The inaugural exhibition at the newly renovated Intuit Art Museum in Chicago, titled "Catalyst: Im/migration and Self-Taught Art in Chicago," brings together 75 works by 22 self-taught immigrant artists who have shaped the city's cultural landscape. Featured artists include Carlos Barberena, Drossos P. Skyllas, Charles Warner, Alfonso "Piloto" Nieves Ruiz, and others, with works spanning linocuts, hyperrealistic paintings, found-object sculpture, and mixed media. The show runs through January 11, 2026.
This exhibition matters because it amplifies artists historically overlooked by the mainstream art world, particularly at a time when immigrants in the U.S. face increasing threats. By centering self-taught practitioners who worked outside traditional art-world structures due to economic, societal, or geographic barriers, the show challenges conventional definitions of artistic value and access. It also underscores the vital role of immigrant communities in shaping Chicago's identity, past and present.