Designer Norman Teague When Chicago designer Norman Teague arrives in Lagos this October he carries the weight of a legendary history — and the creative fire to match. Not a stranger, but a creative heir. Teague, founder and principal of Norman Teague Design Studios, has been named curator of Design Week Lagos 2026— Africa's leading platform for design, innovation, manufacturing, and creative industry development. Running October 18–25 at the iconic National Theatre in Lagos,

Above - Robert Earl Paige; Below - Design Visionary honorees, class of 2026 Chicago artist and designer Robert Earl Paige has been named a 2026 Design Visionary honoree by the prestigious Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum as part of the National Design Awards, one of the highest recognitions in American design. The honor celebrates Paige’s decades-long influence on textile design, fine art, and the broader visual culture of Black creative expression. Born in Chicago in

From top left: Robert Lewis Paige, Monica Haslip, Janell Nelson and Blake Lenoir are the honorees at this year's Black Art Love Affair. As Chicago’s creative community continues to shape global culture, ILA Creative Studio is once again bringing artists, patrons, and advocates together for an evening centered on celebration, sustainability, and collective investment. On June 17, the organization will host the fourth annual Black Art Love Affair (BALA) at Little Black Pearl un

Left a close-up of Demond Melancon's beadwork; pictured top right with his wife, Alicia and below right with curator Koyo Kouoh. Something historic is happening in Venice right now, and we all need to take solace in how the art world can lift us up in such challenging times. For the first time, an African woman was selected as curator of the Venice Biennale, and a record number of Black artists from across the globe were invited to exhibit. For Black Americans navigating a