Loyola University Museum of Art (LUMA) in Chicago will host "Freedom in Form: Richard Hunt" from July 11 to November 15, 2025, a major exhibition celebrating the late sculptor Richard Hunt (1935–2023). The show features sculptures, maquettes, tools, books, photographs, prints, and video interviews, tracing Hunt’s 70-year career from his early days at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago to international renown. For the first time, it pairs two pivotal works: "Hero’s Head" (1956), created after the funeral of Emmett Till, and "Hero Ascending," a monument designed for Till’s childhood home. The exhibition includes a catalogue with contributions from Christina Shutt, Rev. Michael J. Garanzini, curator Ross Stanton Jordan, biographer Jon Ott, and historian Timothy J. Gilfoyle.
This exhibition matters because it brings the work of a celebrated Chicago-born artist back to his hometown, contextualizing his art within the broader struggle for civil rights and freedom. Hunt’s personal connection to Emmett Till—his neighbor—and his lifelong commitment to artistic expression make the show a powerful intersection of art and social history. By displaying Hunt’s early and late works together, the exhibition offers a unique narrative of an artist shaped by the Civil Rights Movement, while also highlighting Chicago’s role as a cultural hub. The collaboration among multiple institutions, including the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and the Richard Hunt Trust, underscores the lasting significance of Hunt’s legacy.