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museum exhibitions schedule May 26, 2026

Art for hot days: Top 10 exhibitions to see this summer in Chicago

This article presents a curated list of ten must-see art exhibitions in Chicago for summer 2025, highlighting a diverse range of artists and venues. Featured shows include a rare solo exhibition of miniature figurines by 85-year-old Argentinian artist Liliana Porter at Secrist|Beach, a group show inspired by cosmology at the Renaissance Society, and a posthumous survey of Martin Wong's brick-focused paintings at Wrightwood 659. Other notable exhibitions include sculptural works by Oren Pinhassi and Leticia Pardo at the Arts Club of Chicago, Nathaniel Mary Quinn's emotionally charged portraits at the National Public Housing Museum, and Jeremiah Hulsebos-Spofford's monumental sculptures at the Elmhurst Art Museum.

museum exhibitions schedule May 19, 2026

When satire met paper: ‘Ink & Outrage’ is now open at the Driehaus Museum

The Driehaus Museum in Chicago has opened 'Ink & Outrage: 18th-Century Satirical Prints in London & Dublin,' an exhibition of some 100 prints by Georgian-era caricaturists including James Gillray and Thomas Rowlandson. Curated by Silvia Beltrametti and William Laffan, the show explores the rise of visual satire in 18th-century England and features side-by-side comparisons of original English prints with unauthorized Irish copies, highlighting issues of plagiarism and intellectual property.

article local schedule May 11, 2026

Artists invited to submit work for Moraine Valley’s annual community show

Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, Illinois, is inviting artists aged 18 and older living within 50 miles to submit up to two pieces for its 23rd annual community art show. Submissions are accepted May 19-21, with notifications on May 26. The exhibition runs May 29 to July 30, opening with a reception and awards ceremony on May 30. This year’s juror is Lisa DeLuca, a photographer and teaching artist with experience as a recruiter for art schools and a docent at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago. She has previously juried the college’s high school exhibition and other regional shows.

museum exhibitions schedule May 4, 2026

Sustainability at heart of new art exhibit in downtown Aurora

Aurora Public Art has opened a new exhibition titled "Re-Imagined: The Art of Sustainability" at the David L. Pierce Art and History Center in downtown Aurora, running through May 23. The show features works from adult artists like Jennifer Joiner, who creates art from trash collected on Lake Michigan beaches, and Ann Marie Greenberg, who repurposes household plastics and metal. It also includes submissions from students at East Aurora School District's Early Childhood Center, who used milk cartons, cereal boxes, and other recyclables. Curator Sangeeta Pande organized the open call, which drew 15 adult artists and numerous young participants, all exploring themes of environmental stewardship and creative reuse.

museum exhibitions schedule Apr 22, 2026

First-of-its-kind MCA exhibition plays the beat of Caribbean activism

Carla Acevedo-Yates has curated "Dancing the Revolution: From Dancehall to Reggaetón," a major exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, which will be her final show before departing for a role on the Documenta 16 team in Germany. The exhibition, which occupies the museum's entire fourth floor through September 20, features over 40 artists and explores the social and political histories of Caribbean music genres.

article local schedule Apr 6, 2026

Community news: Art exhibit, library programs, dance marathon and more

Valparaiso University has partnered with the Emerging Artists Society of Chesterton to launch "Stories," a multi-media exhibition hosted at the Christopher Center Library. The show features a diverse range of works created by both campus members and local community artists, supported by a public reception and a display period running through mid-May.

article local schedule Oct 14, 2025

Community news: Scholars at OPRF, art exhibition in Western Springs, more

A community news roundup from the Chicago area reports on multiple local events, including a National Merit Scholarship announcement at Oak Park and River Forest High School, a two-day art exhibition and silent auction hosted by the First Congregational Church of Western Springs, a drive-in movie screening at Triton College, a Halloween brunch at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, a fall carnival in Darien, and a Zumba dance fundraiser for breast cancer research in Franklin Park. The art exhibition features works by about 20 church members and friends, with a watercolor workshop for children led by artist Jess Root and proceeds benefiting charities.

museum exhibitions schedule Sep 5, 2025

Art for fall 2025: From the Art Institute to the Architecture Biennial, 10 exhibits for all kinds of realities

A Chicago-based art critic presents a curated guide to 10 exhibitions for fall 2025, ranging from a major traveling survey of activist artist Elizabeth Catlett at the Art Institute of Chicago to a textiles show exploring mourning and survival, a Helen Frankenthaler printmaking exhibit at the Block Museum, and the final programming at the Roman Susan Art Foundation in Rogers Park. Other highlights include a collaborative museum debut by artists Mayumi Lake and Bob Faust inspired by the Japanese design principle shakkei.

museum exhibitions schedule Jul 29, 2025

Column: New Richard Hunt exhibit takes the measure of the artist and the man

A new exhibition titled "Freedom in Form: Richard Hunt" is on view at the Loyola University Museum of Art (LUMA) in Chicago through November 15. The show features over 160 works, including intimate sculptures and maquettes, offering a personal look at the late sculptor Richard Hunt, who died in December 2023. It originated at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, inspired by Illinois first lady MK Pritzker. The exhibition highlights Hunt's early life, his self-taught welding skills, and his pivotal experience attending Emmett Till's funeral in 1955, which shaped his commitment to civil rights and social justice through art.

museum exhibitions schedule Jun 27, 2025

Elmhurst Art Museum highlights permanent collection in new exhibit

The Elmhurst Art Museum is presenting "Legacies: Selections from the Elmhurst Art Museum Permanent Collection," an exhibition running through August 17 that highlights works from its permanent collection. Founded in 1981 by teachers, artists, and art lovers, the museum has grown to hold around 1,000 works focused on 20th-century art and design by Midwestern artists. The show explores how collections are built, featuring donations from over 200 donors and including pieces such as a Barcelona Chair attributed to Mies van der Rohe but designed by Lily Wright, a large painting by Michelle Grabner, and Joseph Burlini's sculpture "Circus Wagon." The museum also acquired the Mies van der Rohe-designed McCormick House in 1992, which set its path integrating art, architecture, and education.

museum exhibitions schedule May 29, 2025

Intuit Art Museum has its big reopening: ‘I don’t want this to be a traditional art museum’

The Intuit Art Museum in Chicago has reopened after a landmark $10 million renovation, marking a significant rebranding from its former name, "Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art," to simply "Intuit Art Museum" (IAM). The museum, which collects work by self-taught artists, replaced a traditional ribbon-cutting with a collaborative ribbon-tying ceremony, creating an interconnected artwork that will remain in its collection. The renovation tripled its gallery space and introduced new exhibitions, including a refurbished Henry Darger installation with LED screens and an immersive recreation of the artist's apartment, as well as a rotating permanent collection display featuring artists like Mr. Imagination, Lee Godie, and Wesley Willis. The second floor is dedicated to the special exhibition "Catalyst: Im/migration and Self-taught Art in Chicago," featuring works by artists such as Drossos Skyllas, Thomas Kong, Pooja Pittie, and Carlos Barberena.

person Chicago Tribune