Pigment Salon Talk Glory! Glory! at Adler University. From left Phyliss North, Patricia Andrews-Keenan, Jane Carpenter-Rock, Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM); State Rep. Kimberly du Buclet; Lisa Coleman, PhD. President of Adler University; Artist D. Lammie-Hanson; Patrica Jones Blessman, PhD.; Valerie Francis, Knowhere Gallery, and Allison Casselberry. Spring Art Week Chicago 2026: A Roundup   We go deeper on specifics in later issues — this week, let the photos do the

Martha Wade at William Blair, her 3D chair, and work by Briana McNeil Scott. On Wednesday, at  William Blair ,  Martha Wade  debuted not just new work, but her work took new form when she created a chair. Wade's calm, consistency and commitment to community shone through in her interview with Blair’s curator Isidora K. Lagos under the theme Expressive Journeys: The panel of self-taught artists also included Grace Federighi, Briana McNeil, and O’Neil Scott.

Sonja Henderson and Sadie Wood's Lakefront installation. Sadie Woods and Sonja Henderson’s We Still Here is a temporal monument response situated along Chicago’s lakefront at Lake Shore Drive and Belmont, in the shadow of General Philip Sheridan. The installation reclaims space through an evocative assembly of bones, metal, and feathers, honoring layered histories while challenging dominant narratives. A diverse crowd gathered in celebration of spirituality and environmental

As the United States stands on the threshold of its 250th Anniversary,  Pigment International®  invites Chicago’s cultural community to a landmark gathering during Spring Art Week 2026. The Pigment International Salon Talk will convene artists, institution leaders, policymakers, and patrons for an intimate morning of dialogue, reflection, and celebration—timed to coincide with Spring Art Week in the city. Pigment International continues its focus on national identity, ancestr

Ra Joy, Executive Director Bronzeville Center For The Arts (BCA) This year America will celebrate its semi-quincentennial and the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. As the nation reflects on its founding, it also finds itself wrestling with fundamental questions around what we choose to remember, who we choose to honor, what we collectively celebrate, and why it all matters.  With America’s 250th birthday rapidly approaching, the stakes are high. Poli

Artwork Orbiting by Alma Thomas Curators, artists, and arts professionals gather for a landmark series of conversations during Spring Art Week Dialogues, presented by Northern Trust, brings together curators, artists, and arts professionals for a series of panel discussions, forums, and artistic discourse on the themes defining contemporary culture. Highlights include a reflection on the legacy of Alma Thomas featuring artists Lindsay Adams and Amanda Williams alongside cur

Photo by Barrington Darius When Frieze tapped Essence Harden to curate the Profile section of Expo Chicago 2026, it wasn't simply a curatorial appointment — it was a statement about what the fair intends to become. Multi-generational Bay Area roots, an academic foundation in African Diaspora Studies, and a practice built on long-term relationships with artists: Harden arrives in Chicago as someone who understands what it means to belong to a place before you've ever lived t

Works from the collection of Dr. J. Eugene Grisby, Jr.: From top Hale Woodruff , Jacob Lawrence and John Biggers.

Work of Kari Black April 9–12, the independent fair spotlights emerging artists — and makes space for those too often left out  The Other Art Fair Chicago arrives April 9–12 with its signature blend of accessibility, interactivity, and discovery — and this edition leans into both nostalgia and urgency. Anchored by the theme  Nostalgia Core , the fair transforms Saatchi Art's independent platform into an immersive playground where visitors don't just view art — they touch, pl

Panelists Arlene Crawford, Janice Bond, Dorian Sylvain, and Brenda Dickerson at the Women of the Wall at Zhou B Art Center in Chicago. The Salon Talk was moderated by Monique Brinkman Hill. The  Women of the Wall Salon Talk , presented by  Pigment International  at the Zhou B Art Center, closed the exhibition,  Glory! Glory!  with a powerful intergenerational conversation about public art, cultural memory, and the enduring legacy of the historic Wall of Respect. Panelists  Do

By Dontae Muse  When you think of the Biennale, you might think of Venice. I wish. This one was nearly chosen, except for the lack of water. I hopped over the water, the Hudson River, to experience the Whitney Biennial 2026 during the preview at the Whitney Museum of American Art, before it opened to the public, courtesy of my membership. I have to say that observing the exhibition in its quiet state, before the reactions unfold, allows for a deeper appreciation of its const

Dr. Teddy Rashaan, National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC); Monetta White, Museum of the African Diaspora; Dr. Leronn P. Brooks, Getty Research Institute; and moderator Ed Gordon. Guardians of History: Shaping Narratives in Museums  was a powerful conversation at the Black Empowerment Summit during LA Art Week, examining how museums, cultural leaders and communities collectively shape the historical record. Moderated by journalist and media executive Ed

Pigment International will present  Women of the Wall , a Pigment Salon Talk marking the closing of the  Glory! Glory!  exhibition on  Friday, February 20 from 6–8 pm at the  Zhou B Art Center . The panel will feature artist  Arlene Crawford, Janice Bond , Executive Director of the  Chicago Public Art Group ; interdisciplinary artist  Dorian Sylvain , whose work is part of the public art program at the  Obama Presidential Center ; and  Brenda Dickerson , an arts advocate dedi

Rush Baker IV, Monica Haslip, and Vicki Heyman were in conversation with Rufus Willaims at Zhou B Art Center as Glory! Glory! continues. On Friday, March 13, Zhou B Art Center became a sanctuary for honest, searching dialogue when  Glory! Glory!  — the exhibition celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary through the lens of Black artists — hosted a panel discussion as powerful as the work on its walls. WVON radio host Rufus Williams set the tone immediately, inviting the

Bernard and Shirley Kinsey shared their story at the Black Art Empowerment Summit in LA iduring LA Art Week. Moderated by their son Khalil , the family signed copies of their most recent book. During  LA Art Week  in February, a standout conversation at the  Black Empowerment Summit  brought together three members of one of the art world’s most influential collecting families. Moderated by  Khalil Kinsey , the panel  “A Family Affair: The Kinsey Collection at 20 Years”  fea

Danny Dunson, DuSable Black History Museum & Education Center, in conversation with Bisa Butler at Soho House On a recent evening at Soho House Chicago, curator Erica S. Hubbard created something rare — an intimate space for Chicagoans to sit with one of contemporary art's most powerful voices. Textile artist Bisa Butler joined curator D anny Dunson for a conversation that felt less like a formal program and more like an exchange between old friends, candid, unscripted, and a

Robert Lewis Clark's '44' is available now On a cold February morning in 2007, Barack Obama stood in Springfield, Illinois and set history in motion. From that day, millions of Americans became archivists — clipping headlines, saving programs, holding onto anything that might one day prove they witnessed the moment. Lura Satterfield Shareef was one of them. After the historic 2008 election, she handed her son every clipping, every fragment of that momentous chapter and said

Pigment International will present the  Glory! Glory! Salon Talk , a public conversation examining the powerful symbolism of the American flag through the perspectives of artists, cultural leaders, and civic voices. The program takes place  Friday, March 13  as part of the ongoing exhibition  Glory! Glory! The event will be held at the Zhou B Art Center, 1029 W. 35th Street from 6 pm – 8 pm.   The Salon Talk will feature an interdisciplinary panel including cultural represe

BUTTER Fine Art Fair  made a powerful Los Angeles debut at Hollywood Park in Inglewood during Black History Month, aligning its four-day run with the energy of LA Art Week. Situated near SoFi Stadium, the immersive fair featured more than 40 independent, emerging, mid-career, and established artists from across the African diaspora. BUTTER’s defining principle—its no-censorship, no-commission structure—advanced a bold “100% for Artists” mission, directing all proceeds from sa

LA Art Week coincided with The NAACP Image Awards and SAG Awards fostering some serious celebrity watching.