CHICAGO NAMED BEST BIG CITY IN AMERICA NINTH YEAR IN A ROW Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson join Choose Chicago to celebrate an amazing year for tourism in the city. Named the Best Big City in the U.S. for an unprecedented ninth consecutive year by Conde Nast Traveler, Chicago is recognized for its world-class art, dining, iconic architecture, and vibrant culture. Pigment International, a Choose Chicago partner, attended the celebration.  HAPP

Artist Robert Lewis Clark with his work '44" Pigment International’s  Glory! Glory!  opening on  Friday, February 20, 2026  at the  Zhou B Art Center  in Chicago, is a civic-centered exhibition foregrounding Black artistic perspectives on the imagery and symbolism of the U.S. flag. The exhibition encourages reflection and dialogue through both representational and interpretive approaches to this iconic national symbol. ( Eventbrite ) A central highlight is  Robert Lewis Clark

Tyanna Buie is working on her installation, Be the Change!  for the Obama Presidential Center. Photo Kaylee Pugliese/Courtesy RISD The soon-to-open  Obama Presidential Center in Chicago  is fast becoming one of the most ambitious public art programs in recent U.S. history, blending civic dialogue with artistic expression across its 19.3-acre campus. Set to open in  spring 2026 , the Center has now commissioned works by more than  25 leading contemporary artists , including  M

Dontae Muse. Work by Danielle Scott Between the Instagram carousel, the group chat exhibition announcement, and Chat GPT, the word “curator” slipped its shoes off and made itself comfortable. Too comfortable, maybe. Let me be clear before the think pieces begin to make themselves: everybody can curate. We all do it daily. We curate playlists, dinner parties, mood boards, timelines, and digital selves. Selection is human. Taste is personal. Storytelling is a natural human pres

“I’m not sure that I can predict, but I always hope that we continue to build together a strong ecosystem around the artists and their work. My hope is that institutions see us, the galleries, as sources who might be small but are mighty in their practice, knowledge of art historically, currently and for the future. Thank you for always including me and Knowhere in the work you are doing to fortify our art community!” Val Francis – Knowhere Gallery, Martha’s Vineyard

Art by Ekwelum Nnaemeka Through rigorous storytelling and cultural commentary, Pigment International educates, advocates, and advances the Black art ecosystem by amplifying the voices of artists, collectors, curators, gallerists, institutions, and cultural leaders shaping Black art culture today.   In 2026, Pigment International will mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States with a year-long editorial focus titled  America 250 – We Are The People . This