![](\"https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1731092759/vpk1wyzwz1zysyzukcl8.jpg\")
Caminantes by Salvador Jiménez-Flores
Via PR
THE 2025 CHICAGO SCULPTURE EXHIBIT RICHARD HUNT AWARD APPLICATION IS NOW OPEN!
What is the Richard Hunt Award?
CSE is thrilled to renew the CSE Richard Hunt Award. In recognition of the internationally-heralded artist and Chicago native Richard Hunt, CSE continues to bring new perspectives and diversity to the public art world by offering financial support to emerging or mid-career Chicagoland sculptors for a new artwork sited at a prominent location in the city. The award is part of CSE’s mission to encourage a broader range of artists to design and fabricate large-scale public sculpture.
The financial provision for the production of the work is $10,000, 80% provided for the planning and/or creation of the artist’s work and 20% dispersed upon installation. The selected artist must transport their sculpture to and from the site, but CSE will assist with on-site installation and costs of physically mounting the work. The sculpture will remain on display for two years and must be able to withstand Chicago’s climate for that period. The work will be returned to the artist as the sole owner after 24 months. CSE will make every effort to provide additional mentoring and assistance as requested.
The award money may be used for production and installation of the sculpture, i.e. materials, studio rent, artist’s time. CSE will also provide professional documentation of the work upon installation, to be shared with the artist.
Project Timeline
September 27, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.: Applications are due by 5 pm CST on Friday, September 27. Please submit an application through this form: CSE Richard Hunt Award Application
Early to Mid-October 2024: Jury selection of winner, with notification shortly thereafter.
November 15, 2024: Final drawings/plans due to CSE for review.
May 30, 2025: Installation of the work must be completed by this date and will be planned in coordination with CSE staff and contractors.
Application Requirements
Chicagoland artists, aged 18+ must submit the following within the application link:
● Artist statement and bio (200 words or less)
● Sample images
● Artist proposal for new work for installation (350 words)
● Proposed project budget (may include studio rent, labor, materials, etc.)
The Jury
Select curators from Chicago’s art community will comprise the Jury for the 2024/2025 CSE Richard Hunt Award including Daniel Schulman, Executive Director of Jewish Museum Milwaukee and former Program Director of Visual Art at Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Dr. Anita Blanchard, Board Member, Richard Hunt Legacy Foundation, and Tricia van Eck, Founder and Artistic Director of 6018 North and former Associate Curator, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.
The Richard Hunt Legacy Foundation
CSE is excited to partner with The Richard Hunt Legacy Foundation to continue the CSE Richard Hunt Award in future years. As an artist and prominent American sculptor, Richard Hunt considered artistic freedom to be the most important aspect of his career, “I am interested more than anything else in being a free person. To me, that means that I can make what I want to make, regardless of what anyone else thinks I should make.”
The Richard Hunt Legacy Foundation advances public awareness, education, and appreciation of the life and art of American sculptor Richard Hunt. The Foundation was incorporated in the state of Illinois in 2023 to become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit at the direction of its founder, Richard Hunt. The Richard Hunt Legacy Foundation’s vision is to ensure that future generations fully appreciate his life and art by encouraging, inspiring, facilitating, educating, and supporting the public’s understanding of his work and his place in American and art history. In addition, the foundation aims to support the next generation of sculptors and artists.
![](\"https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1731092760/wljndqbad5j7tyrkwuvw.jpg\")
About Richard Hunt
Born on the South Side of Chicago, Richard Hunt (1935-2023) was one of the most important sculptors this nation has produced. His distinguished art career spanned seven decades. At the age of 35, Hunt became the first African American sculptor to have a retrospective exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in 1971. Hunt held over 160 solo exhibitions and is represented in more than 100 public museums across the globe. Hunt was a prolific public sculptor and made the largest contribution to public art in the United States, with more than 160 public sculpture commissions gracing prominent locations in 24 states and Washington, D.C. Hunt was a central figure in Civil Rights-era action and commemorated many African American icons in his public works, such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Emmett Till, John Jones, and Mary McLeod Bethune. His body of work explores themes of the African diaspora, African and Western art, mythology, and Hunt’s own ancestry, especially in relation to growth, expansion, freedom, movement, and flight.
Questions? Contact chicagosculptureexhibit@gmail.com
","published_at":"2024-08-08 09:00:00","state":"published","slug":"cse-announces-richard-hunt-sculpture-prize-applications-open-now","type":"NewsPost","meta_description":"","text":null,"created_at":"2024-08-08 15:30:10","updated_at":"2024-08-08 15:30:10","category_id":1,"highlighted":true,"searchable":"'-2023':657B '00':274B '000':135B '10':134B '100':714B '15':314B '160':705B,741B '18':352B '1935':656B '1971':701B '20':149B '200':365B '2023':9B,573B '2024':271B,304B,315B '2024/2025':405B '2025':23B,325B '24':215B,749B '27':270B,286B '3':579B '30':324B '35':680B '350':378B '5':273B,280B '501':577B '6018':450B '80':136B 'abl':193B 'across':717B 'action':764B 'addit':224B,631B 'advanc':547B 'affair':431B 'african':685B,768B,802B,804B 'age':351B,678B 'aim':634B 'also':252B 'american':492B,559B,626B,686B,769B 'ancestri':813B 'and/or':141B 'anita':433B 'announc':2A 'anyon':536B 'anyth':513B 'appli':830B 'applic':7A,30B,276B,290B,298B,347B,359B 'appreci':552B,603B 'art':74B,397B,425B,459B,557B,607B,628B,671B,698B,733B,807B 'artist':57B,114B,145B,155B,209B,247B,266B,350B,361B,371B,447B,489B,497B,643B 'artwork':91B 'aspect':504B 'assist':168B,227B 'associ':454B 'awar':549B 'award':12B,29B,39B,49B,101B,231B,297B,409B,483B 'b':782B 'barnett':785B 'becam':682B 'becom':575B 'bethun':793B 'bio':364B 'blanchard':434B 'board':435B 'bodi':795B 'born':647B 'bring':66B 'broader':111B 'budget':382B 'c':578B 'caminant':14B 'career':85B,507B,672B 'central':757B 'chicago':24B,59B,196B,395B,427B,460B,653B 'chicagoland':86B,349B 'chicagosculptureexhibit@gmail.com':826B 'citi':99B 'civil':760B 'click':827B 'climat':198B 'commemor':766B 'commiss':744B 'communiti':398B 'complet':332B 'compris':400B 'consid':496B 'contact':825B 'contemporari':458B 'continu':64B,478B 'contractor':346B 'contribut':730B 'coordin':341B 'cost':175B 'creation':142B 'cse':1A,40B,46B,63B,105B,166B,217B,250B,294B,320B,343B,406B,466B,480B 'cst':282B 'cultur':430B 'curat':393B,455B 'd.c':753B 'daniel':411B 'date':335B 'decad':675B 'depart':428B 'design':116B 'diaspora':803B 'direct':583B 'director':414B,422B,448B 'dispers':150B 'display':186B 'distinguish':670B 'divers':70B 'document':255B 'dr':432B 'drawings/plans':317B 'due':278B,318B 'earli':299B 'eck':444B 'educ':550B,612B 'effort':221B 'els':514B,537B 'emerg':81B 'emmett':786B 'encourag':109B,609B 'ensur':598B 'era':763B 'especi':814B 'etc':389B 'everi':220B 'excit':468B 'execut':413B 'exhibit':26B,692B,707B 'expans':819B 'explor':798B 'fabric':118B 'facilit':611B 'figur':758B 'final':316B 'financi':78B,125B 'first':684B 'flight':823B 'flore':19B 'follow':356B 'form':293B 'former':420B,453B 'foundat':440B,465B,476B,546B,564B,593B,633B 'founder':445B,586B 'free':518B 'freedom':498B,820B 'friday':284B 'fulli':602B 'futur':485B,600B 'generat':601B,639B 'globe':719B 'grace':745B 'growth':818B 'held':703B 'herald':56B 'histori':629B 'hunt':4A,11B,28B,38B,48B,62B,296B,408B,438B,463B,474B,482B,495B,544B,562B,588B,591B,646B,655B,681B,702B,720B,754B,810B 'i.e':243B 'icon':770B 'ida':781B 'illinoi':571B 'imag':370B 'import':503B,663B 'includ':384B,410B 'incorpor':566B 'inspir':610B 'instal':152B,173B,239B,260B,326B,377B 'interest':510B 'intern':55B 'internationally-herald':54B 'jewish':416B 'jiménez':18B 'jiménez-flor':17B 'john':788B 'jone':789B 'jr':780B 'juri':305B,391B,402B 'king':779B 'labor':387B 'larg':120B 'large-scal':119B 'largest':729B 'legaci':439B,464B,475B,545B,592B 'less':368B 'life':555B,605B 'link':360B 'locat':96B,747B 'luther':778B 'made':727B 'make':219B,527B,532B,541B 'mani':767B 'mari':791B 'martin':777B 'materi':244B,388B 'may':233B,323B,383B 'mcleod':792B 'mean':523B 'member':436B 'mentor':225B 'mid':84B,302B 'mid-car':83B 'mid-octob':301B 'milwauke':418B 'mission':107B 'modern':697B 'moma':699B 'money':232B 'month':216B 'mount':178B 'movement':821B 'museum':417B,456B,695B,716B 'must':156B,191B,330B,353B 'mytholog':808B 'nation':666B 'nativ':60B 'new':67B,90B,374B 'next':638B 'nonprofit':580B 'north':451B 'notif':310B 'novemb':313B 'octob':303B 'offer':77B 'on-sit':170B 'one':659B 'onlin':831B 'open':8A,33B 'owner':213B 'p.m':275B 'part':103B 'partner':470B 'period':201B 'person':519B 'perspect':68B 'physic':177B 'place':624B 'plan':140B,339B 'pleas':287B 'pm':281B 'pr':21B 'prize':6A 'produc':668B 'product':129B,237B 'profession':254B 'program':421B 'project':267B,381B 'prolif':723B 'promin':95B,491B,746B 'propos':372B,380B 'provid':137B,223B,253B 'provis':126B 'public':73B,122B,548B,616B,715B,724B,732B,742B,773B 'question':824B 'rang':112B 'recognit':51B 'regardless':533B 'relat':816B 'remain':184B 'renew':44B 'rent':246B,386B 'repres':710B 'request':229B 'requir':348B 'retrospect':691B 'return':206B 'review':322B 'richard':3A,10B,27B,37B,47B,61B,295B,407B,437B,462B,473B,481B,494B,543B,561B,587B,590B,645B,654B 'right':762B 'rights-era':761B 'salvador':16B 'sampl':369B 'scale':121B 'schulman':412B 'sculptor':87B,493B,560B,641B,664B,687B,725B 'sculptur':5A,25B,123B,159B,182B,242B,743B 'select':154B,306B,392B 'septemb':269B,285B 'seven':674B 'share':263B 'short':311B 'side':651B 'site':92B,164B,172B 'sole':212B 'solo':706B 'south':650B 'span':673B 'staff':344B 'state':569B,737B,750B 'statement':362B 'studio':245B,385B 'submit':288B,354B 'support':79B,614B,636B 'theme':799B 'thereaft':312B 'think':538B 'thrill':42B 'till':787B 'time':249B 'timelin':268B 'transport':157B 'tricia':442B 'two':188B 'understand':618B 'unit':736B 'upon':151B,259B 'use':235B 'van':443B 'via':20B 'vision':595B 'visual':424B 'want':530B 'washington':752B 'well':784B 'wells-barnett':783B 'western':806B 'winner':13B,308B 'within':357B 'withstand':195B 'word':366B,379B 'work':132B,147B,180B,203B,258B,329B,375B,621B,774B,797B 'world':75B 'year':189B,486B","thumbnail":"https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1731090390/nga0oyaxtbcazqxzpdpl.jpg","editor_pick":false,"category_name":"Announcements"},"related":[{"id":14456,"title":"Illinois Holocaust Museum to Reopen November 11 Following Renovation","excerpt":"","body":"
![](\"https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1792084737/qrikvx76nvvt5agq24rq.jpg\")
By CGN STAFF
Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center will reopen its Skokie location on November 11, 2026, following a renovation that expands visitor spaces, updates its core Holocaust exhibition and adds a new reflection gallery. The reopening is timed to coincide with Veterans Day. Active military personnel, veterans and their families will receive free admission that day.
The project includes a redesigned Lillian & Larry Goodman Auditorium and Gallery, an enlarged lobby in the Shapiro Family Foundation Welcome Center, and a refreshed Resilience Hall with an expanded stage for presentations and public programs.
Updates to the Zev & Shifra Karkomi Holocaust Exhibition include additional material on the roots of antisemitism, the story of Chicago resident Leo Edelman, and the experiences of other groups targeted by the Nazis. A new reflection gallery, accessible from the exhibition, offers visitors a quiet space during and after their visit.
“Every visitor’s experience now begins differently and runs deeper,” said Kelley Szany, the Museum’s senior vice president of education and exhibitions. “The new welcome center sets the tone from the moment people arrive, the enhanced core Holocaust exhibition brings the history and the voices of survivors into sharper focus, and our new auditorium gives us a place to gather, listen, and talk about what it means for our communities today.”
Existing attractions, including the virtual reality theater, the interactive Survivor Stories Experience holographic theater, the Take A Stand Center and the Voices of Genocide Exhibition, will remain part of the Museum’s offerings.
Following the reopening, Blacklist: The Hollywood Red Scare will open November 15 in the special exhibition gallery. Created by and on loan from Jewish Museum Milwaukee, the exhibition examines the intersections of politics, antisemitism, freedom of speech and national security during the Red Scare of the 1940s and 1950s. It will remain on view through March 2027.
The Museum’s satellite location in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, Experience360, will remain open through December 31, 2026. The downtown space opened during the Skokie renovation to provide continued access to the Museum’s immersive exhibitions.
For information and ticket reservations, visit ilholocaustmuseum.org.
Image: Museum exterior. Photo by David Seide/Definedspace.com
","published_at":"2026-10-15 09:32:55.31","state":"published","slug":"illinois-holocaust-museum-to-reopen-november-11-following-renovation","type":null,"meta_description":"","text":null,"created_at":"2026-10-15 17:18:57.712","updated_at":"2026-10-15 17:18:57.712","category_id":1,"highlighted":false,"searchable":"'11':7A,25B '15':269B '1940s':304B '1950s':306B '2026':26B,333B '2027':314B '31':332B 'access':139B,345B 'activ':54B 'add':40B 'addit':111B 'admiss':64B 'antisemit':117B,291B 'arriv':187B 'attract':226B 'auditorium':75B,207B 'begin':158B 'blacklist':261B 'bring':193B 'center':17B,87B,179B,243B 'cgn':11B 'chicago':121B,321B 'coincid':50B 'communiti':223B 'continu':344B 'core':36B,190B 'creat':275B 'david':364B 'day':53B,66B 'decemb':331B 'deeper':162B 'differ':159B 'downtown':335B 'edelman':124B 'educ':16B,173B 'enhanc':189B 'enlarg':79B 'everi':153B 'examin':286B 'exhibit':38B,109B,142B,175B,192B,249B,273B,285B,351B 'exist':225B 'expand':31B,95B 'experi':127B,156B,236B 'experience360':326B 'exterior':361B 'famili':60B,84B 'focus':203B 'follow':8A,27B,258B 'foundat':85B 'free':63B 'freedom':292B 'galleri':44B,77B,138B,274B 'gather':213B 'genocid':248B 'give':208B 'goodman':74B 'group':130B 'hall':92B 'histori':195B 'hollywood':263B 'holocaust':2A,14B,37B,108B,191B 'holograph':237B 'ilholocaustmuseum.org':358B 'illinoi':1A,13B 'imag':359B 'immers':350B 'includ':69B,110B,227B 'inform':353B 'interact':233B 'intersect':288B 'jewish':281B 'karkomi':107B 'kelley':164B 'larri':73B 'leo':123B 'lillian':72B 'listen':214B 'loan':279B 'lobbi':80B 'locat':22B,319B 'march':313B 'materi':112B 'mean':220B 'militari':55B 'milwauke':283B 'moment':185B 'museum':3A,15B,167B,255B,282B,316B,348B,360B 'nation':296B 'nazi':134B 'neighborhood':325B 'new':42B,136B,177B,206B 'north':324B 'novemb':6A,24B,268B 'offer':143B,257B 'open':267B,329B,337B 'part':252B 'peopl':186B 'personnel':56B 'photo':362B 'place':211B 'polit':290B 'present':98B 'presid':171B 'program':101B 'project':68B 'provid':343B 'public':100B 'quiet':146B 'realiti':230B 'receiv':62B 'red':264B,300B 'redesign':71B 'reflect':43B,137B 'refresh':90B 'remain':251B,309B,328B 'renov':9A,29B,341B 'reopen':5A,19B,46B,260B 'reserv':356B 'resid':122B 'resili':91B 'river':323B 'root':115B 'run':161B 'said':163B 'satellit':318B 'scare':265B,301B 'secur':297B 'seide/definedspace.com':365B 'senior':169B 'set':180B 'shapiro':83B 'sharper':202B 'shifra':106B 'skoki':21B,340B 'space':33B,147B,336B 'special':272B 'speech':294B 'staff':12B 'stage':96B 'stand':242B 'stori':119B,235B 'survivor':200B,234B 'szani':165B 'take':240B 'talk':216B 'target':131B 'theater':231B,238B 'ticket':355B 'time':48B 'today':224B 'tone':182B 'updat':34B,102B 'us':209B 'veteran':52B,57B 'vice':170B 'view':311B 'virtual':229B 'visit':152B,357B 'visitor':32B,144B,154B 'voic':198B,246B 'welcom':86B,178B 'zev':105B","thumbnail":"https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1792084731/ziynfdisvbupniolikjr.jpg","editor_pick":true},{"id":14357,"title":"As One New Fair Opens another Familiar Name Announces Its Return in 2027","excerpt":null,"body":"![](\"https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1791471661/j25vt7cxeohehapkz9n1.jpg\")
By GINNY VAN ALYEA
SOFA Chicago, the longtime fair devoted to sculpture, objects, functional art and collectible design, will return to the city October 28–31, 2027, as part of Chicago Art Fair at THE MART, which opened its inaugural edition last night.
Founded in Chicago in 1994, SOFA became a popular fixture on the city’s fall arts calendar. For much of its history, collectors and visitors gathered at Navy Pier to discover works in glass, ceramics, wood, metal and fiber, alongside sculpture and design. Its focus on materials and craftsmanship gave the fair a distinct identity and cultivated a devoted audience.
The announcement comes as the inaugural Chicago Art Fair gets underway at THE MART. The new fair opened with a preview on October 7 and continues through October 10, presenting modern and contemporary art. Tim von Gal, CEO and producer of SOFA Chicago and CEO of Intersect Art and Design, was in Chicago this week for the occasion.
Organizers describe the 2027 collaboration as two distinct but complementary presentations under one roof, with SOFA’s focus on three-dimensional art and design alongside Chicago Art Fair’s broader offerings.
“Chicago has always been an extraordinary home for SOFA and a city with a deep appreciation for art, craft, architecture and design,” said von Gal in the announcement. “Joining the Chicago Art Fair at THE MART gives us the opportunity to build upon that legacy while creating an exciting new experience for collectors and exhibitors alike.”
Eric Smith, owner of Chicago Art Fair and CEO of Redwood Art Group, said the addition would broaden the fair’s scope while preserving SOFA’s identity.
“SOFA has a remarkable legacy and a distinct identity, and its return adds an important new dimension to the fair while reinforcing Chicago’s position as a destination for collectors, galleries and art lovers from around the world,” Smith said.
For those who remember SOFA as an annual opportunity to encounter ambitious work in craft and design, the return will be welcome news. The participating galleries and programming, still to be announced, will provide a fuller picture of how that legacy will take shape in its new setting.
SOFA Chicago is produced by Intersect Art and Design, which also organizes annual art and design fairs in Aspen and Palm Springs.
Additional details about exhibitors, partnerships and tickets are expected in the coming months.
Visit chicagoartfair.com for updates.
","published_at":"2026-10-08 08:42:55.758","state":"published","slug":"as-one-new-fair-opens-another-familiar-name-announces-its-return-in-2027","type":null,"meta_description":"","text":null,"created_at":"2026-10-08 15:01:02.232","updated_at":"2026-10-08 15:01:02.232","category_id":1,"highlighted":false,"searchable":"'10':145B '1994':61B '2027':13A,40B,178B '28':38B '31':39B '7':140B 'add':302B 'addit':278B,400B 'alik':262B 'alongsid':96B,200B 'also':388B 'alway':209B 'alyea':17B 'ambiti':341B 'announc':9A,118B,234B,361B 'annual':337B,390B 'anoth':6A 'appreci':222B 'architectur':226B 'around':325B 'art':28B,45B,72B,124B,150B,164B,197B,202B,224B,238B,268B,274B,322B,384B,391B 'aspen':396B 'audienc':116B 'becam':63B 'broaden':280B 'broader':205B 'build':248B 'calendar':73B 'ceo':154B,161B,271B 'ceram':91B 'chicago':19B,44B,59B,123B,159B,169B,201B,207B,237B,267B,312B,379B 'chicagoartfair.com':414B 'citi':36B,69B,218B 'collabor':179B 'collect':30B 'collector':79B,259B,319B 'come':119B,411B 'complementari':184B 'contemporari':149B 'continu':142B 'craft':225B,344B 'craftsmanship':105B 'creat':253B 'cultiv':113B 'deep':221B 'describ':176B 'design':31B,99B,166B,199B,228B,346B,386B,393B 'destin':317B 'detail':401B 'devot':23B,115B 'dimens':306B 'dimension':196B 'discov':87B 'distinct':110B,182B,297B 'edit':54B 'encount':340B 'eric':263B 'excit':255B 'exhibitor':261B,403B 'expect':408B 'experi':257B 'extraordinari':212B 'fair':4A,22B,46B,108B,125B,133B,203B,239B,269B,282B,309B,394B 'fall':71B 'familiar':7A 'fiber':95B 'fixtur':66B 'focus':101B,192B 'found':57B 'fuller':365B 'function':27B 'gal':153B,231B 'galleri':320B,355B 'gather':82B 'gave':106B 'get':126B 'ginni':15B 'give':243B 'glass':90B 'group':275B 'histori':78B 'home':213B 'ident':111B,289B,298B 'import':304B 'inaugur':53B,122B 'intersect':163B,383B 'join':235B 'last':55B 'legaci':251B,294B,370B 'longtim':21B 'lover':323B 'mart':49B,130B,242B 'materi':103B 'metal':93B 'modern':147B 'month':412B 'much':75B 'name':8A 'navi':84B 'new':3A,132B,256B,305B,376B 'news':352B 'night':56B 'object':26B 'occas':174B 'octob':37B,139B,144B 'offer':206B 'one':2A,187B 'open':5A,51B,134B 'opportun':246B,338B 'organ':175B,389B 'owner':265B 'palm':398B 'part':42B 'particip':354B 'partnership':404B 'pictur':366B 'pier':85B 'popular':65B 'posit':314B 'present':146B,185B 'preserv':286B 'preview':137B 'produc':156B,381B 'program':357B 'provid':363B 'redwood':273B 'reinforc':311B 'remark':293B 'rememb':333B 'return':11A,33B,301B,348B 'roof':188B 'said':229B,276B,329B 'scope':284B 'sculptur':25B,97B 'set':377B 'shape':373B 'smith':264B,328B 'sofa':18B,62B,158B,190B,215B,287B,290B,334B,378B 'spring':399B 'still':358B 'take':372B 'three':195B 'three-dimension':194B 'ticket':406B 'tim':151B 'two':181B 'underway':127B 'updat':416B 'upon':249B 'us':244B 'van':16B 'visit':413B 'visitor':81B 'von':152B,230B 'week':171B 'welcom':351B 'wood':92B 'work':88B,342B 'world':327B 'would':279B","thumbnail":"https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1791471648/qlsatdxqgau2braeekxu.jpg","editor_pick":true},{"id":14324,"title":"Pigment International Dedicates Black Fine Art Month 2026 to Richard Hunt","excerpt":"","body":"![](\"https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1791479103/r9oi9u47474rx2synx0p.png\")
The artist Richard Hunt
By CGN Staff
Pigment International has dedicated Black Fine Art Month 2026 to Chicago sculptor Richard Hunt (1935–2023), recognizing his contributions to American art and his lifelong connection to the city.
As part of the month’s programming, the organization will host Pigmented: Chicago to the World — A Black Fine Art Convening on October 23 at the University of Chicago’s Logan Center for the Arts. Partners include the Richard Hunt Legacy Foundation, Adler University, CAI Designs, Chicago Public Art Group, Chicago Sculpture Exhibit and Diasporal Rhythms.
Born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, Hunt developed an internationally recognized practice while continuing to live and work in his hometown. His welded metal sculptures brought together abstract forms, references to the natural world and an enduring interest in freedom and social justice.
Hunt identified attending Emmett Till’s funeral in 1955 as a turning point in his artistic life. Till had lived just two blocks from Hunt’s home. Decades later, Hunt’s public commissions would honor figures including Martin Luther King Jr., Mary McLeod Bethune, Jesse Owens and Ida B. Wells, while also addressing the Middle Passage and the Great Migration.
In 1968, President Lyndon Johnson appointed Hunt to the National Council on the Arts, where he became its first African American member. In 1971, at age 35, he became the first African American sculptor to receive a retrospective at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. His career encompassed more than 150 solo exhibitions and more than 160 public art installations.
![](\"https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1791479104/lltcodkx39gd8sbhtus1.png\")
Richard Hunt with artist Chris Devins, who recently completed a mural honoring the sculptor in Hyde Park. Photo courtesy of Chris Devins.
Recent projects in Chicago offer new ways to encounter Hunt’s work and history. This fall, the Logan Center opened the Hunt, a café honoring the artist. Created and designed by Little Black Pearl founder and executive director Monica Haslip, the space incorporates two Hunt sculptures, African art, archival materials and photographs by Sandro Miller.
In Hyde Park, artist Chris Devins and historian Michelle Duster have brought a mural of Hunt to 1515–19 E. 54th Street. The portrait is based on photographs Devins took in Hunt’s studio before the sculptor’s death.
“Richard Hunt was a giant in the arts world and people need to see what he looked like and be inspired by his legacy,” Devins said.
Pigment International’s dedication also reflects its own relationship with Hunt. The organization featured him in its magazine in 2020, and he welcomed its Black Fine Art Month programming into his studio in October 2021.
#
Two events take place this month:
Pigment International at SPECTRUM Chicago Art Fair
October 7–10, 2026.
Chicago Merchandise Mart, seventh floor, booth #3091.
Wednesday, October 7, 5–8 pm, with a champagne toast in the booth and an artist meet-and-greet.
Thursday, October 8, 6-8pm with Diasporal Rhythms
Featured artists: Jesse Howard, Howard Simmons, Edo, Candace Hunter, Sura DuPart and Max Sansing.
Additional events are taking place during the fair
Chicago to the World: A Black Fine Art Month Convening
Presented by Pigment International as part of Black Fine Art Month, which the organization has dedicated this year to Richard Hunt.
Friday, October 23, 2026, 11:30 am–5 pm.
Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th Street, Chicago.
Details at pigmentintl.com