Chicago creator honors community with collaborative art exhibition

Chicago artist Brian Sykes is debuting a multidisciplinary exhibition titled “I Heard the City Breathe” at the Beverly Arts Center, running from April 6 through May 1. The project, which includes a short film and gallery-style visual art, serves as a collaborative reflection on the Black experience in Chicago. By blending music, storytelling, and intergenerational community input, Sykes explores themes of identity, memory, and the cultural realities of the city’s South Side.