The Beverly Arts Center in Chicago is hosting "RE-BOP! (Obstructions & Disruptions)," a group exhibition dedicated to the art of collage. Curated by Paloma Trecka and Todd Bartel, the show features nearly 60 artists from Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, and across the U.S., including prominent local artist Tony Fitzpatrick, who originally conceived the exhibition. The works range from traditional cut-paper pieces to digital collages, with many exploring themes of improvisation, rhythm, and disruption. The exhibition was organized with help from the Beverly Arts Alliance and the participatory magazine Cut Me Up, which issued an open call that drew 150 submissions.
This exhibition matters because it highlights collage as a vibrant, globally connected medium that resonates with contemporary chaos and digital culture. By bringing together a diverse range of artists—from a 19-year-old student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago to a veteran artist of 50 years—the show demonstrates collage's enduring relevance and its capacity for personal and political expression. The involvement of Cut Me Up magazine and the Kolaj Fest in New Orleans underscores a growing international community of collage artists, making this local exhibition a microcosm of a broader artistic movement.