{"article":{"id":9407,"title":"Dan Addington: 25 Years and Counting in River North","excerpt":"","body":"

The exterior of Addington Gallery on Wells Street in River North



By JACQUELINE LEWIS


This year marks the 25th anniversary of Addington Gallery, a fixture in Chicago’s River North Arts District and a reflection of founder Dan Addington’s unique role as both artist and gallerist. Since opening its doors, the gallery has navigated major shifts in the neighborhood’s landscape, from changes in the retail environment and art market to a steadily growing residential population, attracted to the area’s artistic reputation but simultaneously pricing galleries out of it. Through it all, Addington and his gallery have remained passionate about showcasing thoughtful, process-driven art that people can afford. As River North keeps evolving, Addington Gallery remains a welcoming space where creativity and community come together.


*


CGN: Let’s start with a bit of background. What led you to your home in River North at Addington Gallery?


Dan Addington: I grew up in the western U.S., in Colorado, Montana, and Alaska, but our family eventually returned to our Midwestern roots. I went to high school and college in Iowa. I double majored in art and theater at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, followed by a master’s degree in art and art history at Arkansas State, and an MFA in painting at Illinois State University. Immediately after graduate school, I moved to Chicago and began exhibiting my own work right away.



CGN: How did your past experience lead to Addington Gallery?


DA: My original intent was to continue exhibiting my work and eventually teach art at the college level. I had taught classes as a graduate student and knew that I loved that interaction. I had also worked at the campus galleries at Arkansas State and Illinois State. I worked side-by-side with Director Barry Blinderman at ISU designing art catalogues and organizing and installing exhibitions. During that time, I also spent time with well-known artists Barry brought in from New York, where he had previously owned and operated Semaphore Gallery. Working so closely with notable artists over those years and talking to Barry about his time as an art dealer had an indelible effect on me. I was intrigued by the idea of working in galleries.



Dan Addington, pictured in his gallery circa 2010



CGN: You’re celebrating 25 years of Addington Gallery in River North this year. How has the gallery changed and evolved over the past quarter century?


DA: I spent the first six of those 25 years working in other spaces, meeting dealers, and learning as much as I could about the process. My first full-time gallery job was with Eva Cohen Gallery in both Highland Park and River North. I split my time between the two locations and eventually became the director of the downtown space on Superior Street. Eva was a great teacher.


It was a challenging job, and I learned very quickly that you had to get good at everything. One day I was helping curate a show and learning the physical techniques associated with preparing and installing artwork. The next day I was meeting new clients, learning to be responsive to their needs, deciphering their ideas, going to their homes, negotiating acquisitions, and installing on site. I loved all of it, but what kept me most excited was working with artists and feeling like I was part of a team helping facilitate their vision in the world. 


Around the same time, I began exhibiting in commercial galleries in other cities and found that I had a unique rapport with the dealers who represented my work. Gwenda Jay Gallery was the first to represent my work in Chicago, and Gwenda was a great mentor to me. After Eva Cohen retired, I became director at Gwenda’s gallery, and eventually a partner. Gwenda Jay / Addington Gallery opened in 2000–that’s the 25 year anniversary being celebrated this year. Operating the gallery day-to-day gave me the experience that ultimately convinced me to open my own space in 2007, Addington Gallery, where I started showing many of the artists Gwenda and I had represented together.


The challenge of opening a gallery and the excitement of becoming a parent for the first time happened within a year of each other. Looking back to 2007, those 18 years have been thrilling. I’ve loved exhibiting each artist and have learned from every one who has hung art on these walls. The gallery has grown too, and every time a new artist shows here, it brings new life and vision into the space. The gallery is a kind of macro-vision of the values I believe in as an artist. Being an artist and a curator intermingle and inform one another. In many ways, the gallery is a physical manifestation of the creative concepts I care most deeply about, and it comes to life through relationships and collaboration.



Gallery visitors view work by Robin Deneven


CGN: You’ve been in the center of River North for many years. Can you speak to the changes you’ve seen? What do you think the future holds for the neighborhood?


DA: Wells Street has seen a lot of development, especially in the past 10 to 12 years. Businesses come and go, and COVID was tough on small retailers. But many restaurants in the area have persevered since 2020, and more have joined them. The same is true of galleries. Those that have closed in River North have typically done so because an owner retired, while some new galleries have also opened.


Meanwhile, a large number of new residential buildings continue to go up across the neighborhood, and Wells Street has never been as active as it is today. When I first started here, the vast majority of art deliveries I made were to the North Shore and western suburbs. Now, most of our deliveries go to homes in the city, especially the area from downtown Chicago up through the upper North Side. The River North Arts District remains a thriving center for the arts in Chicago.


CGN: Have you ever considered moving the gallery?


DA: I’ve looked at other spaces, but I love the walk through traffic we get here, and I like our space. River North is easily accessible, more people live in the area than ever, and there are many visitor in nearby hotels around Michigan Avenue. The number of galleries within walking distance makes it a destination for art lovers. Opening nights happen every other month, usually on the first Friday, and they’re always fun and well attended.



A view of work by Howard Hersh at the gallery in early years.



CGN: With all these years under your belt, what do you consider to be some of the most important aspects of managing your gallery?


DA: Every exhibition we mount still feels important and exciting to us, and we continue to get better at curating and installing them. You know that anticipation you feel when a musician or band you love releases a new album, and the excitement of listening to it for the first time? That’s how I feel when an artist brings in a new series of paintings. It’s exciting every single time.


As an artist myself, I make it my business to understand how each painting is made—the materials, the process—but even more importantly, why the artist made those choices. Every artist has a story. It’s embedded in the work, and it’s my job to help communicate that.


It’s thrilling to see people who visit the gallery connect deeply with the work, whether it’s on a gut level, a spiritual level, or an intellectual level. Some are young people walking in for the first time, and others are seasoned collectors. I’m constantly reminded how meaningful a career in the arts is when someone tells me how moved or affected they were by what they saw here.


I’m also fascinated by process-oriented abstraction and the materiality of the medium, and I value drawing and the skill of observation. I’ve pursued these ideas in my own work for years, and I’m always interested in how they emerge in other painters’ work. At the gallery, it’s not unusual to see artists who chart their own course between these two sensibilities.



From left: Dan's wife Steph, Dan, son Aedric, and artist Makoto Fujimura during his exhibition reception at the gallery in 2011.



CGN: With this year’s milestone, do you have anything special planned? 


DA: While we’re always working to develop new, exciting, and visually compelling exhibitions, we also continue to look outward to the community. I regularly guest curate exhibitions at other venues across the city and work with local community art centers.


We recently launched the Young Curators Initiative, in which we turn over the gallery space to curatorial studies students with a focus on women of color. We work with their advisors to support them as they curate their first public exhibition in a professional setting.


This summer, we launched Sketchbooks for Kids, where we give a quality 8x10” sketchpad and dual-tip pen to any child 15 or younger who visits the gallery with a parent or guardian. These were the tools I loved most as a child, the ones I carried everywhere, and they’re what started me on this journey. It’s a small but meaningful way to pay that forward.


Both of these programs flow directly from my own experiences. We love to encourage the artist, and the art viewer, within each person at every age.


*


After 25 years, Dan Addington’s dedication to art and community remains at the heart of the gallery. As River North continues to change, Addington Gallery stands strong as a space where artists and audiences come together. This milestone marks not just an achievement, but a continuing journey.


Addington Gallery

744 N. Wells

Chicago, IL 60654

addingtongallery.com


View Dan’s work at danaddington.com

","published_at":"2025-10-20 22:30:35.047","state":"published","slug":"dan-addington-25-years-and-counting-in-river-north","type":null,"meta_description":"","text":null,"created_at":"2026-02-25 21:12:57.62","updated_at":"2026-02-25 21:12:57.62","category_id":3,"highlighted":false,"searchable":"'10':886B '12':888B '15':1555B '18':732B '2000':654B '2007':686B,730B '2010':392B '2011':1434B '2020':910B '25':3A,397B,427B,658B,1629B '25th':28B '60654':1683B '744':1678B '8x10':1545B 'abstract':1354B 'access':1063B 'achiev':1671B 'acquisit':549B 'across':956B,1478B 'activ':966B 'addington':2A,13B,31B,48B,104B,127B,158B,161B,253B,386B,400B,650B,687B,1632B,1652B,1676B 'addingtongallery.com':1684B 'advisor':1518B 'aedric':1421B 'affect':1338B 'afford':121B 'age':1627B 'alaska':173B 'album':1192B 'also':290B,326B,942B,1348B,1462B 'alway':1111B,1384B,1451B 'anniversari':29B,660B 'anoth':806B 'anticip':1179B 'anyth':1444B 'area':90B,906B,1005B,1069B 'arkansa':218B,297B 'around':585B,1080B 'art':40B,79B,117B,196B,213B,215B,268B,315B,367B,752B,980B,1018B,1026B,1095B,1329B,1486B,1620B,1636B 'artist':54B,92B,333B,354B,568B,696B,742B,766B,795B,798B,1211B,1227B,1251B,1256B,1403B,1423B,1617B,1660B 'artwork':525B 'aspect':1148B 'associ':520B 'attend':1115B 'attract':87B 'audienc':1662B 'avenu':1082B 'away':244B 'back':728B 'background':147B 'band':1186B 'barri':310B,334B,361B 'becam':474B,638B 'becom':713B 'began':238B,590B 'believ':791B 'belt':1136B 'better':1170B 'bit':145B 'blinderman':311B 'bring':770B,1212B 'brought':335B 'build':951B 'busi':890B,1233B 'campus':294B 'care':821B 'career':1326B 'carri':1580B 'catalogu':316B 'celebr':396B,662B 'center':847B,1023B,1487B 'centuri':418B 'cgn':139B,245B,393B,841B,1029B,1129B,1435B 'challeng':492B,704B 'chang':73B,411B,859B,1651B 'chart':1405B 'chicago':36B,236B,624B,1008B,1028B,1681B 'child':1554B,1576B 'choic':1254B 'circa':391B 'citi':204B,597B,1002B,1480B 'class':276B 'client':533B 'close':351B,925B 'cohen':455B,635B 'collabor':833B 'collector':1318B 'colleg':189B,201B,271B 'color':1513B 'colorado':170B 'come':137B,827B,891B,1663B 'commerci':593B 'communic':1273B 'communiti':136B,1469B,1485B,1638B 'compel':1459B 'concept':819B 'connect':1285B 'consid':1033B,1140B 'constant':1321B 'continu':261B,952B,1167B,1463B,1649B,1674B 'convinc':678B 'could':441B 'count':6A 'cours':1408B 'covid':895B 'creativ':134B,818B 'curat':512B,801B,1172B,1473B,1493B,1524B 'curatori':1504B 'da':255B,419B,873B,1037B,1153B,1447B 'dan':1A,47B,160B,385B,1415B,1419B,1631B,1686B 'danaddington.com':1690B 'day':508B,528B,669B,671B 'day-to-day':668B 'dealer':368B,434B,608B 'deciph':541B 'dedic':1634B 'deepli':823B,1286B 'degre':211B 'deliveri':981B,996B 'deneven':840B 'design':314B 'destin':1093B 'develop':881B,1454B 'direct':1607B 'director':309B,476B,639B 'distanc':1089B 'district':41B,1019B 'done':931B 'door':60B 'doubl':193B 'downtown':479B,1007B 'draw':1364B 'driven':116B 'dual':1549B 'dual-tip':1548B 'earli':1127B 'easili':1062B 'effect':372B 'embed':1262B 'emerg':1389B 'encourag':1615B 'environ':77B 'especi':882B,1003B 'eva':454B,484B,634B 'even':1246B 'eventu':177B,266B,473B,645B 'ever':1032B,1071B 'everi':747B,762B,1100B,1154B,1222B,1255B,1626B 'everyth':506B 'everywher':1581B 'evolv':126B,413B 'excit':564B,711B,1162B,1195B,1221B,1456B 'exhibit':239B,262B,321B,591B,740B,1155B,1428B,1460B,1474B,1528B 'experi':250B,675B,1611B 'exterior':11B 'facilit':579B 'famili':176B 'fascin':1349B 'feel':570B,1159B,1181B,1208B 'first':423B,446B,618B,718B,973B,1106B,1202B,1312B,1526B 'fixtur':34B 'flow':1606B 'focus':1509B 'follow':206B 'forward':1601B 'found':599B 'founder':46B 'friday':1107B 'fujimura':1425B 'full':448B 'full-tim':447B 'fun':1112B 'futur':868B 'galleri':14B,32B,62B,97B,107B,128B,159B,254B,295B,348B,384B,390B,401B,410B,450B,456B,594B,615B,643B,651B,667B,688B,708B,757B,779B,811B,834B,921B,940B,1036B,1086B,1125B,1152B,1284B,1396B,1432B,1501B,1561B,1645B,1653B,1677B 'gallerist':56B 'gave':672B 'get':503B,1052B,1169B 'give':1542B 'go':544B,893B,954B,997B 'good':504B 'graduat':231B,279B 'great':487B,629B 'grew':163B 'grow':84B 'grown':759B 'guardian':1566B 'guest':1472B 'gut':1295B 'gwenda':613B,626B,641B,648B,697B 'happen':720B,1099B 'heart':1642B 'help':511B,578B,1272B 'hersh':1122B 'high':186B 'highland':459B 'histori':216B 'hold':869B 'home':153B,547B,999B 'hotel':1079B 'howard':1121B 'hung':751B 'idea':380B,543B,1374B 'il':1682B 'illinoi':226B,300B 'immedi':229B 'import':1147B,1160B,1248B 'indel':371B 'inform':804B 'initi':1494B 'instal':320B,524B,551B,1174B 'intellectu':1302B 'intent':258B 'interact':287B 'interest':1385B 'intermingl':802B 'intrigu':377B 'iowa':191B,205B 'isu':313B 'jacquelin':22B 'jay':614B,649B 'job':451B,493B,1270B 'join':914B 'journey':1590B,1675B 'keep':125B 'kept':561B 'kid':1539B 'kind':782B 'knew':282B 'know':1177B 'known':332B 'landscap':71B 'larg':946B 'launch':1490B,1536B 'lead':251B 'learn':436B,496B,516B,534B,745B 'led':149B 'left':1414B 'let':140B 'level':272B,1296B,1299B,1303B 'lewi':23B 'life':772B,829B 'like':571B,1056B 'listen':1197B 'live':1066B 'local':1484B 'locat':471B 'look':727B,1040B,1465B 'lot':879B 'love':285B,555B,739B,1046B,1188B,1572B,1613B 'lover':1096B 'm':1320B,1347B,1383B 'macro':785B 'macro-vis':784B 'made':983B,1240B,1252B 'major':65B,194B,978B 'make':1090B,1230B 'makoto':1424B 'manag':1150B 'mani':693B,808B,852B,902B,1075B 'manifest':815B 'mark':26B,1667B 'market':80B 'master':209B 'materi':1242B,1357B 'meaning':1324B,1596B 'meanwhil':944B 'medium':1360B 'meet':433B,531B 'mentor':630B 'mfa':222B 'michigan':1081B 'midwestern':181B 'mileston':1440B,1666B 'montana':171B 'month':1102B 'mount':1157B 'move':234B,1034B,1336B 'much':438B 'musician':1184B 'n':1679B 'navig':64B 'nearbi':1078B 'need':540B 'negoti':548B 'neighborhood':69B,872B,958B 'never':963B 'new':338B,532B,765B,771B,939B,949B,1191B,1215B,1455B 'next':527B 'night':1098B 'north':9A,20B,39B,124B,156B,404B,463B,850B,928B,987B,1013B,1017B,1060B,1648B 'northwestern':200B 'notabl':353B 'number':947B,1084B 'observ':1369B 'one':507B,748B,805B,1578B 'open':58B,652B,681B,706B,943B,1097B 'oper':346B,665B 'orang':203B 'organ':318B 'orient':1353B 'origin':257B 'other':1315B 'outward':1466B 'own':344B 'owner':935B 'paint':224B,1218B,1238B 'painter':1392B 'parent':715B,1564B 'park':460B 'part':574B 'partner':647B 'passion':110B 'past':249B,416B,885B 'pay':1599B 'pen':1551B 'peopl':119B,1065B,1280B,1307B 'persev':908B 'person':1624B 'physic':518B,814B 'pictur':387B 'plan':1446B 'popul':86B 'prepar':522B 'previous':343B 'price':96B 'process':115B,444B,1244B,1352B 'process-driven':114B 'process-ori':1351B 'profession':1531B 'program':1605B 'public':1527B 'pursu':1372B 'qualiti':1544B 'quarter':417B 'quick':498B 'rapport':605B 're':395B,1110B,1450B,1584B 'recent':1489B 'recept':1429B 'reflect':44B 'regular':1471B 'relationship':831B 'releas':1189B 'remain':109B,129B,1020B,1639B 'remind':1322B 'repres':610B,620B,701B 'reput':93B 'residenti':85B,950B 'respons':537B 'restaur':903B 'retail':76B,900B 'retir':636B,936B 'return':178B 'right':243B 'river':8A,19B,38B,123B,155B,403B,462B,849B,927B,1016B,1059B,1647B 'robin':839B 'role':51B 'root':182B 'saw':1344B 'school':187B,232B 'season':1317B 'see':1279B,1402B 'seen':862B,877B 'semaphor':347B 'sensibl':1412B 'seri':1216B 'set':1532B 'shift':66B 'shore':988B 'show':514B,692B,767B 'showcas':112B 'side':305B,307B,1014B 'side-by-sid':304B 'simultan':95B 'sinc':57B,909B 'singl':1223B 'site':553B 'six':424B 'sketchbook':1537B 'sketchpad':1546B 'skill':1367B 'small':899B,1594B 'someon':1332B 'son':1420B 'space':132B,432B,480B,684B,777B,1043B,1058B,1502B,1658B 'speak':856B 'special':1445B 'spent':327B,421B 'spiritu':1298B 'split':465B 'stand':1654B 'start':142B,691B,974B,1586B 'state':219B,227B,298B,301B 'steadili':83B 'steph':1418B 'still':1158B 'stori':1259B 'street':17B,483B,875B,961B 'strong':1655B 'student':280B,1506B 'studi':1505B 'suburb':991B 'summer':1534B 'superior':482B 'support':1520B 'talk':359B 'taught':275B 'teach':267B 'teacher':488B 'team':577B 'techniqu':519B 'tell':1333B 'theater':198B 'think':866B 'thought':113B 'thrill':736B,1277B 'thrive':1022B 'time':324B,328B,364B,449B,467B,588B,719B,763B,1203B,1224B,1313B 'tip':1550B 'today':970B 'togeth':138B,702B,1664B 'tool':1570B 'tough':897B 'traffic':1050B 'true':919B 'turn':1498B 'two':470B,1411B 'typic':930B 'u.s':168B 'ultim':677B 'understand':1235B 'uniqu':50B,604B 'univers':228B 'unusu':1400B 'upper':1012B 'us':1164B 'usual':1103B 'valu':789B,1363B 'vast':977B 've':738B,843B,861B,1039B,1371B 'venu':1477B 'view':836B,1117B,1685B 'viewer':1621B 'vision':581B,774B,786B 'visit':1282B,1559B 'visitor':835B,1076B 'visual':1458B 'walk':1048B,1088B,1308B 'wall':755B 'way':809B,1597B 'welcom':131B 'well':16B,331B,874B,960B,1114B,1680B 'well-known':330B 'went':184B 'western':167B,990B 'whether':1290B 'wife':1417B 'within':721B,1087B,1622B 'women':1511B 'work':242B,264B,291B,303B,349B,382B,429B,566B,612B,622B,837B,1119B,1265B,1289B,1378B,1393B,1452B,1482B,1515B,1688B 'world':584B 'year':4A,25B,357B,398B,406B,428B,659B,664B,723B,733B,853B,889B,1128B,1133B,1380B,1438B,1630B 'york':339B 'young':1306B,1492B 'younger':1557B","thumbnail":"https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1761017974/sndolmdr9upuulblvdtq.jpg","editor_pick":false,"category_name":"Interviews"},"related":[{"id":13767,"title":"Anticipating a Season of Art: Five to Talk to – Nikko Washington","excerpt":"","body":"

Fall offers a full slate of exhibitions across galleries and museums throughout the Midwest. Behind the scenes, many people in the community are working tirelessly to support artists and bring fresh perspectives to the public. We spoke with five insiders about what excites them now and what they anticipate next.


The following preview is one of five conversations that appear in CGN's Fall 2026 magazine. To receive a copy of the print edition click here.





Nikko Washington – 

Artist


“I’m thrilled to further expand my artistic and design practice by introducing other mediums into the mix. I’m looking forward to watching the seasons change and devoting a lot of time in the studio as well. Fall/winter is my favorite time to create new works. 


I have an upcoming solo show with VSG Contemporary that I am excited about. The work will delve further into the topics of cultural mythology and how these tales and narratives have helped shape my worldview. 


Also, it wouldn’t be right if I left out my excitement for this upcoming season of Chicago sports.”


Nikko Washington


","published_at":"2026-09-11 00:30:00","state":"published","slug":"anticipating-a-season-of-art-five-to-talk-to-nikko-washington","type":null,"meta_description":"","text":null,"created_at":"2026-09-16 00:13:58.216","updated_at":"2026-09-16 00:13:58.216","category_id":3,"highlighted":false,"searchable":"'2026':76B 'across':19B 'also':174B 'anticip':1A,60B 'appear':71B 'art':5A 'artist':39B,90B,98B 'behind':26B 'bring':41B 'cgn':73B 'chang':117B 'chicago':191B 'click':86B 'communiti':33B 'contemporari':146B 'convers':69B 'copi':81B 'creat':135B 'cultur':161B 'delv':155B 'design':100B 'devot':119B 'edit':85B 'excit':54B,150B,185B 'exhibit':18B 'expand':96B 'fall':12B,75B 'fall/winter':129B 'favorit':132B 'five':6A,50B,68B 'follow':63B 'forward':112B 'fresh':42B 'full':15B 'galleri':20B 'help':170B 'insid':51B 'introduc':103B 'left':182B 'look':111B 'lot':121B 'm':92B,110B 'magazin':77B 'mani':29B 'medium':105B 'midwest':25B 'mix':108B 'museum':22B 'mytholog':162B 'narrat':168B 'new':136B 'next':61B 'nikko':10A,88B,193B 'offer':13B 'one':66B 'peopl':30B 'perspect':43B 'practic':101B 'preview':64B 'print':84B 'public':46B 'receiv':79B 'right':179B 'scene':28B 'season':3A,116B,189B 'shape':171B 'show':143B 'slate':16B 'solo':142B 'spoke':48B 'sport':192B 'studio':126B 'support':38B 'tale':166B 'talk':8A 'thrill':93B 'throughout':23B 'time':123B,133B 'tireless':36B 'topic':159B 'upcom':141B,188B 'vsg':145B 'washington':11A,89B,194B 'watch':114B 'well':128B 'work':35B,137B,153B 'worldview':173B 'wouldn':176B","thumbnail":"https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1788406360/ujd84dhihjroxqjs9izj.jpg","editor_pick":true},{"id":13930,"title":"Andi Crist: The Art of The Pun","excerpt":null,"body":"

Andi Crist, Extension Cords, Glazed stoneware, chrome, Sizes vary 2021-present. Photo: Mikey Mosher




This interview is part of CGN's Fall 2026 issue. Purchase a copy or subscribe.




Andi Crist



BY ALISON REILLY


Andi Crist’s warm, engaging demeanor is evident in the first few minutes of our conversation. Generous with her time and forthcoming in her observations, she cares deeply about building relationships through her art making. Crist grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, devoured art classes, wrote songs and played music in high school, and moved to Chicago to study visual art at Columbia College. In 2024, she received her MFA from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is a woodworker, sculptor, ceramicist, and conceptual artist, and she teaches at Illinois Institute of Technology. We discussed her multidisciplinary practice, her experience working as an art handler, preparator, and fabricator, and how she thinks about labor, creativity, and value in the art world. 



CGN: You grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. How did that environment shape your point of view as an artist?


Andi Crist: That’s such a funny question. Nobody’s ever really asked.


CGN: Oh, really?


AC: Yeah, maybe because I never was super connected with the arts community down in Birmingham. I moved to Chicago in 2007, so it’s been 20 years since I lived in the South. I was definitely one of those art kids—one art credit was required in high school, and I graduated with like seven. I was surrounded by artists who had a big impact on me, because they were working artists. All my art teachers were trained in Alabama and then continued to teach and work in Alabama, which gave me this desire to try to expand my community outside of what I was familiar with.


CGN: Do you identify as a Chicagoan?


AC: My family still lives in Alabama, and I go back every year. I love being in Alabama. Maybe now being in Chicago for almost 20 years, I identify as a southerner living in the city. I carry on the social qualities of a friendly southern person [laughs]. 


CGN: You have a varied art practice—woodwork, ceramics, mold making. What drew you to those types of fabrication methods and that type of art making?


AC: My dad is a carpenter and a hobbyist woodworker, but his career was psychology, and my mom was a professor and an incredible craftswoman. I absorbed my mom’s model of creativity, which is to try a bunch of different things and not necessarily finish them but to try to learn as much as I can by just going for it. My practice over the years has become an exploration of conceptual elements of what makes art art and not just craft. Do you have to be a master craftsperson or a professional artist in order to make something that resonates with people?


I make a lot of work that references the mode of making and requires a variety of different media. I just finished teaching a ceramics production class where students learned how to produce molds, think about positives and negatives, and get into a level of production rather than just handicraft as a way to multiply their output.


I got into fabrication because I’ve always liked working with other artists. I have a background in theater and gallery work. I’m a voracious learner, and I like being able to share those skills with my community. Then I end up making work about that. It’s a self-feeding cycle.


Andi Crist, Artist’s Ladder, 2023. Photo: Jeff Perlman



CGN: Thinking about your background as an art handler and preparator—how did you get to the point where you were making work about that experience?


AC: In 2010, right before I graduated from Columbia, I was living in a storefront in West Logan Square with my partner at the time. We started a gallery called Autotelic in the space and had to build it out using the worst tools with very minimal resources. Then we started curating shows there and that meant helping other artists figure out how to install their work in our unusual space. Eventually, I gained the reputation for knowing how to do that type of work. I started getting invited to work in museums and galleries. 


The Holocaust Museum was the first museum I worked at, and as difficult as that subject matter is, that experience was really important to me because I was learning more about the larger world of gallery work. As an artist working as a preparator, you’re straddling both sides of that space. You’re really seeing how the sausage is made. You’re hearing all the conversations about artists, curators, the process of exhibition making. There is a lot of information you can gather about the economics of the art world by just being the person that has the know-how to touch and handle artwork. Eventually that started feeding into my art practice because I wanted to make work that was contributing to a conversation around art as a type of job. It fueled a methodology of seeing everything in the world as the result of a long line of processes that required effort and thoughtfulness by many hands.



Andi Crist, Fair Warning, 2025.



CGN: The title of your recent exhibition at the Cleve Carney Museum—Live, Laugh, Lo—sorry, not Live, Laugh, Love—Live, Laugh, Labor.


AC: [Laughs] That’s what everybody does.


CGN: I love the title—it’s perfect. You incorporate humor along with thoughtful critiques about labor and value in your work. What role does humor play? How does it help you connect with your audience?


AC: One of my biggest criticisms of art with a capital A is how easily it can be overly intellectualized. I think that’s why I end up making a lot of work that references things that already exist or have some kind of real purpose. It’s important to give people a foothold so there’s an obvious place to board that train of thought. As an artist—maybe this is me getting into a sweeping argument about what artists should be—but I personally believe in intellectual accessibility. Humor is a swift way to drop defenses and allow people to come in without feeling like they are not getting the joke or not understanding. I like to make work that can hold both of those things at the same time—it’s funny on the surface level, it’s kind of cheeky, but there’s also another way to look at it that is intellectually clever. There is a joy in the attempt to “get it”. Like the satisfaction of grasping how a crossword puzzle actually works.


It’s also so much a part of my personality. I take myself seriously as an artist, but my ego isn’t at the heart of it. It’s really something that I do because I love to make things, and I love to connect with other people. My parents raised me on puns, creating those language relationships between things and people and space. Understanding a joke is the same way that we understand art, and while neither of my parents would consider themselves artists, they taught me how to think about art.



Andi Crist, 69 Bananas




CGN: Your work, Artist’s Ladder, explores hierarchies, workplace cultures, and institutional values. What experiences shaped your reflections on these themes?

 

AC: The ladder piece distinctly represents the complicated relationship between front of house, back of house, and the hierarchy of labor. Who is the artist in those relationships? How much does another person’s knowledge and expertise contribute to the success of another artist?


There are enormous, industrialized art practices out there, warehouses full of people making things, and those people are also artists. When you make work that involves other people, it’s important to acknowledge their contributions. I’ve had complicated interactions with other artists who are like, ‘Hey, do you want to collaborate with me on this thing?’ but really they just want me to make their idea. I made Artist’s Ladder while I was in grad school at UIC, and it really represented my relationship with a lot of other artists, because I could be an actual support structure for them. Then it turned into this absurd physical thing. It’s extremely overbuilt with inlaid racing stripes made of exotic hardwood, and a butcher’s block-style plaid top. It’s not really like an FU as much as it is asking for acknowledgement of my skills and the essential support structures that exist.

 

CGN: I want to ask you about another piece, Five O’Clock Somewhere, a wool rug that resembles a children’s play mat. I work at a library, and it reminded me of rugs I see all the time. It’s a peaceful image of an office park with a large fountain surrounded by a parking lot. I’m curious why you chose a rug as the medium to depict that image.

 

AC: To me the heart of that joke was that it was a landscape. I wanted it to be physically traversable. And that was, I don’t want to say controversial, but it was something that I had to talk about a lot. The critique of that work was the fact that I didn’t want to hang it on the wall and turn it into a tapestry. I really wanted it to be a rug that people could walk on. When I showed that work at Chicago Artists Coalition for the New City Breakout Artists show. There was a lot of pushback about having it on the floor and allowing people to walk on it.

 

That, to me, was such an important conversation, because, in my mind, the fact that you could walk across it and traverse it was part of how I was thinking about the object. Rugs are utilitarian–they are floor coverings. When you make art that doesn’t do anything, you don’t get to participate in that part of the conversation.

 

I enjoy sparring around art like that. I am totally tickled by the pushback. The critique of display is exciting, and sorting through the politics of utilitarianism in art spaces is fun to me. And then—it was so crazy—we ended up showing it halfway on the wall and halfway on the ground. 


Andi Crist, Five O’Clock Somewhere, on display at Live, Laugh, Labor: Thoughts on Usefulness and Other Myths at The Cleve Carney Museum of Art, 2025.



CGN: Oh, wow.


AC: I was like, this is the epitome of compromise! I had to build a structure so that it could hang that way safely. 

 

CGN: I would say just put it on the ground if that’s what you want to do. It’s interesting that there are still very fixed ideas about the way that art should be displayed.

 

AC: That preparator part of it, that’s what I’m all about. I was having that conversation about what physically supports the work or what conceptually supports it in the way that it’s shown. 

 

CGN: Have you always been a writer? How do your art and writing practices work together? 


AC: I can’t say that I’m a writer, it’s probably the same way that it can feel weird to call yourself an artist. But I feel like I’ve always been relatively good at writing. The first time I ever did any kind of professional writing was contributing, a long time ago, to a website called eHow. The editors would send me a title, and then I would have to research how to do that thing. Then I would write out step-by-step instructions for how to do that. 


I think that’s how I had to make myself think through my conceptual practice—I had to do the research, coagulate that into some kind of document, and then I would have stream-of-consciousness conversations with myself. “Why are we interested in this? Why would we make it this way? What would I want to talk about if someone were to ask me about this?” It’s almost like I was pre-interviewing myself. 


I think the writing is just another way for me to process that idea before I put in all of the time and energy to actually accomplish it. 


CGN: What are you working on right now? What projects do you have coming up?


AC: The biggest project that I have right now is my house. My family and I suffered a major house fire on New Year’s Day. We’ve been displaced since then and are navigating rebuilding our house. It was a total loss. 



Andi Crist, Single-Use Fireplace, 2025. Photo: Mikey Mosher.


 

CGN: I’m so sorry to hear that. 


AC: Thank you. We’re all okay, but it’s been a really tumultuous year. I moved my studio into a storefront last summer, and so most of my, at least relatively recent, work is safe, and I still have all of my materials, but my home life is starting over. I just had my first full year at this space, and it’s got a little gallery built out in the front called Coming Soon. It’s beautiful with floor-to-ceiling windows on Division and Central Park. I’ve been inviting people into the space to try things out.

 

After teaching the ceramics class, I came into a bunch of nice slip casting molds, and I’m making some really playful, weird, ceramic stuff. I want to be open and not put too much pressure on myself. Having a big studio by myself is very expensive, so it’s easy to want to make it feel like it’s worth it. But if for now all I can do is make it a resource for other people, then that will be the thing I do. Be less selfish, but more selfish with my time. Saying I can’t do that, or I don’t want to do that. It’s not my nature to say no—I’m such a yes man. I’m learning how to be a yes man for myself. 


CGN: That makes sense after going through something so traumatic.

 

AC: I have an amazing support system. Our friends started a GoFundMe. It was incredible. I’m so humbled and floored by how held I felt by Chicago. I can’t help but throw a little shout out to my Chicago people. I can see how people’s lives get totally ruined by this kind of tragedy. I feel so lucky. Chicago definitely showed its love back. 


CGN: For your project Coming Soon, are you bringing in other artists?


AC: My philosophy is that I want to be involved as little as possible. I am thinking about it more as a hosted than curated space. I’m actively soliciting proposals or ideas for workshops, meetings, book clubs—I’m down for making it a resource, whatever that means. I don’t want to over-think it, I want it to be an intuitive and organic thing, which is why I call it Coming Soon—it can be a placeholder for anything. It’s exciting. Taking my hands off the reins is a good exercise for me.


andicrist.com



Andi Crist, Extension Cords, Glazed stoneware, chrome, Sizes vary 2021-present. Photo: Mikey Mosher



","published_at":"2026-09-10 01:00:00","state":"published","slug":"andi-crist-the-art-of-the-pun","type":null,"meta_description":"","text":null,"created_at":"2026-09-09 13:50:32.441","updated_at":"2026-09-09 13:50:32.441","category_id":3,"highlighted":false,"searchable":"'20':224B,338B '2007':219B '2010':639B '2021':17B,2614B '2023':607B '2024':106B '2025':897B,1789B,2169B '2026':30B '69':1238B 'abl':579B 'absorb':413B 'absurd':1412B 'ac':198B,313B,387B,637B,921B,964B,1261B,1533B,1793B,1853B,1905B,2120B,2181B,2427B,2506B 'access':1053B 'accomplish':2103B 'acknowledg':1337B,1450B 'across':1667B 'activ':2534B 'actual':1141B,1402B,2102B 'ago':1959B 'alabama':82B,169B,278B,287B,319B,330B 'alison':40B 'allow':1063B,1643B 'almost':337B,2069B 'along':939B 'alreadi':1001B 'also':1111B,1145B,1323B 'alway':555B,1892B,1937B 'amaz':2431B 'andi':1A,8B,37B,42B,182B,602B,893B,1236B,1764B,2163B,2605B 'andicrist.com':2604B 'anoth':1112B,1292B,1303B,1468B,2083B 'anyth':1697B,2588B 'argument':1041B 'around':859B,1713B 'art':4A,75B,84B,101B,145B,161B,209B,238B,241B,273B,366B,385B,464B,465B,618B,821B,845B,860B,971B,1217B,1235B,1309B,1692B,1714B,1738B,1788B,1849B,1899B 'artist':126B,181B,258B,270B,481B,560B,604B,696B,771B,800B,1032B,1044B,1159B,1227B,1243B,1285B,1304B,1324B,1347B,1374B,1396B,1621B,1628B,1930B,2505B 'artwork':838B 'ask':194B,1448B,1465B,2063B 'attempt':1128B 'audienc':963B 'autotel':667B 'back':323B,1274B,2493B 'background':564B,615B 'banana':1239B 'beauti':2259B 'becom':455B 'believ':1050B 'big':262B,2323B 'biggest':968B,2122B 'birmingham':81B,168B,213B 'block':1432B 'block-styl':1431B 'board':1025B 'book':2542B 'breakout':1627B 'bring':2502B 'build':71B,674B,1806B 'built':2249B 'bunch':425B,2292B 'butcher':1429B 'call':666B,1927B,1963B,2254B,2578B 'came':2289B 'capit':974B 'care':68B 'career':399B 'carney':908B,1785B 'carpent':392B 'carri':350B 'cast':2296B 'ceil':2264B 'central':2269B 'ceram':369B,515B,2286B,2306B 'ceramicist':123B 'cgn':27B,163B,195B,306B,361B,611B,898B,928B,1240B,1461B,1790B,1817B,1889B,2105B,2173B,2417B,2494B 'cheeki':1107B 'chicago':97B,117B,217B,335B,1620B,2454B,2467B,2488B 'chicagoan':312B 'children':1480B 'chose':1523B 'chrome':14B,2611B 'citi':348B,1626B 'class':85B,517B,2287B 'cleve':907B,1784B 'clever':1121B 'clock':1472B,1768B 'club':2543B 'coagul':2020B 'coalit':1622B 'collabor':1356B 'colleg':104B 'columbia':103B,645B 'come':1066B,2118B,2255B,2498B,2580B 'communiti':210B,298B,586B 'complic':1268B,1343B 'compromis':1802B 'conceptu':125B,459B,1879B,2012B 'connect':206B,960B,1187B 'conscious':2035B 'consid':1225B 'continu':281B 'contribut':855B,1298B,1339B,1955B 'controversi':1563B 'convers':57B,798B,858B,1656B,1709B,1870B,2036B 'copi':34B 'cord':11B,2608B 'could':1399B,1611B,1665B,1812B 'cover':1688B 'craft':469B 'craftsperson':477B 'craftswoman':411B 'crazi':1749B 'creat':1197B 'creativ':156B,419B 'credit':242B 'crist':2A,9B,38B,43B,77B,183B,603B,894B,1237B,1765B,2164B,2606B 'critic':969B 'critiqu':942B,1577B,1725B 'crossword':1139B 'cultur':1249B 'curat':688B,801B,2530B 'curious':1520B 'cycl':601B 'dad':389B 'day':2145B 'deepli':69B 'defens':1061B 'definit':234B,2489B 'demeanor':47B 'depict':1530B 'desir':292B 'devour':83B 'didn':1586B 'differ':427B,508B 'difficult':744B 'discuss':136B 'displac':2149B 'display':1727B,1771B,1852B 'distinct':1265B 'divis':2267B 'document':2026B 'doesn':1694B 'drew':373B 'drop':1060B 'easi':2333B 'easili':978B 'econom':818B 'editor':1966B 'effort':887B 'ego':1162B 'ehow':1964B 'element':460B 'end':589B,990B,1751B 'energi':2100B 'engag':46B 'enjoy':1711B 'enorm':1307B 'environ':173B 'epitom':1800B 'essenti':1456B 'eventu':708B,839B 'ever':192B,1947B 'everi':324B 'everybodi':926B 'everyth':872B 'evid':49B 'excit':1729B,2591B 'exercis':2601B 'exhibit':805B,904B 'exist':1002B,1460B 'exot':1425B 'expand':296B 'expens':2329B 'experi':141B,636B,751B,1254B 'expertis':1297B 'explor':457B,1246B 'extens':10B,2607B 'extrem':1417B 'fabric':149B,379B,551B 'fact':1583B,1662B 'fair':895B 'fall':29B 'famili':315B,2133B 'familiar':304B 'feed':600B,842B 'feel':1069B,1924B,1933B,2339B,2485B 'felt':2452B 'figur':697B 'finish':432B,512B 'fire':2140B 'fireplac':2168B 'first':52B,737B,1944B,2236B 'five':1470B,1766B 'fix':1843B 'floor':1641B,1687B,2262B,2447B 'floor-to-ceil':2261B 'foothold':1017B 'forthcom':63B 'fountain':1512B 'friend':357B,2435B 'front':1271B,2253B 'fu':1442B 'fuel':867B 'full':1314B,2237B 'fun':1741B 'funni':188B,1098B 'gain':710B 'galleri':568B,665B,731B,767B,2248B 'gather':815B 'gave':289B 'generous':58B 'get':531B,625B,724B,1037B,1074B,1130B,1701B,2476B 'give':1014B 'glaze':12B,2609B 'go':322B,446B,2422B 'gofundm':2438B 'good':1940B,2600B 'got':549B,2245B 'grad':1381B 'graduat':250B,643B 'grasp':1136B 'grew':78B,165B 'ground':1763B,1826B 'halfway':1755B,1760B 'hand':892B,2594B 'handicraft':540B 'handl':837B 'handler':146B,619B 'hang':1590B,1813B 'hardwood':1426B 'hear':795B,2179B 'heart':1167B,1537B 'held':2450B 'help':694B,958B,2458B 'hey':1351B 'hierarchi':1247B,1279B 'high':92B,246B 'hobbyist':395B 'hold':1087B 'holocaust':733B 'home':2227B 'host':2528B 'hous':1273B,1276B,2131B,2139B,2157B 'humbl':2445B 'humor':938B,953B,1054B 'idea':1371B,1844B,2090B,2538B 'identifi':309B,341B 'illinoi':115B,131B 'imag':1504B,1532B 'impact':263B 'import':754B,1012B,1335B,1655B 'incorpor':937B 'incred':410B,2441B 'industri':1308B 'inform':812B 'inlaid':1420B 'instal':701B 'institut':132B,1251B 'instruct':1993B 'intellectu':983B,1052B,1120B 'interact':1344B 'interest':1837B,2042B 'interview':23B,2075B 'intuit':2570B 'invit':725B,2274B 'involv':1330B,2515B 'isn':1163B 'issu':31B 'jeff':609B 'job':865B 'joke':1076B,1209B,1540B 'joy':1125B 'kid':239B 'kind':1006B,1105B,1950B,2024B,2481B 'know':714B,832B 'know-how':831B 'knowledg':1295B 'labor':155B,920B,944B,1281B,1775B 'ladder':606B,1245B,1263B,1376B 'landscap':1546B 'languag':1199B 'larg':1511B 'larger':764B 'last':2203B 'laugh':360B,911B,916B,919B,922B,1774B 'learn':438B,520B,760B,2408B 'learner':574B 'least':2211B 'less':2370B 'level':534B,1102B 'librari':1488B 'life':2228B 'like':252B,556B,577B,1070B,1081B,1132B,1350B,1440B,1715B,1796B,1934B,2070B,2340B 'line':882B 'littl':2247B,2462B,2517B 'live':228B,317B,345B,648B,910B,915B,918B,1773B,2475B 'lo':912B 'logan':654B 'long':881B,1957B 'look':1115B 'loss':2162B 'lot':494B,810B,994B,1393B,1517B,1575B,1633B 'love':327B,917B,930B,1179B,1185B,2492B 'lucki':2487B 'm':571B,1519B,1863B,1912B,2175B,2300B,2401B,2407B,2443B,2533B,2545B 'made':792B,1373B,1423B 'major':2138B 'make':76B,371B,386B,463B,485B,492B,502B,591B,632B,806B,851B,992B,1083B,1181B,1317B,1327B,1369B,1691B,2007B,2048B,2301B,2337B,2354B,2419B,2548B 'man':2405B,2414B 'mani':891B 'master':476B 'mat':1483B 'materi':2224B 'matter':748B 'mayb':200B,331B,1033B 'mean':2554B 'meant':693B 'media':509B 'medium':1528B 'meet':2541B 'method':380B 'methodolog':869B 'mfa':110B 'mikey':20B,2171B,2617B 'mind':1660B 'minim':683B 'minut':54B 'mode':500B 'model':417B 'mold':370B,524B,2297B 'mom':404B,415B 'mosher':21B,2172B,2618B 'move':95B,215B,2197B 'much':440B,1147B,1290B,1444B,2317B 'multidisciplinari':138B 'multipli':545B 'museum':729B,734B,738B,909B,1786B 'music':90B 'myth':1781B 'natur':2396B 'navig':2154B 'necessarili':431B 'negat':529B 'neither':1220B 'never':203B 'new':1625B,2142B 'nice':2294B 'nobodi':190B 'o':1471B,1767B 'object':1681B 'observ':66B 'obvious':1022B 'offic':1507B 'oh':196B,1791B 'okay':2187B 'one':235B,240B,965B 'open':2312B 'order':483B 'organ':2572B 'output':547B 'outsid':299B 'over':982B 'over-think':2560B 'overbuilt':1418B 'parent':1192B,1223B 'park':1508B,1516B,2270B 'part':25B,1149B,1673B,1706B,1856B 'particip':1703B 'partner':658B 'peac':1503B 'peopl':490B,1015B,1064B,1190B,1204B,1316B,1321B,1332B,1610B,1644B,2275B,2360B,2468B,2473B 'perfect':935B 'perlman':610B 'person':359B,827B,1049B,1152B,1293B 'philosophi':2508B 'photo':19B,608B,2170B,2616B 'physic':1413B,1552B,1873B 'piec':1264B,1469B 'place':1023B 'placehold':2586B 'plaid':1434B 'play':89B,954B,1482B,2304B 'point':176B,628B 'polit':1734B 'posit':527B 'possibl':2519B 'practic':139B,367B,450B,846B,1310B,1902B,2013B 'pre':2074B 'pre-interview':2073B 'prepar':147B,621B,775B,1855B 'present':18B,2615B 'pressur':2318B 'probabl':1917B 'process':803B,884B,2088B 'produc':523B 'product':516B,536B 'profession':480B,1952B 'professor':407B 'project':2114B,2123B,2497B 'propos':2536B 'psycholog':401B 'pun':7A,1196B 'purchas':32B 'purpos':1009B 'pushback':1635B,1723B 'put':1822B,2093B,2315B 'puzzl':1140B 'qualiti':354B 'question':189B 'race':1421B 'rais':1193B 'rather':537B 're':777B,785B,794B,2185B 'real':1008B 'realli':193B,197B,753B,786B,1172B,1363B,1387B,1439B,1602B,2193B,2303B 'rebuild':2155B 'receiv':108B 'recent':903B,2213B 'refer':498B,998B 'reflect':1257B 'reilli':41B 'rein':2597B 'relat':1939B,2212B 'relationship':72B,1200B,1269B,1288B,1390B 'remind':1491B 'repres':1266B,1388B 'reput':712B 'requir':244B,504B,886B 'research':1978B,2019B 'resembl':1478B 'reson':488B 'resourc':684B,2357B,2551B 'result':878B 'right':640B,2111B,2127B 'role':951B 'rug':1476B,1494B,1525B,1608B,1682B 'ruin':2478B 'safe':1816B,2216B 'satisfact':1134B 'sausag':790B 'say':1562B,1820B,1909B,2378B,2398B 'school':93B,247B,1382B 'sculptor':122B 'see':787B,871B,1496B,2471B 'self':599B 'self-feed':598B 'selfish':2371B,2374B 'send':1968B 'sens':2420B 'serious':1156B 'seven':253B 'shape':174B,1255B 'share':581B 'shout':2463B 'show':689B,1616B,1629B,1753B,2490B 'shown':1888B 'side':780B 'sinc':226B,2150B 'singl':2166B 'single-us':2165B 'size':15B,2612B 'skill':583B,1453B 'slip':2295B 'social':353B 'solicit':2535B 'someon':2060B 'someth':486B,1173B,1567B,2424B 'somewher':1473B,1769B 'song':87B 'soon':2256B,2499B,2581B 'sorri':913B,2177B 'sort':1731B 'south':231B 'southern':344B,358B 'space':670B,707B,783B,1206B,1739B,2241B,2278B,2531B 'spar':1712B 'squar':655B 'start':663B,687B,723B,841B,2230B,2436B 'step':1990B,1992B 'step-by-step':1989B 'still':316B,1841B,2219B 'stonewar':13B,2610B 'storefront':651B,2202B 'straddl':778B 'stream':2033B 'stream-of-consci':2032B 'stripe':1422B 'structur':1404B,1458B,1808B 'student':519B 'studi':99B 'studio':2199B,2324B 'stuff':2307B 'style':1433B 'subject':747B 'subscrib':36B 'success':1301B 'suffer':2136B 'summer':2204B 'super':205B 'support':1403B,1457B,1874B,1880B,2432B 'surfac':1101B 'surround':256B,1513B 'sweep':1040B 'swift':1057B 'system':2433B 'take':1154B,2592B 'talk':1572B,2057B 'tapestri':1600B 'taught':1229B 'teach':129B,283B,513B,2284B 'teacher':274B 'technolog':134B 'thank':2182B 'theater':566B 'theme':1260B 'thing':428B,999B,1091B,1182B,1202B,1318B,1361B,1414B,1983B,2281B,2366B,2573B 'think':153B,525B,612B,985B,1233B,1678B,2000B,2009B,2078B,2522B,2562B 'thought':889B,941B,1029B,1776B 'throw':2460B 'tickl':1720B 'time':61B,661B,1095B,1499B,1945B,1958B,2098B,2377B 'titl':900B,932B,1971B 'togeth':1904B 'tool':680B 'top':1435B 'total':1719B,2161B,2477B 'touch':835B 'tragedi':2483B 'train':276B,1027B 'traumat':2426B 'travers':1553B,1670B 'tri':294B,423B,436B,2280B 'tumultu':2194B 'turn':1409B,1596B 'type':377B,383B,719B,863B 'uic':1384B 'understand':1079B,1207B,1216B 'univers':113B 'unusu':706B 'use':677B,1778B,2167B 'utilitarian':1684B,1736B 'valu':158B,946B,1252B 'vari':16B,365B,2613B 'varieti':506B 've':554B,1341B,1936B,2147B,2272B 'view':178B 'visual':100B 'voraci':573B 'walk':1612B,1646B,1666B 'wall':1594B,1758B 'want':849B,1354B,1366B,1463B,1548B,1560B,1588B,1603B,1832B,2055B,2309B,2335B,2388B,2512B,2558B,2565B 'warehous':1313B 'warm':45B 'warn':896B 'way':543B,1058B,1113B,1213B,1815B,1847B,1884B,1920B,2051B,2084B 'websit':1962B 'weird':1925B,2305B 'west':653B 'whatev':2552B 'window':2265B 'without':1068B 'woodwork':121B,368B,396B 'wool':1475B 'work':142B,269B,285B,496B,557B,569B,592B,633B,703B,721B,727B,740B,768B,772B,852B,949B,996B,1084B,1142B,1242B,1328B,1485B,1580B,1618B,1876B,1903B,2109B,2214B 'workplac':1248B 'workshop':2540B 'world':162B,765B,822B,875B 'worst':679B 'worth':2343B 'would':1224B,1819B,1967B,1975B,1986B,2030B,2046B,2053B 'wow':1792B 'write':1901B,1942B,1953B,1987B,2080B 'writer':1895B,1914B 'wrote':86B 'yeah':199B 'year':225B,325B,339B,453B,2143B,2195B,2238B 'yes':2404B,2413B","thumbnail":"https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1788961816/q8i9yimdkrhqptwlczmp.jpg","editor_pick":true},{"id":13766,"title":"Anticipating a Season of Art: Five to Talk to – Debra Kerr","excerpt":"","body":"

Fall offers a full slate of exhibitions across galleries and museums throughout the Midwest. Behind the scenes, many people in the community are working tirelessly to support artists and bring fresh perspectives to the public. We spoke with five insiders about what excites them now and what they anticipate next.


The following preview is one of five conversations that appear in CGN's Fall 2026 magazine. To receive a copy of the print edition click here. 




Debra Kerr – 

CEO, Intuit Art Museum


“Intuit Art Museum’s renovated, expanded spaces give audiences the chance to connect with art through daily art-making, third Thursday Art After Work, group Slow Looks designed to provide a mindful experience with a single work and upcoming conversations with sculptor Bill Brady (Oct. 3) and Dr. Mary Trent (Oct. 15), who curated our current exhibition on the role of scrapbook-making in Henry Darger’s art. 


On view is the thought-provoking Monumental: The Sculpture of Dr. Charles Smith, which encourages guests to consider the lack of historical representation of African Americans and Black people in America. Dr. Smith’s memorials champion Black history and stories of everyday life he sees missing in mainstream narratives. 


This fall we’re opening an exhibition of paintings by Karla Wong, an artist who immigrated from Oaxaca and who explores themes of life and death, gender identity and self-discovery.”


Intuit Art Museum

","published_at":"2026-09-09 00:30:00","state":"published","slug":"anticipating-a-season-of-art-five-to-talk-to-debra-kerr","type":null,"meta_description":"","text":null,"created_at":"2026-09-15 23:59:29.662","updated_at":"2026-09-15 23:59:29.662","category_id":3,"highlighted":false,"searchable":"'15':146B '2026':76B '3':140B 'across':19B 'african':189B 'america':195B 'american':190B 'anticip':1A,60B 'appear':71B 'art':5A,92B,95B,108B,112B,116B,163B,247B 'art-mak':111B 'artist':39B,227B 'audienc':102B 'behind':26B 'bill':137B 'black':192B,201B 'bradi':138B 'bring':41B 'ceo':90B 'cgn':73B 'champion':200B 'chanc':104B 'charl':176B 'click':86B 'communiti':33B 'connect':106B 'consid':182B 'convers':69B,134B 'copi':81B 'curat':148B 'current':150B 'daili':110B 'darger':161B 'death':239B 'debra':10A,88B 'design':122B 'discoveri':245B 'dr':142B,175B,196B 'edit':85B 'encourag':179B 'everyday':206B 'excit':54B 'exhibit':18B,151B,220B 'expand':99B 'experi':127B 'explor':234B 'fall':12B,75B,215B 'five':6A,50B,68B 'follow':63B 'fresh':42B 'full':15B 'galleri':20B 'gender':240B 'give':101B 'group':119B 'guest':180B 'henri':160B 'histor':186B 'histori':202B 'ident':241B 'immigr':229B 'insid':51B 'intuit':91B,94B,246B 'karla':224B 'kerr':11A,89B 'lack':184B 'life':207B,237B 'look':121B 'magazin':77B 'mainstream':212B 'make':113B,158B 'mani':29B 'mari':143B 'memori':199B 'midwest':25B 'mind':126B 'miss':210B 'monument':171B 'museum':22B,93B,96B,248B 'narrat':213B 'next':61B 'oaxaca':231B 'oct':139B,145B 'offer':13B 'one':66B 'open':218B 'paint':222B 'peopl':30B,193B 'perspect':43B 'preview':64B 'print':84B 'provid':124B 'provok':170B 'public':46B 're':217B 'receiv':79B 'renov':98B 'represent':187B 'role':154B 'scene':28B 'scrapbook':157B 'scrapbook-mak':156B 'sculptor':136B 'sculptur':173B 'season':3A 'see':209B 'self':244B 'self-discoveri':243B 'singl':130B 'slate':16B 'slow':120B 'smith':177B,197B 'space':100B 'spoke':48B 'stori':204B 'support':38B 'talk':8A 'theme':235B 'third':114B 'thought':169B 'thought-provok':168B 'throughout':23B 'thursday':115B 'tireless':36B 'trent':144B 'upcom':133B 'view':165B 'wong':225B 'work':35B,118B,131B","thumbnail":"https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1788406120/wgkj5rkg0rq42watsxad.jpg","editor_pick":true}]}