith, Nathan Abhalter Smith, Jeremy Ackman, Alejandro T. Acierto, Stephanie Acosta, Justine Adeboyejo, Madeleine Aguilar, ebere agwuncha, Elena Ailes, AJ (Quing of Arts Photography), Anyah Akanni, Wiley Aker, Bimbola Akinbola, Muhammad Habib Akram, Adriana Kuri Alamillo, Mark Alcazar Diaz, Darko Aleksovski, Daniel Alfredo Suarez, Hiba Ali, Christopher Corey Allen, Leana E Allen, Kristin Allmer, Pepe Álvarez, Dylan Alverson, Andre Alves, Kayla Anderson, Joni Anderson, Elinor Anderson-Genné, Yana Andriesh, Kanyinsola Anifowoshe, Haylee Anne, Alexandra Antoine, Kioto Aoki, Inés Arango-Guingue, Kate Arford, Carla Argueta, James Arhelger, Jill Armstrong, Lisa Armstrong, Caitlin Arnold, Oscar Arriola, Ashina, Alice Kiwako Ashiwa, Aram Atamian, Erin Austin, Ceyda Aykan, Soheila Azadi, Dennis Baburov, Linden Baierl, Mara Baker, Jess Baldissero, Melis Baloglu, Katarina Balunova, Whitney Bandel, Yaro Banduro, Audrey Barcio, Lorena Barrera Enciso, Lindsey Barlag Thornton, Nina Barnett, Jess Bass, Sarah Bastress, Joann Bates, Jonathan Baude, Michael Bauer, Rebecca Beachy, Laurel Beckman, Meghan Moe Beitiks, Annita Benjamin, Nancy Benjamin, Eli Bensusan, Daryl Lynn Bergman, Sarah Berkeley, Amy Beste, Ruth Biene, Lauren Bina, Jessica Bingham, Sandra Binion, Lauren Bishop, Zaelia Bishop, Dan Bitney, Katina Bitsicas, Taykhoom Saifuddin Biviji, Araidia Blackburn, Thomas Georg Blank, Jerry Bleem, Matt Bodett, Zak Boerger, Sonya Bogdanova, Mark Boldizsar, Michelle Bolinger, Joanna Booth, Gabriella Boros, Cidgy Bossuet, Dan Boyd, Rine Boyer, Beth Bradfish, Patrick Brady, Alexis Brocchi, Kara Brody, Judith Brotman, Georgia Brown, Jared Brown, Jason Brown, Stella Brown, Maddie Brucker, Jan Brugger, Paulina Budzioch, Gabriel Bump, Michael Burmeister, Robert Burnier, Eileen Burns, Nicholas Burrage, April Butcher, Beatriz Caballero, Elise Cabral, Josephina Cabrera, Holly Cahill, Ava Calabrese Grob, Liz Cambron, Mia Capodilupo, Jacobus Capone, Jessica Caponigro, Eric Capper, Vanessa Capshaw, Nick Carbuto, Jay Carlon, Stephanie Del Carpio, Tallulah Cartalucca, Kate Casanova, castroduperly, CEW Design Studio, Stephanie Chamber, Michael Chambers, Isabella Chamberland, Karen Y. Chan, Vienne Chan, Methas Chantawongs, Li Chao-Ping, Vivian Charlesworth, Salome Chasnoff, Jiayi Chen, Tate Won Chen, Ashwaty Chennat, Julietta Cheung, Inah Choe, Chanhee Choi, Judith Holo Lue Choy, James Chrzan, Courtney Cintrón, Hugues Clément, Alexis Clodfelter, Ashley Clodfelter, Jessica Cochran, Joe Cochran, Alex Bradley Cohen, Barrie Cole, Lauren Coleman, Collective Cleaners, Paté Conaway, Katie Condon, Alex J. Cope, Coppice, Sofía Córdova, Elisa Corena, Molly Costello, Derek Coté, Elise Cowin, Max Cozzi, Molly Crabapple, Ben Creech, April Crescia, Anton Crescia, Soledad Crescia, Emilie Crewe, Sarah Crow, Andres Cuartas, Jernej Čuček Gerbec, Sarah Curl-Larson, Jennifer Curth, Furen Dai, Sara Dambrowski, Rachel Damon, Erin Kyle Danna, Sage Dawson, Melanie Deal, Leigh Anthony Dehaney, Santiago Delgado Escribano, Daniel DeLuna, Lindsey Dezman, Alessandro Diaz, Erika Diaz, Natacha Diels, Micah Dillman, Caitlin Dippo, Daz Disley, Predrag Djordjevic, Yewen Dong, Christa Donner, Stella Donner-Yang, Lindsey Dorr-Niro, Germel Dossie, Carrie Drapac, Jory Drew, Benjamin Duax, Meg Duguid, Jim Duignan, Elena Duque, Nir Dvorai, Nadine Dyskant-Miller, Heidi Eckwall, Rebecca Edmonson, Mohamed Ibrahim Elmasry, Shir Ende, Sophia English, Taylor Ervin, Chad Eschman, Paul Escriva, Iván-Daniel Espinosa, Veronica Espinosa, Elena Esquibel, McLean Fahnestock, Adam Farcus, Gabriela Farías, Jessica Fenlon, Carlos Ferguson, Eliza Fernand, Carolina Fernandez Del Dago, Omari Ferrell, Sara Ferro, Peter Ferry, Lydia Feuerhelm, Dasha Filippova, Taylor Finke, Marc Fischer, Lauren Flaaen, Mary Flack, Dustin Flemming, Elizabeth Flood, Flor, Laurel Foglia, Corbett Fogue, Ryan Fontaine, Paige Fors, Jenn Freeman, Tyran Freeman, Lindsey French, Sarah Friedland, Yoav Friedländer, Kandis Friesen, Joanna Furnans, Wanbli Gamache, Eddie Gamboa, Ricardo Gamboa, Chris Gans, Gabriel Garcia, Noelle Garcia, Julia Garfield, Alex Garza, Cy Gavin, Julia Gavin Bither, Ben Lamar Gay, Rami George, Daniel Giles, Didi S. Gilson, Amber Ginsberg, Anna Goetz, laaura goldstein, Ronen Goldstein, Carley Gomez, Carlos Gonzalez, Clay Gonzalez, Graciela Gonzalez, Javier González Pesce, Anna Goraczko, Justyna Górowska, Becky Grajeda, Will Greene, Tia Greer, Alyssa Gregory, Malakai Greiner, Mat Greiner, Spencer Grogan, Maëlle Gross, Ben Grosser, Kim Guare, Michael La Guerra, Sare Güneş, Max Guy, Tom Hack, Maria Hadden, Pamela Hadley, Chad Hagedorn, Tao Haiyue, Michael Hall, Rosemary Hall, Yhelena Hall, Max Halperin, Raja Halwani, Anthony Hamilton, Rory Hamovit, Sanglim Han, Aram Han Sifuentes, Shir Handelsman, Jillian Hansen-Lewis, Mariel Harari, Diamond Hardiman, Judith Harding, Katie Hargrave, Diana Harper, Nichole Harrod, Gretchen Hasse, Ian Hatcher, Sarah Haug, Teri Havens, Erin Hayden, Kelly Hayes, Tracie Hayes, Armin Hayrapetian, hemlock, Nick Hennessey, Jon Henry, Timo Herbst, Traci Hercher, Rosé Hernandez, Heather Higgins, Sara R. Hill, Wendi Hill, Jennifer Hines, Stevie Hnilicka, Ruth Hodgins, Lisa Hoffmann, Elisabeth Hogeman, Sara Holwerda, Brian Holmes, Sam Hoolihan, Iu Chung Hong, Lindsay Hopkins, Maryam Hoseini, Steven Hou, Kasia Houlihan, Elizabeth Housewright, Billie Howard, Brandon Howe, Cynthia Hsieh, Deidre Huckabay, Brandon Jacob Hudson, Jade Huell, Taylor Hughes, Gina Hunt, E.L. Hunter, Lynn Hunter, Sanja Hurem, Steven Husby, Robin Hustle, Regin Igloria, Kate In, Laura Ingram, Josh Ippel, Jessica Jacobs, Maria Jacobson, Michael James, Linda Jankowska, Patrick Jenkins, Salvador Jimenez, Anna Johnson, Jonathan Johnson, Keiko Johnson, Vincent Galen Johnson, Chloe Johnston, Nathanael Jones, Joanne Jongsma, Jasmine Jordan, Ross Jordon, Jacob Juache, Maria Juache, Steve Juras, Mariame Kaba, Kevin Kaempf, Felicia Kaplan, Venkata Sivakumar Kappala, Vasilis Karvounis, Johanna Kasimow, Amay Kataria, Hoda Katebi, Toby Kaufmann-Buhler, Jennifer Keats, Colleen Keihm, Mel Keiser, Lisa Kemp, Millicent Kennedy, James Kenny, J. Kent, Tynan Kerr, Em Kettner, Misha Khokhlov, Juneer Kibria, An Na Kim, Bobae Kim, Danbee Kim, Houneyh Kim, Wednesday Kim, Jeff Kimmel, Rob Kimmel, Jamila Kinney, Kiril Kirchev, Brian Kirkbride, Julia Klein, Katie Klocke, Jordan Knecht, Kelsey Knutson, Haruhi Kobayashi, Marlo Koch, Stephanie Koch, Lia Kohl, Thomas Kong, Karin S. Korth, Fenia Kotsopoulou, Juliane Kowalke, Brandy Kraft, Ginger Krebs, João Krefer, Claire Krueger, Daniel Kukla, Amy Kuttab, Allison Lacher, Tulika Ladsariya, Gigi Lage, Nathan Lamp, Mira Lane, S. Nicole Lane, Gary LaPointe Jr., Amaranta Isyemille Lara, George Larson, Nate Larson, Camille Laut, Aaron Lawson, Anastasia Lebedev, Kasper Lecnim, Charles Lee, Helen Lee, Lindsey Lee, Marissa Lee Benedict, Matt Lee, SJ Lee, Herbert Lee Jones, Caroline Lee Liu, Cristen Leifheit, Dillon Lemon, Matthew Lemus, Siobhan Leonard, Lauren Leving, Li Zeyi, Maria Lichtenegger, Jasmine Lin, Karin Lindholm, Emily Lindskoog, Caldwell Linker, Lion vs. Gorilla, Louise Yingduo Liu, Sarah Anne Lobb, Norman W. Long, Angela Lopez, Brian Lopez, Mauricio López, Zion Lopez, Nazafarin Lotfi, Maddy Low, Dan Lowe, Lienne Loy, Cole Lu, Jessica Lucas, Benjamin Luebkemann, Daniel Luedtke, Ro(b)//ert Lundberg, Lorette Luzajic, Ellie Lynch, David Lytzhøft, kee mabin, Michael Mac, Dan MacDonald, Courtney Mackedanz, Kera MacKenzie, Lauren Macklin, Garrett MacLean, Perry Maddox, Leonardo Magrelli, Jesse Malmed, Tricia Malorey, Eugene Maltez, Deanna Mance, Jorge Mañes Rubio, Amanda Maraist, Ahmed Mohsen Mansour, Liz Mares, John Marks, Chrissy Martin, Matt Martin, Jonatan Martinez, Colin Marx, Henning Marxen, Annalaura Masciave, Katrina Matejcik, Nate Mathews, Nicole Mauser, Andrew Mausert-Mooney, Christopher Maves, Carlye Mayan, Yvette Mayorga, Andrew Mazorol, Marissa McCants, Liz McCarthy, Margaret McCarthy, Frank McCauley, AJ McClenon, Erick McCree, Angus McCullough, Carole McCurdy, Ben McElroy Fuqua, John McLaughlin, Derrick Meads, Richard Medina, Jaclyn Mednicov, Luis Medrano, Charlie Megna, Emanuela Meloni, Jeff Mendenhall, Aruna Mendon, Tejaswini Mendon, Jasmine Mendoza, Joelle Mercedes, Patrick Merrill, Stephanie Merrill, Nick Meryhew, Emily Michaels King, Sea Michell, Miller &amp; Shellabarger, Dan Miller, Mari Miller, Sarah Ellen Miller, Tracy Miller-Robbins, Marina Miliou-Theocharaki, Yunhee Min, Ruxandra Mitache, Carisa Mitchell, Shanae Mitchell, Juan Molina Hernández, Julie Molter, Ricardo Mondragon, Mitch Monroy, Kyle Montemurro, Emily Moorhead, Ignacio Morales, Allen Morris, Tannaz Motevalli, Alyssa Moxley, Erick Msumanje, Eileen Mueller, Milda Muktupāvela, Alvin Muniz, Anna Munzesheimer, Gülşah Mursaloğlu, Jillian Musielak, Crystal Myslajek, Magritte Emanuel Nankin, Sebastian Napoli, Emanuele Napolitano, Paige Naylor, blake nemec, Marina Nemtseva, Moira Ness, Leah Netsky, Marissa Neuman, Dao Nguyen, Natalia Nicholson, Zachary Nicol, Rick Niebe, Clara Nizard, April Noga, Kevin Norris, Jon Notwick, Connie Noyes, Ej Nussbaum, Kathleen O'Connor, Liam O'Connor, Joseph O'Neill, Tamara Ober, Abigail Ockenfels, Betsy Odom, Aimee Marie Odum, Alys Ayumi Ogura, Duncan Oja, Labkhand Olfatmanesh, Dan Olvera, Sabeen Omar, Lara Oppenheimer, Marco Ordonez, Melissa Oresky, Monica Ortega, Christian Ortiz, Ladan Osman, Brandon Oswalt, Julian Otis, Peixuan Ouyang, Hanna M. Owens, Kasia Ozga, Seda Öznal, Jared Packard, Cheryl Pagurek, Yu-Tzu Pai, Ethan T. Parcell, Israel Pate, Steph Patsula, Sally Paul, Coya Paz, Lauren Paz, Lindsey Pearson, PEEJAYEL, Matthew Pell, Josué Pellot, Greg Penrice, Jeannette Perkal, Katherine Perryman, Miloš Peškir, Judy Petacque, Susanne Layla Petersen, Marina Pfenning, Heather Phillips, Sasha Phyars-Burgess, Raffaele Piano, Cole Pierce, Jessica Pierotti, Wannapa Pimtong-Eubanks, Klaus Pinter, Jacob Platt, Colleen Plumb, Rhett Gérard Poché, Michael Robert Pollard, Diane Ponder, Alison Postma, John Preus, Caroline Preziosi, Jill Pridemore Matthews, Zhao Qian, Will Quam, Ruby Que, Cathy Quintero, Paul Rabe, Erika Råberg, Peyton Rack, Eshan Rafi, Ron Ragin, Shelby Ragsdale, Amanda Ramirez, Chris Ramsey, Izah Ransohoff, Mike Rea, Mark Reamy, Risa Recio, Ellen Redshaw, Chris Reeves, Craig Reger, Mark Regester, Johanna Reich, Clemens Reinecke, Einxel Reyes, Patrick Reynolds, Charles Rice, Pat Rice, Nicholas Ridder, Michael Ridge, Haynes Riley, Kayla Risko, Earl Ritchie, Shoniqua Roach, Cole Robertson, Amber Robinson, Jeff Robinson, Louie Robinson, Lauren Roche, Maggie Roche, Liz Rodda, Charlie Roderick, Diego Rodriguez, Leyla Rodriguez, Tony Rodriguez, Amal Rogers, Emilio Rojas, Peter Ronan, Travis Roozée, Clare Rosean, Douglas Rosenberg, Kit Rosenberg, Nancy Lu Rosenheim, Jordan Rosenow, Andrew Rosinski, Amina Ross, Danielle Ross, Marina Ross, Molly Roth Scranton, Maggie Rothberg, Ramona Rouse, Kate Rowekamp, Emma Rozanski, Miles Rufelds, Greg Ruffing, Breanna Ruiz, Jennifer Rumberger, Mo Bella Russo, Vida Sačić, Cristal Sabbagh, Olim Saeki, Cecilia Salinas, Mark Salvati, Dalila Sanabria, Bryan Saner, José Santiago Pérez, Hannah Santistevan, Emma Saperstein, Hiroya Sakurai, Jake Saunders, Craig Sayduh, Matt Schaefer, Kathryn Schaffer, Elyse Schauer, Maya Schenwar, Roberta Schmatz, Daniel Schmid, Kadie Schmidt-Hackenberg, Maxine Schoefer-Wulf, Emily Schulert, Derek Schulze, Kathleen Scott, Rory Scott, Sam Scranton, Danielle Scruggs, Casey Searles, Leonardo Selvaggio, Olga Selvashchuk, Rui Sha, Mazdak Shadkam, Christine Shallenberg, Leviticus Shand, William Shanley Aron Sharp, Luke Shemroske, Karen Sherman, Levi Sherman, Marni Shindelman, Anna Marie Shogren, Ashley Allen Short, Madhuri Shukla, Olga Sidilkovskaya, Hannah Siegfried, Emerson Sigman, Johannah Silva, Anthony Sims, Tyrone Simon, Federico Simone, Paulius Sliaupa, Charles Joseph Smith, Christopher Smith, Corey Smith, Enid Smith, Greg Smith, Jessy Lauren Smith, Sarah Phyllis Smith, Janna Sobel, Sanaz Sohrabi, Deb Sokolow, Melissa Christine Sommer, Stu Sontier, Eric Souther, Kevin Sparrow, Melon Sprout, Paweł Stasiewicz, John Steck Jr., Olive Stefanski, Raychel Steinbach, Laura Stempel, Joe Steppan, Dana Stirling, Nick Stolle, Nicko Straniero, Kevin Stuart, Marc Sullivan, Leonard Suryajaya, Adia Sykes, SYZY GAL O00O, Aurora Tabar, Emily Taft, Maryam Taghavi, TAITAI xTina, Richard Talaber, Savneet Talwar, Allison Tanenhaus, Paige Taul, Tracy Marie Taylor, Dakota Temte, John Tennison, Chiffon Thomas, Erin Thomas, Michael Thomas, Corrie Thompson, Ryan Thompson, Wade Thompson, Will Thompson, Ruby Thorkelson, Sherwin Tibayan, Angie Tillges, Lynn Tomlinson, Fereshteh Toosi, Cassie Tompkins, Rory Tortensson, Breanne Trammell, Selina Trepp, Monica Trinidad, Vincent Troia, Giau Truong, Alan Yu Wah Tse, Hui-min Tsen, Daniel Tseng, Politimi Tsiftilis, Laura Tyler, Maria Tzeka, Sharon Udoh, Udita Upadhyaya, Piotr Urbaniec, Joél Valdez, Nancy Valladares, Nicolas Vamvouklis, Betsy van Die, Tricia Van Eck, Cedric van Eenoo, Jacob van Loon, Kristin Van Loon, Kenny Vang, Betsy Vandercook, A. P. Vague, Vales Madre, VAY sarolta, Rafael Vera, Hannah Verrill, Maceo Vidal-Haymes, Tasha Viets-VanLear, Hildegard von Bingen, Kasey Waas, Aaron Walker, Christine Wallers, Dongmei Wang, Jenyu Wang, Tianjiao Wang, Yuqi Wang, Kelly Wantuch, Marta Wapiennik, Erin Washington, Kelli Washington, Zuri Washington, Sally Waterman, Zach Waters, We Charge Genocide, Julie Weber, Zara Monica Wee, Chris Weil, Mike Weis, Simon Welch, Tony Werner, Dan Wetmore, Keegan White, Anna Martine Whitehead, Kevin Talmer Whiteneir, Loraine Wible, Arwen Wilder, Lauren Rose Wiley, Holly Wilkinson, Tina Willgren, Andy Willis, Tara Aisha Willis, Melinda Wilson, Emily Winter, Amanda Wirig, Adeline Wisernig, Magdalena Wistuba, Writing Group, Clark Woods, Sadie Woods, Yaloo, Makiko Yamauchi, Andrew Yang, Saebom Yang, Polly Yates, James Yearnd, Anne Yoder, bex ya yolk, Nao Yoshigai, Katherine Young, Avery Youngblood, Cherrie Yu, Jungyul Yu, Chien An Yuan, Gwendolyn Zabicki, Jameson Zaerr, Sara Zalek, Anders Zanichkowsky, Christopher Zanoni, Julia Zastava, Latham Zearfoss, Tobias Zehntner, Gwyneth Zeleny Anderson, Mary Zerkel, Tongyu Zhao, Yuge Zhou, Xiaoqing Zhu, Meredith Zielke, Hallie Zimmerman, and lots of other people who make the community. While this space is closing, Roman Susan will continue to be a part of Rogers Park, Chicagoland, and the Great Lakes. All our hearts to you, friends – again soon! Roman Susan Art Foundation&nbsp;celebrates and shares the work of artists in the Great Lakes region. We create cultural engagements that provide resources and paid opportunities for artists. We are Chicago-based. We are artist-led. We are experimental and learning. For more info, please visit romansusan.org. For further info: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://romansusan.org/open-hours" target="_blank">romansusan.org/open-hours</a> or contact art@romansusan.org This program is partially supported by grants from the Illinois Arts Council Agency through awards from the National Endowment for the Arts. This project is partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago&nbsp;Department of Cultural Affairs &amp; Special Events. Roman Susan Art Foundation NFP is supported in part by 175 individual donors,&nbsp;Gen Ops Plus Grants from The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, Hyde Park Art Center Artists Run Chicago Fund, The Reva and David Logan Foundation, The MacArthur Funds for Culture, Equity, and the Arts at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, 6018North, AD3 Innovation Bootcamp, An Sylvia Exhibitions, Foundation Source, Lucky Pierre, Story Luck, and in-kind support from Cargo Collective, Lawyers for the Creative Arts, and Sloane Communications. To support this ongoing work, please visit <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://romansusan.org/support" target="_blank">romansusan.org/support</a> <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://romansusan.org/FUTURE" target="_blank">ROMANSUSAN.ORG/FUTURE</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755789383/uazhut3eiqusqcwxabld.jpg">

After Showing 913 Artists in 13 Years Roman Susan Announces Closure

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755612906/ygta84ajkyqdbntytthj.jpg">Rafael J. Miranda Mattei, Sin titulo (Vistas del Cerro Maravilla), 18 x 24”, solvent ink on paper, 2024 By SUSAN GESCHEIDLE <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.elschomburg.com/" target="_blank">El Schomburg</a> opened in October 2023 in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood. Founded by Brenda Torres Figueroa—artist, educator, and curator—the center serves as a contemporary art space and cultural hub rooted in Chicago’s Puerto Rican community and inspired by the legacy of Afro-Puerto Rican historian Arturo Alfonso Schomburg. Located in a storefront with a black brick façade, the site features a mural of Arturo Schomburg and a Puerto Rican flag above the entrance. “Grabaciones para un pais de memoria corta: Tracking Issues”, an exhibition curated by Alexis Figueroa of Trailer Park Proyects, presents the unique work of Puerto Rican artist Rafael J. Miranda Mattei, based in the United States. This exhibition celebrates a two-decade-long artistic and personal collaboration between Figueroa and Miranda Mattei. Notably, Miranda Mattei’s first visit to Chicago in 2013 was for a Trailer Park Proyects exhibition organized in Figueroa’s truck. Figueroa is interested in how Miranda Mattei’s artistic perspective has evolved over the past seven years, examining the impact of distance and new environments on his artistic journey. Miranda Mattei is a mid-career artist and educator, whose work has been exhibited at various venues and museums in San Juan, New York City, Chicago, San Franciso, Madrid, and Buenos Aires. Living in New Jersey, he acknowledges the difficulties associated with being apart from friends and family in Puerto Rico and says this separation shapes his perspective and informs his artistic work, which continues to explore issues of identity and political representation. Miranda Mattei is presenting work at El Schomburg with the aim of engaging the Puerto Rican community in Chicago and aligning with the venue’s emphasis on Puerto Rican and Diasporic art. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755612908/iyspjv9s4dalfiapyjea.jpg">Installation view<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755612909/pxcxxfibzddf4egzxu3y.jpg"> “Grabaciones para un pais de memoria corta” (Recordings for a Country With a Short Memory), offers a critique of the fragility of collective memory within colonial and diasporic contexts. Miranda Mattei ingeniously employs the term ‘Tracking Issues,’ referencing distorted VHS images, to symbolize fragmented and lost narratives. Building upon inspirations from Neo-Dada, Pop Art, and Neo-conceptualism, Miranda Mattei utilizes cynicism and satire to critically examine Puerto Rican society and government, addressing the profound impact of politics and media on collective memory. Miranda Mattei, Figueroa notes, is admired by peers as an “artist’s artist” for his singular vision and willingness to confront controversial subjects. While Miranda Mattei is wary of the political climate under Donald Trump, he boldly uses the environment to inspire more inclusive narratives of resistance and resilience. The exhibition’s relevance provides an astute commentary on the intersection of politics, media, and collective memory that resonates strongly within the current political climate. Miranda Mattei’s artwork investigates the interplay among memory, narratives of past experiences, personal identity, history, and the lasting influence of prior events. If you remember the days of “Be Kind. Please Rewind,” Blockbuster video rentals, VCR players, or capturing important moments on VHS tapes with bulky camcorders, then this exhibition will resonate. Anyone who has ever made a curated mix tape or CD will relate to this work as a means of revisiting the obsolete physical media from the mid-1980s to the early 2000s, a period that deeply informs Miranda Mattei’s artistic vision. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755612911/afl8pyhkvomytjistb0x.jpg">Rafael J. Miranda Mattei, Sin titulo (Entierro de Munoz Marin) 18 x 24”, solvent ink on paper, 2024 Miranda Mattei’s choice to explore collective memory via ubiquitous but outdated media, like VHS tapes and CDs that once served as revolutionary accessible tools for capturing memories of significant events also highlights this particular media’s historical, personal, and political significance to Puerto Rico. It’s a link to past and present. His nine solvent ink prints on paper of scanned flattened VHS boxes, function as archives of Puerto Rican history. The visually striking 18 by 24-inch framed VHS prints, with their vivid colors and geometric forms, showcase a cornucopia of classic brands like BASF, Maxwell, Panasonic, Polaroid, Sanyo, Sony, and TDK. The display may remind viewers of their own VHS collections, whether stored, recorded over, or lost. As Figueroa observes, taping over or losing VHS tape content symbolizes lost memories, echoing Miranda Mattei’s focus on the fragility of memory—a point supported by University of Chicago research on the malleability of memory, which explores forgetting and the creation of false recollections. Miranda Mattei reinterprets pivotal moments in Puerto Rican history through a unique artistic practice: hand-labeling VHS tapes with invented titles. These VHS prints bridge past and present, providing new insight into major events. Miranda Mattei’s work covers the devastating 1985 Mameyes landslide; the 1996 Humberto Vidal gas explosion; the funeral of influential political figure, Muñoz Marín; and the 1999 accidental death of David Sanes in Vieques from a United States military bombing error. He also captures the 1978 Cerro Maravilla massacre and its subsequent cover-up, where two young pro-independence activists were murdered in a police ambush; Karl Wallenda’s fatal high-wire walk in San Juan that same year; and Puerto Rican boxer Tito Trinidad’s triumph over De La Hoya. Through this artistic endeavor, Mattei visually reinterprets these events, fostering a connection between historical narratives and contemporary understanding. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755612913/vk1lymhgkxsaqw0lk8pg.jpg">Rafael J. Miranda Mattei, Man in Condado, 44 x 60”,&nbsp;India ink on hot press Arches paper, 2025 The exhibition features varied artworks, such as a 32.5 x 31.5-inch mixed media piece inspired by a CD mixtape. Another striking piece viewers will appreciate is an installation of&nbsp;twenty-two vivid-colored VHS tapes joined together with plexiglass, forming a dynamic half-rainbow arch across the wall. Several new large-scale black and white works (44 x 60 inches), meticulously created with India ink on hot press Arches paper, are on display. These pieces reference the VHS print of Karl Wallenda’s 1978 San Juan tightrope performance and fatal fall, drawing inspiration from photos of the fall taken by Gary Williams, a San Juan newspaper photographer. The photos were featured in the April 3, 1978, Time Magazine article, “Sit Down, Poppy, Sit Down!” Miranda Mattei’s drawings of Wallenda evoke Robert Longo’s “Men in the Cities” black and white series, portraying sharply dressed figures in mid-motion against a stark white backdrop — an aesthetic that mirrors both Wallenda’s attire and form during his fatal descent. “Man in Condado” depicts Wallenda plummeting from below, dressed in black trousers and white-soled shoes, one arm visible – a chilling foreshadowing of his death. Miranda Mattei’s drawings are powerful, elegant, yet terrifying, imbued with the knowledge of the tragic end to the story. The local television station WAPA in San Juan captured the moment live, indelibly engraving it in the collective memory of those who witnessed the fall. Miranda Mattei’s art beautifully revives this somber chapter of the island’s past. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755612915/wwquvuzzpoy28su0wtla.jpg"> The exhibition offers an unfiltered view of Puerto Rico’s history, highlighting both its strengths and flaws. Though living in New Jersey, Miranda Mattei maintains a deep connection to his Puerto Rican heritage, portraying the island’s complexities beyond the idealized image of a sun-kissed Caribbean paradise. In doing so, Miranda Mattei deliberately refrains from comparing Puerto Rico’s corruption to that on the mainland, just as he avoids drawing parallels to how mainstream media sensationalizes stories to distract from less desirable topics. The exhibition demonstrates a consistent and unwavering perspective on Puerto Rico, acknowledging that these issues resonate beyond the island. This multi-media retro-esque exhibit is a nuanced and heartfelt love story embracing Puerto Rico’s complexities. Don’t miss the chance to experience this candid homage to Puerto Rico’s cultural legacy: “Be Kind. Please Rewind!” # Grabaciones para un pais de memoria corta:&nbsp;Tracking Issues is on view thru September 19, 2025at <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.elschomburg.com/" target="_blank">El Schomburg</a>2538 W. Division, ChicagoHours by appointment.&nbsp;Call 15 minutes prior. 787–409–6983 <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755612916/ijx277xpjotihfluwnjm.jpg">Installation view

El Schomburg: Grabaciones para un pais de memoria corta: Tracking Issues by Rafael J. Miranda Mattei

<img width="206" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755211320/fgh88o059ldy0dchhwxm.jpg">Miguel A. Del Real ﻿By CGN Staff Art Encounter announced that its&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artencounter.org/murals" target="_blank">Evanston Mural Arts Program</a>&nbsp;has had a busy summer season and it shared two new projects: a first-ever ground mural in downtown Evanston designed and painted by artist Miguel A. Del Real, and an outdoor butterfly garden mural led by Mario Mena with students at Chute Middle School. All of the organization's&nbsp;30+ mural projects, artists, and partners&nbsp;on the Art Encounter website, and visitors are also able to use AE's&nbsp;Google map&nbsp;to visit murals in person. Details are included below. EMAP's first-ever ground mural project wrapped up just a few weeks ago, and we're thrilled with the results! The pedestrian plaza at 1603 Orrington Ave in downtown Evanston is now home to a vibrant, sprawling piece of art. Chicago artist&nbsp;Miguel A. Del Real&nbsp;used a colorblind-accessible palette to create the dynamic composition full of organic movement and art&nbsp;deco flourishes. This piece required the use of paint specifically created for ground murals, which adheres permanently to the concrete and provides a textured surface that ensure safety and longevity. The abstracted floral design creates an immersive, interactive experience for all who visit, and is equally striking whether viewed from ground level or from above by those in the Orrington Plaza building!&nbsp; Thank you&nbsp;to the sponsors and community partners who made this project possible: Downtown Evanston,&nbsp;Golub &amp; Company,&nbsp;Hagerty Consulting,&nbsp;Magnetar Capital LLC,&nbsp;UL Research&nbsp;Institutes, UL&nbsp;Standards &amp; Engagement, and the City of Evanston. <img width="570" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755211320/m2plobllijgkorwqoid2.jpg"><img width="570" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755211321/luwoe7yhksdzzgzfoayo.png">Celebrating Migration, Transformation, and NatureWith artist Mario Mena <img width="206" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755211322/nr7dqoxh7ofe63bluvu5.jpg"><img width="15" height="1" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755211323/uhrkfpcbaplbj2weict8.gif">From March to June, Chicago artist and teacher&nbsp;Mario Mena&nbsp;collaborated with 6th–8th graders at Chute Middle School to lead a striking outdoor mural project that beautifully complements the school's Okano Butterfly Garden. Chute's Green STEAM Club, 8th grade Advanced Art and Advanced Media Art classes, and additional 6th- 8th graders participated in all parts of the mural-making process with Mario, including conceptualizing the artwork's themes, designing the images, and painting the final product. Each section of the mural was painted on a synthetic mural fabric material called polytab, allowing students to work on the mural in the classroom before the pieces were adhered to the wall in early June. Mario then painted additional finishing touches directly onto the brick. The resulting mural evokes ideas of home, migration, and transformation, celebrating Chute's unique student population and their stories. Make sure to walk or drive by the school on Oakton Street to see it in person! Thank you&nbsp;to Chute teachers Sherri Kushner, Jamal Duncan, and Wendy&nbsp;Mohrenweiser&nbsp;for inspiring this mural and to Healing Illinois, which provided the grant that made this uplifting project possible. Extra thanks to Damon Lamar Reed and Terrence Haymer for their leadership with the polytab installation! <img width="570" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755211324/tqh7krvz4q1zsz1qouy2.png"><img width="570" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755211324/ikzwqka6lv7kfa7why8z.png"><img width="570" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1755211325/cwftsupm6o8xexwfcazp.jpg">

Art Encounter's Evanston Mural Arts Program Shares Two New Projects

<h4><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1754966922/czy8bz5gmdajr3tmzrk0.jpg"></h4>Karl Wirsum, a prominent member of the Chicago artistic group The Hairy Who, was successful in life but less so in death.&nbsp;Courtesy Zack Wirsum<h4> </h4><h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://observer.com/2025/08/what-happens-to-an-artists-market-after-they-die/" target="_blank">What Really Happens to an Artist’s Market After They Die</a></h4> <a style="color: rgb(26, 26, 26);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://observer.com/person/alasdair-nichol/" target="_blank">Alasdair Nichol</a>, deputy chairman of Freeman’s | Hindman auction house, calls it a “ghoulish” area, but it is one that he knows exists: “There often is a death watch for older artists and those believed to be in poor health.” Auctioneers, art dealers and gallery owners and most especially art collectors pay close attention to obituaries, based on what he called a popular fallacy that the prices for artists’ works will rise significantly on their passing. “A person I know has been buying up Richters”—referring to the 93-year-old German painter&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(26, 26, 26);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://observer.com/person/gerhard-richter/" target="_blank">Gerhard Richter</a>—“I assume with the intention of selling these things when he dies,” Nichol told Observer, adding that he remembers “a mini-boom” for memorabilia related to the singer&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(26, 26, 26);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://observer.com/person/david-bowie/" target="_blank">David Bowie</a>&nbsp;“prior to his death” in 2016. Via Observer <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/architecture-design/2025/08/10/agora-abakanowicz-grant-park-iron-sculpture?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=081125%20Afternoon%20Edition&amp;utm_content=081125%20Afternoon%20Edition+CID_5258340f4346e7f3f892975857cc00cf&amp;utm_source=cst_campaign_monitor&amp;utm_term=Grant%20Parks%20Agora%20iron%20sculptures%20might%20have%20to%20relocate%20in%202026&amp;tpcc=cst_cm" target="_blank">Will Agora take a walk? Grant Park's iron sculptures might have to relocate in 2026</a></h4> The sculpture Agora — a striking work composed of 106 9-foot tall iron human figures — has been a fixture on the southern edge of Grant Park for nearly 20 years.But the artwork might have to take a hike next August.That’s when the Chicago Park District’s 20-year installation and maintenance agreement expires. The agreement allows Agora to occupy its Hutchinson Field location. The expiration doesn’t make the artwork’s relocation a certainty, but one of the proposals in the park district’s&nbsp;new Grant Park Framework Plan&nbsp;includes refashioning Hutchinson Field into a “neighborhood-oriented amenity” — and it doesn’t mention Agora sticking around. Via Chicago Sun-Times <h4><a style="color: rgb(0, 102, 204);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-real-estate/school-art-institute-president-buys-lincoln-park-home?share-code=17549667261641665-1989c4ac788&amp;utm_id=gfta-ur-250811" target="_blank">School of the Art Institute president buys $2.2 million Lincoln Park house</a></h4> Jiseon Lee Isbara, president of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, bought a house in Lincoln Park for a little over $2.2 million.Isbara,&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(29, 79, 216);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagobusiness.com/education/school-art-institute-names-jiseon-lee-isbara-president" target="_blank">who took the reins at the institution in July 2024,</a>&nbsp;and husband Melik Isbara bought the five-bedroom house on Halsted Street July 1, according to the Cook County clerk.An exhibited artist who previously was a top official at a California arts school, Lee Isbara would not comment on the purchase, a media representative at SAIC told Crain's. Via Crain's Chicago <h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://news.artnet.com/multimedia/art-market-minute-jul-28-2671920" target="_blank">How Is A.I. Reshaping the Market?</a></h4> It’s clear the market for A.I. artworks is expanding, as are the applications for the tech as a tool within the trade. But behind all the hype are serious questions about market readiness and ethics. Artnet’s European news reporter&nbsp;Jo Lawson-Tancred discusses how A.I. is changing how the art world does business. Listen via Artnet

What We're Reading: August 12, 2025

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1754964817/qwtfuqawwi27ayxw5pab.jpg"> By CGN Staff&nbsp; We received news from <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://goldfinch-gallery.com/" target="_blank">Goldfinch</a> Director Claudine Ise that she is closing her much-loved gallery space. Below is the message she shared with clients and friends of the gallery this weekend. <h2 class="ql-align-center"> </h2><h2 class="ql-align-center">A FOND FAREWELL&nbsp;</h2><h2 class="ql-align-center">&nbsp;</h2>It is with some sadness but mostly,&nbsp;a deep sense of gratitude that I’m sharing the news that Goldfinch is closing. Over the past several months my&nbsp;priorities have shifted towards personal health and wellness issues, and so after much&nbsp;thought and deliberation I’ve decided that now is the right time to end this chapter of the Gallery’s history. The community formed around Goldfinch has meant the world to me, and I hope it has meant something positive to other people too. I know that if tended carefully, the relationships and communities we form can endure the transformations that come from both sudden changes and slow evolutions. Although the space may eventually evolve into a different sort of entity, I need to close this chapter and honor what is ending before thinking about what might come next.&nbsp;I want to thank our entire roster of gallery artists for believing in our program and for playing such vital roles in it, and thanks as well to every single artist we’ve mounted exhibitions with, included in our Flatfiles, or hosted as program speakers over the years. I’m so grateful to all of the beautiful collectors who have supported this small but ambitious gallery&nbsp;and its artists, and I’m equally beholden to the artists and regular gallery visitors who together formed our loyal and consistent core audience. I also want to thank Elizabeth Lalley for being a formative part of the gallery’s DNA and aesthetic spirit, JP Culligan for playing an integral&nbsp;role in the exhibition mounting and design process of the gallery from our very first&nbsp;shows onward, Ry Thiel and Tom Van Eynde for their beautiful photography, and most of all my husband Andrew, ‘the door guy’ who greeted everyone who came through our doors for openings and public talks, no matter how cold the hallways got.&nbsp;We are in the process of reaching out to the many&nbsp;artists with works in our Flatfiles to arrange for their artwork pickup. Our Instagram will remain an open&nbsp;channel for sharing news on the artists, organizations and events who have been part of our community. And, if and when there are updates on the evolution of the space itself—you’ll read it there first.&nbsp;&nbsp;With love, hope and gratitude,&nbsp;Claudine&nbsp;Claudine IséOwner and Director

Goldfinch Gallery Announces It's Closing

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1754585092/ou45j0tifpwef317hotz.jpg">John Seubert&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;There Were No Flowers Tonight&nbsp;|&nbsp;mixed media altar piece&nbsp;|&nbsp;14.5&nbsp;x 16.5 x 5.75 inches Victor Armendariz shared with CGN that long time Chicago artist John Seubert died last week at his Lincoln Park home and studio. His artwork was created in cycles and ranged from paintings, to sculptures which he called his “constructions”, furniture in the form of “Crash Tables” as they were comprised of a “collision of parts”, jewelry, clocks, and lamps with mosaic shades from Lake Michigan beach glass. John variously signed his artwork under numerous guises depending on his mood including, Dear John, John John, John Grey, John Dolly and just, John. The term prolific, does not begin to describe his near obsessive desire to create art. His home was filled floor to ceiling with his artwork and entire rooms were dedicated to the display and ever-evolving arrangement of his collection.&nbsp;To help support his atypical lifestyle, John worked various jobs including assistant to Chicago photographer Mark Hauser, (often claiming credit for urging Cindy Crawford to stop covering her mole in photo shoots), as a gallery preparator at the MCA and various art galleries over the years, as a handy-man, and builder’s assistant. At one point early in life packing all his belongings in his car and moving to Los Angeles to work in Hollywood, sometimes appearing as an extra in movie shoots. His lifestyle brought him to New York in the 80’s where he partied in circles including Andy Warhol (although Andy never spoke to him). And once at a party, Cher pointed to him and said, “You’ve got it!” in admiration of his be-spangled outfit.&nbsp;In 2017 John began showing his artwork at Gallery VICTOR with longtime friend Victor Armendariz. His work was always showing somewhere in the gallery and was prominently featured in the gallery’s 5th&nbsp;Anniversary exhibit,&nbsp;Wunderkammer. John also worked as the gallery’s main preparator and was often seen at the gallery installing artworks, packing, serving wine at openings. John’s work was first shown at Ann Nathan’s Objects Gallery from the late 1980’s through the early 1990’s. In 2014 Jennifer Norback Fine Art presented,&nbsp;The Negro Clocks: 1985-2000&nbsp;featuring a dozen of his handcrafted clocks focusing on racism and channeling his own life experiences with intolerance as a gay man.&nbsp;John suffered a brain aneurism at the end of April which landed him in the hospital for an emergency brain surgery. He returned home in early June where he was anxious to return to making art, which he continued to do until his death. John leaves behind an extraordinary body of work with many pieces placed in collections worldwide.&nbsp;Memorial Mass:Tuesday, August 12, 2025, 11amSaint Mary of The Angels Catholic Church1850 North Hermitage Ave.Chicago, IL 60622&nbsp;Memorial Reception:Tuesday, August 12, 2025, 12:30-3pmGallery VICTOR300 West Superior StreetChicago, IL 60654

Artist John Seubert: 1958-2025

Curated Highlights for What’s Ahead in Chicago’s Art Scene As of August 5, we’re looking forward—not backward. Here are exhibitions, talks, and art happenings opening after this week. August can be a slower month in the art world, but it can also offer a chance to engage with art before the fall season is in full swing. And on that note, we are wrapping up production on the fall issue of CGN, covering September-December. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chicagogallerynews.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> and receive a copy in the mail! – CGN <h3>• Exhibitions</h3> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1754433289/ca77xelv2otvxjs30hgr.jpg"> <h4>Fortitude</h4> Dragonfly Gallery &amp; Creative Spaces August 8–31 | Opening: Friday, August 8, 6–9 PM An immersive solo exhibition exploring resilience through vivid color, layered textiles, and sculptural form. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/fortitude" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1754433290/z5h0wtcipnjrfbvhzwoh.jpg"> <h4>Mark Me, Too: Five Artists</h4> Hyde Park Art Center August 9 – December 14 | Opening: Saturday, August 9, 2–4 PM This group show spotlights five self-taught and underrepresented artists addressing autonomy, identity, and community through mixed media. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.hydeparkart.org/exhibition/mark-me-too-five-artists" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1754433292/pqlfc22npiizmscil9jv.jpg"> <h4>Chicken Stingel: The Sequel</h4> Old Friends Gallery August 14 – September 21 | Opening: Thursday, August 14, 6–9 PM A conceptual and comical follow-up by Kenny Schachter featuring “collaborations” with chickens, cast in copper, silver, and gold, riffing on Rudolf Stingel’s practice. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/chicken-stingel-the-sequel" target="_blank">More info ›</a><h3> </h3> <h3>• Special Events &amp; Auctions</h3> <h4><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1754433294/vdqo81yqcguhw4qb4ip7.jpg"></h4><h4> </h4><h4>Ren Editions Pop-up</h4>The Renaissance SocietyFriday, August 8A pop-up event featuring a curated selection of rare and limited-edition artworks and publications by internationally acclaimed contemporary artists who have exhibited at the Ren.<a style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/ren-editions-pop-up" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1754433296/j2yg5n0ymq6qwnhthhhn.jpg"> <h4>Art on THE MART: August Projections</h4> Merchandise Mart / Chicago Riverwalk Nightly through September Nightly large-scale video projections feature new digital works, including pieces by Arts of Life artists celebrating 25 years of inclusive creative studio practice. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artonthemart.com/" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <h4><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1754433297/yaxuwaaqv9dtxanwncea.jpg"></h4> <h4>In the Company of Women</h4>21c Museum Hotel ChicagoThursday, Aug 21, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PMOne night of conversation, creativity, and connection—complete with wine and art.<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/in-the-company-of-women" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1754433298/lfvvffqzmqmk2rj9sjna.jpg"> <h4>Essential Jewelry</h4>Freeman's | HindmanWednesday, Aug 27, 2025 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.chicagogallerynews.com/events/essential-jewelry-aug-25" target="_blank">More info ›</a> <h4> </h4><h2> </h2>

CGN Art Preview: August 2025

<h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://hyperallergic.com/1030874/can-steve-martin-help-bring-visitors-to-the-frick-collection/" target="_blank">Can Steve Martin Help Bring Visitors to the Frick Collection?</a></h3> As if a $220 million makeover weren’t enough, the Frick Collection in New York City has enlisted comedian Steve Martin to promote the newly reopened museum, which returned to its Fifth Avenue headquarters this spring. In a&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(18, 18, 18);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itpleBx3-tc" target="_blank">new video</a>&nbsp;posted to the Frick’s website and social media, the&nbsp;Only Murders in the Building&nbsp;co-creator and actor prances around the freshly renovated Gilded Age mansion, narrating a short history of the museum and its originator, the industrialist and&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(18, 18, 18);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/goldman-henry-clay-frick-1849-1919/" target="_blank">notorious labor suppressor</a>&nbsp;Henry Clay Frick. Via Hyperallergic&nbsp; <h3> </h3><h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.wttw.com/playlist/2025/06/18/fine-arts-building-book" target="_blank">A New Book Explores the Fascinating Stories and Businesses Inside Chicago's Eccentric Fine Arts Building</a></h3> “What is this place?” Chicago author Keir Graff asks the question more than once as he’s describing the Fine Arts Building, the subject of his new book.The question is an apt one. The ten-story building is part of the stone, glass, and steel cliffs that line Michigan Avenue and overlook Grant Park. From the outside, the building is “kind of blocky,” Graff describes. “It’s not a stunning building like the Rookery Building.” Via WTTW<h3> </h3><h3> </h3><h3><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/30/arts/design/versailles-ai-app.html?unlocked_article_code=1.bk8.3zma.4tst9kToWiXQ&amp;smid=url-share" target="_blank">What’s on Cupid’s Mind at Versailles? A.I. Can Tell You.</a></h3> Early one midsummer afternoon in the Palace of Versailles’ gardens, a pigeon landed effortlessly on a masterpiece of French outdoor sculpture: a 17th-century statue of Apollo on a chariot, pulled by four horses. The statue, made of gilded lead, has stood in a vast fountain at Versailles in the three-plus centuries since Louis XIV was king of France — and it has now entered the digital age via a new feature on the historic site’s app: Powered by the tech giant OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, an audio tool lets visitors (on or off site) converse with 20 outdoor statues in three languages. On that summer afternoon, I put the chatbot to the test. Via NYT

What We're Reading: August 4, 2025

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1753821888/wwox9mc75tnzeyjz02zd.jpg"> Local cartoonist Chris Ware's sheet of "Forever" stamps traces a busy postal carrier's journey through an urban landscape across four seasons. Credit: derek li wan po/Provided <a style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/07/22/us-postal-service-needed-stamps-to-celebrate-its-250th-anniversary-local-cartoonist-chris-ware-delivered/" target="_blank">USPS Needed Stamps For Its 250th Anniversary. Local Cartoonist Chris Ware Delivered</a>&nbsp;What’s older than the Declaration of Independence? Believe it or not: the United States Postal Service.The organization now known as the USPS was <a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://facts.usps.com/benjamin-franklin-first-postmaster-general/" target="_blank">established in July 1775</a> — one year before the 13 original colonies declared themselves to be their own nation. This week, the agency <a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2025/0428-usps-announces-stamps-celebrating-its-250th-anniversary.htm" target="_blank">celebrates its semiquincentennial</a> with a creative new stamp design featuring artwork by local cartoonist extraordinaire Chris Ware.&nbsp;Via Block Club Chicago <a style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/yvette-mayorga-times-square-arts-magic-grasshopper-2669062" target="_blank">Yvette Mayorga Is Unleashing a Candy-Coated Fantasy in Times Square</a>Times Square is about to get a sugar rush. <a style="color: rgb(31, 31, 31);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.artnet.com/artists/yvette-mayorga/" target="_blank">Yvette Mayorga</a>, the artist best known for her pink-hued, frosted confections, is unveiling her largest public artwork at the New York plaza—one that’s equal parts dreamy fairy tale and pointed social critique.Via Artnet <a style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/24/arts/design/amy-sherald-smithsonian-censorship.html?unlocked_article_code=1.ZE8.Svkq.6qh_WIj7TJOj&amp;smid=url-share" target="_blank">Amy Sherald Cancels Her Smithsonian Show, Citing Censorship</a>Amy Sherald — the artist who rocketed to fame with her 2018 <a style="color: rgb(50, 104, 145);" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/23/arts/design/amy-sherald-michelle-obama-official-portrait.html" target="_blank">portrait of Michelle Obama</a> — has withdrawn her upcoming solo show from the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery because she said she had been told the museum was considering removing her painting depicting a transgender Statue of Liberty to avoid provoking President Trump.Via NYT

What We're Reading July 28th

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1753819487/ilknfbgfbwt3a0teqann.png"> By CGN Staff via PR Fall West Loop Contemporary Fine Art Expo to take place October 17–19, following debut of spring edition in May 2025. This October the inaugural Fall West Loop Contemporary Fine Art Expo will take place from October 17–19, 2025 at the Stephen M. Bailey Auditorium, located in Plumbers Hall at 1340 W. Washington Blvd. Close to Randolph Street’s many acclaimed restaurants, the expo brings a curated selection of fine art to one of the city’s buzziest, creative neighborhoods. Presented by LA-based Gourmet Expos, the three-day event offers an intimate, boutique-style art fair experience featuring more than 40 invitation-only artists from seven states across the Midwest and beyond. Visitors can explore a wide array of original artwork in styles ranging from abstract expressionism and post-impressionism to encaustic, pop realism, and sculpture, with all works available for purchase directly from the artists. A small-scale, artist-driven fair set inside a historic Beaux-Arts auditorium, the fair aims to create a dialogue between artists and collectors in an atmosphere that isn't intimidating and that is especially appealing to first time collectors looking for unique art by living artists. Each artist will be present to speak about their work, making this expo as much about connection as it is about discovery.<h4> </h4><h4>Hours &amp; Ticket Information:</h4> First Look Preview<ul><li>Friday, October 17, 7–10PM</li><li>Includes hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar – Tickets $40</li></ul>General Admission<ul><li>Saturday, October 18, 11AM–7PM</li><li>Sunday, October 19, 11AM–7PM (Post-game hours for Bears fans!) – Daily Tickets $20</li></ul>Multi-day tickets available For tickets, parking info and artist previews, visit <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.gourmetexpos.com/" target="_blank">www.GourmetExpos.com</a> or contact <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="mailto:info@gourmetexpos.com" target="_blank">info@gourmetexpos.com</a> / 310-358-9097. Image: Val Fischer

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