The mural and pavilion refresh at Wharton Elementary in Summit's Argo Park arrives in time for the 85th Anniversary of Emmitt Till's birth. For the past six months, the Village of Summit has demonstrated what can happen when artists, residents, and community organizations come together with a shared vision. Through the Creative Placemaking Initiative, funded by Cook County Arts, local partners have worked to reimagine public spaces while placing community voices at the center

Top left - Patricia Andrews-Keenan, September Gray and Diane Dinkins Carr; Revolutionary opened at Vjose Cafe and continues through August 15; Middle row - Sculptor Joseph Kersey, great uncle of Anita Mauro board member of Chicago Sculpture Exhibit. The public art group is celebrating its 25th Anniversary. More scenes from Revolutionary - Phyliss North and Audra Wilson; and bottom row the Simmons - D.E., Ruben and Ruby. New Pigmented merch includes our bucket hat. Orders your

As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, Pigment International steps into the center of the conversation with back-to-back appearances in mid-July that ask the same question from two different stages: who gets to tell America's story? On July 16, Founder and CEO Patricia Andrews-Keenan joins the open mic lineup for "America @ 250: A Journalism Reckoning," hosted by NABJ Chicago and the Field Foundation at Impact House in downtown Chicago. Set against a backdrop of press fre

The Reluctant Ribbon Merchant by Jesse Howard and Patrice Lumumba by Candace Hunter are works in Revolutionary opening July 17th at Vjosa Cafe and Events. Pigment International opens REVOLUNTARY, a bold new group exhibition on July 17 at Vjosa Cafe and Events, 1010 W. 35th Street in Bridgeport. The show runs through August 15th REVOLUNTARY is an extension of Pigment’s February 2026 exhibition Glory! Glory!, which drew national attention for its exploration of the American fl

Top left: The Musicians by Loïs Mailou Jones and right God Help America by Maria-Lana Queen. Bottom left Serve and Protect by Kim Rice and Blk Study Apparatus by Nnaemeka (Emeka) Ekwelum. Photos courtesy of Knowhere Art Gallery and the participating artists. This summer, Knowhere Art Gallery on Martha's Vineyard presents two compelling exhibitions that examine Black history, artistic lineage, and the tensions that continue to shape American life. Located in the heart of Oak B

Ted Ellis is now curator at the Amistad Renowned artist and creative historian Ted T. Ellis has been appointed Registrar | Curator of the Amistad Research Center at Tulane University — one of the most significant appointments in recent memory for the institution widely recognized as the world's largest independent archive dedicated to Black history. This month’s appointment marks a powerful convergence of artistic legacy and institutional stewardship. Ellis brings to the role

44th created by James Nelson. In the Land of the Free T-Shirts created by Reggie McFly honor the escaped slave Gordon, aka "Whipped Peter". Pigment International is proud to participate in the Obama Presidential Center's (OPC) Grand Opening Ceremony Official Watch Party on Thursday, June 18, at Midway Plaisance Park in Chicago's Hyde Park community. As one of a select group of local businesses, cultural organizations, and restaurants invited to be part of this historic commun

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

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

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