Artist and illustrator CK Reed provides a visual and narrative account of the inaugural Neighbors Boutique Art Fair in Chicago. Founded by Mirka Serrato and curated by Jonny Tana, the fair transformed a historic residence on Astor Street in the Gold Coast into an intimate, domestic exhibition space. The event focused on a "non-conforming cultural proposal," deliberately platforming underrepresented communities and galleries within a setting that prioritized human connection over the typical commercial whirlwind of larger fairs.
This event marks a significant shift in the Chicago art scene by offering a boutique, domestic alternative to traditional white-cube fairs like EXPO Chicago. By integrating works from galleries such as Green Gallery, Good Weather, and Harlesden High Street into a lived-in environment, the fair challenges the homogenous art system and emphasizes the importance of regional community-building. The success of this first volume suggests a growing appetite for smaller-scale, curated experiences that bridge the gap between historical architecture and contemporary practice.