CELEBRATING WE ARE THE PEOPLE: PIGMENT INTERNATIONAL RETURNS TO THE 57TH STREET ART FAIR

Six Featured Artists Bring Depth, Beauty, and Cultural Legacy to Hyde Park

Pigment International will again be exhibiting at the 57th Street Art Fair, one of the city's longest-running fairs, on June 6 & 7. Now in its fourth year at this beloved Hyde Park institution, Pigment's exhibition is a celebration of the country's 250th Anniversary — a showcase of the depth and breadth of our artists. The fair runs Saturday, June 6, from 11 am–6 pm and Sunday, June 7, from 10 am–5 pm. Admission is always free.

Howard D. Simmons brings a storied photographic legacy to Pigment’s booth. A career spanning Johnson Publishing Company, The Chicago Sun-Times, and decades of commercial photography has shaped Simmons into one of Chicago's most distinguished visual storytellers. His works will be available both as traditional prints and striking aluminum-mounted pieces.

Reggie McFly is recognized for his vibrant mixed media works that fuse imagination with cultural commentary. Most recently featured at Pigment International's exhibition Glory! Glory!, McFly's presence at the fair underscores Pigment's commitment to showcasing artists at the forefront of contemporary Black creativity. His multi-media work Land of the Free, featuring Gordon aka Whipped Peter commenting on the 250th Anniversary of the country, was recently acquired by an Atlanta collector. 

Robert Lewis Clark's monumental mixed media work '44' — an 8' x 11' piece created on wood in 2012 was also showcased during Glory! Glory! A print of that work has found its permanent home in the collection of the Obama Presidential Center (OPC). At the 57th Street Art Fair, Clark will offer a limited number of signed prints of this iconic work, along with specially created t-shirts inspired by the piece.

James Nelson's artistry centers on the lifelike and the luminous. His hand-embellished rendition of former President Barack Obama captures both the historic weight and the personal warmth of the 44th President, offering fair-goers a chance to take home a deeply felt tribute to an enduring icon.

Pigment will also be showcasing "Forevermore," a surrealist portrait of President Barack Obama by South Side Chicago artist Edo. Born Eddie Santana White, Edo is a self-taught multidisciplinary artist whose immersive work draws inspiration from Salvador Dalí, Kaws, and Hebru Brantley, among others. Operating under his brand Infinite Inception, Edo creates art that reveals something new with every viewing — layered, vibrant, and endlessly unfolding.

Pigment is proud to spotlight new work by Salome Jaffe, who renders her striking compositions on steel using oil paint and acid — a process as daring as the imagery it produces. Jaffe is currently vying for the title of the People's Artist, and you can vote for her through midnight tonight.

In addition to original works and prints, the Pigment International booth will feature an assortment of merchandise including shirts, tote bags, and hats — plus, of course, the latest issue of Pigment Magazine. Stop by, shop, and celebrate 250 years of American art through the powerful lens of Black and African artists.

57th Street Art Fair Hours: Saturday, June 6: 11am–6pm | Sunday, June 7: 10am–5pm | Free Admission.

Can't attend the fair? Visit our Shopify site or email us at pigmentint@gmail.com