Expo Chicago's 12th edition opened at Navy Pier on April 24, featuring over 170 galleries from 36 countries, with a strong South Korean contingent supported by the Galleries Association of Korea and notable participation from Canada, Latin America, and smaller US cities. Highlights include a knitted men's locker room installation by Nathan Vincent at Walter Maciel Gallery and a video project by Deborah Oropallo and Andy Rappaport at Catharine Clark Gallery, alongside a tribute to veteran gallerist Rhona Hoffman, who is closing her namesake gallery after nearly 50 years.
The fair's second edition under Frieze ownership underscores Chicago's resilient and adventurous art community, with fair president Tony Karman emphasizing that local audiences and collectors embrace challenging, thematically bold works. The event signals ongoing vitality in the Midwest art market and the city's role as a hub for diverse international galleries, while installations addressing gender norms and protest imagery reflect the fair's engagement with contemporary social issues.