{"article":{"id":2435,"title":"EXPO CHICAGO Announces 2024 Initiatives to Convene Curators, Museum Leaders, and Arts Professionals","excerpt":"","body":"<html><head></head><body><figure class=\"image\"><img src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1721419333/iowvt2luu7lg7jqed47l.jpg\"><figcaption>Curatorial Exchange 2023, Ryan Learning Center at Art Institute of Chicago. Photo by Faith Decker</figcaption></figure><p>&nbsp;</p><p>CHICAGO — <a href=\"https://www.expochicago.com\"><strong>EXPO CHICAGO</strong></a><strong> </strong>today reveals curatorial initiatives for the 11th edition (April 11- 14, 2024) returning to Navy Pier’s Festival Hall. In partnership with <strong>Independent Curators International (ICI)</strong>, EXPO CHICAGO will host its tenth annual <strong>Curatorial Forum </strong>— ninth co- organized with ICI. This year’s forum will feature for the first time a curatorial conference, <strong>“Curating and The Commons</strong>,<strong>” </strong>taking place on-site at Navy Pier with a keynote by <strong>Miguel A. López, </strong>co-curator for the 2024 edition of the Toronto Biennial of Art.</p><p>EXPO CHICAGO also announces the third edition of the annual <strong>Directors Summit</strong>, a three-day program that brings together art museum leaders from across the country. The summit is in partnership with museum consultant Jill Snyder and features a keynote lecture at the University Club of Chicago by Dr. Louise Bernard, Founding Director of the Obama Presidential Center Museum (The Obama Foundation).</p><p>“The expansion of our curatorial initiatives continues to reach further each year, bringing together curators from across the world to forge new and exciting partnerships during our yearly multi-day convening,” said Kate Sierzputowski, Artistic Director of EXPO CHICAGO. “This year’s curatorial conference is a natural extension of the program that will continue the initiative’s reach and impact beyond the selected cohort.”</p><p>The <strong>Curatorial Forum </strong>is an annual program that offers mid-career and established curators working independently or with an institutional affiliation the opportunity to engage with their peers and explore significant issues in the field. The conference provides an opportunity for the Curatorial Forum to expand its reach to a broader arts audience for two days of panels and a keynote by Miguel A. López, co-curator for the 2024 edition of the Toronto Biennial of Art.</p><p>\"The Curatorial Forum is an important platform for curators to meet, exchange, and address someof the biggest challenges in the field,” said Renaud Proch, ICI’s Executive and Artistic Director.</p><p>“This year, we have conceived a more public Forum, with opportunities for a broader audience to hear from independent thinkers from around the world who have created new approaches to engaging with communities, shaping collective memory, and imagining a different future through art. \"</p><p>The newly formed conference, “Curating and The Commons,” will expand beyond the annual convening of 80+ national and international curators. Three panel discussions: <i>Common Knowledge</i>, <i>Common Space</i>, and <i>Common Future </i>have been conceived around key questions and organized on a loose temporal framework. <i>Common Knowledge </i>will reach into the past, and explore how archives, collections, and libraries can shape a collective memory. <i>Common Space </i>is invested in how communities physically shape the present. And lastly, <i>Common Future </i>will examine the civic role that the arts can play in not only imagining, but actively creating a better future.</p><p>“I'm truly honored to contribute to the 2024 Curatorial Forum convened by ICI and EXPO CHICAGO to think collectively about the challenges and possibilities of today,\" said Miguel A. López, co-curator for the 2024 edition of the Toronto Biennial of Art and Keynote of the 2024 edition of Curatorial Forum. “In a moment where art power structures and the traditional role of the curator are being redefined radically, it is vital to keep creating more spaces for pause, self- reflection, and listening to what our previous and current engagements are teaching us. I look</p><p>forward to joining the conversation around ‘Curating the Commons’, which I feel offers a great opportunity to tackle the normalization of neoliberal values within art institutions while considering the power of non-formalized ways of understanding curatorship—a constellation of strategies and models that arise from the specificity of localized needs and the urgency of establishing new dialogues with a place.”</p><p>The program invites global curators, museum directors, foundation leaders, and Chicago’s creative community to participate in the initiative. The curatorial conference’s audience will join invited curators from the Curatorial Forum, found here, alongside participants from the international <strong>Curatorial Exchange</strong>, found here. The Curatorial Exchange is one of the nation’s only dedicated initiatives focused on funding global curator convenings that fosters future collaborations for curators on the local, national, and international level.</p><p>The fifth annual Exchange is developed in partnership with foreign consulates and cultural agencies from countries around the world including the Danish Arts Foundation and the Consulate General of Denmark in New York; Villa Albertine General of the Republic of Lithuania in Chicago and the Lithuanian Culture Institute; the Australian Consulate-General Chicago; and the Consulate General of France in Chicago; Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Chicago; Consulate Consulado General de México en Chicago; Dutch Culture USA, a program by the Consulate General of the Netherlands in New York; Instituto Cervantes of Chicago; the Taipei Cultural Center in New York; and the Québec Government Office in Chicago.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The 2024 Curatorial Forum is co-produced by EXPO CHICAGO and ICI, and made possible, in part, by the generous support of sponsors 21c Museum Hotel Chicago and the Joyce Foundation, Teiger Foundation, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, and Hartfield Foundation; with additional support by Gallagher. It is part of Art Design Chicago, a citywide collaboration initiated by the Terra Foundation for American Art that highlights the city’s artistic heritage and creative communities.</p><p>In 2024 EXPO CHICAGO will also celebrate the third edition of the annual <strong>Directors Summit</strong>, an initiative that gathers an emerging generation of art museum leaders from across the country for a three-day program of conversations around civic responsibility and advancing organizational growth and change in response to the call for an equitable, inclusive, and sustainable future. Facing the profound challenges of an election year, the 2024 Directors Summit offers a forum for museum leaders to share how their institutions offer an invaluable \"third space\" to explore civic discourse and foster common ground.</p><p>Shaped in partnership with museum consultant Jill Snyder, the Directors Summit is centered on two public roundtable discussions that take place on the /Dialogues stage at EXPO CHICAGO, a brunch at the Chicago Cultural Center hosted by the Terra Foundation for American Art and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, and a keynote lecture at the University Club of Chicago by Dr. Louise Bernard, Founding Director, Obama Presidential Center Museum (The Obama Foundation). Participants in the Directors Summit may be found here.</p><p>The 2024 Directors Summit is made possible by the support of Sotheby’s, Bloomberg Connects, the Terra Foundation for American Art, and the University Club of Chicago.</p><p>Further details about /Dialogues and other programming will be released in the coming weeks.&nbsp;</p><p><a href=\"https://www.expochicago.com\">expochicago.com</a></p></body></html>","published_at":"2024-01-22 12:00:00","state":"published","slug":"expo-chicago-announces-2024-initiatives-to-convene-curators-museum-leaders-and-arts-professionals","type":"NewsPost","meta_description":"","text":null,"created_at":"2024-01-23 21:44:57.414398","updated_at":"2024-01-23 21:44:57.43573","category_id":1,"highlighted":true,"searchable":"'/dialogues':1031B,1122B '11':41B '11th':38B '14':42B '2023':16B '2024':4A,43B,109B,316B,502B,530B,542B,836B,914B,981B,1093B '21c':859B '80':412B 'across':141B,196B,940B 'activ':489B 'addit':881B 'address':337B 'advanc':955B 'affair':1056B 'affili':266B 'agenc':740B 'albertin':761B 'alongsid':687B 'also':119B,918B 'american':901B,1049B,1111B 'andi':870B 'announc':3A,120B 'annual':64B,126B,250B,409B,729B,925B 'approach':382B 'april':40B 'archiv':450B 'aris':636B 'around':375B,430B,596B,743B,951B 'art':12A,21B,116B,137B,297B,323B,396B,481B,537B,551B,615B,749B,876B,889B,902B,936B,1050B,1112B 'artist':215B,352B,908B 'audienc':298B,368B,676B 'australian':776B 'bernard':168B,1073B 'better':492B 'beyond':241B,407B 'biennial':114B,321B,535B 'biggest':340B 'bloomberg':1105B 'bring':135B,192B 'broader':296B,367B 'brunch':1037B 'call':964B 'career':256B 'celebr':919B 'center':19B,175B,824B,1020B,1042B,1078B 'cervant':818B 'challeng':341B,516B,975B 'chang':959B 'chicago':2A,24B,29B,31B,59B,118B,164B,219B,510B,663B,769B,780B,788B,794B,801B,820B,834B,845B,862B,891B,916B,1035B,1040B,1069B,1118B 'citi':906B 'citywid':893B 'civic':477B,952B,1002B 'club':162B,1067B,1116B 'co':68B,105B,312B,526B,841B 'co-cur':104B,311B,525B 'co-produc':840B 'cohort':244B 'collabor':717B,894B 'collect':388B,451B,457B,513B 'come':1131B 'common':88B,404B,420B,422B,425B,440B,459B,472B,599B,1006B 'communiti':386B,465B,666B,912B 'conceiv':358B,429B 'confer':84B,224B,282B,400B,674B 'connect':1106B 'consid':618B 'constel':630B 'consul':737B,753B,778B,783B,795B,809B 'consulado':796B 'consulate-gener':777B 'consult':151B,1013B 'continu':186B,234B 'contribut':499B 'conven':7A,211B,410B,505B,713B 'convers':595B,950B 'countri':143B,742B,942B 'creat':380B,490B,570B 'creativ':665B,911B 'cultur':739B,773B,803B,823B,1041B,1055B 'cultura':792B 'curat':8A,55B,85B,106B,194B,259B,313B,332B,401B,416B,527B,560B,597B,657B,680B,712B,719B 'curatori':14B,34B,65B,83B,184B,223B,246B,288B,325B,503B,545B,673B,683B,692B,697B,837B 'curatorship':628B 'current':584B 'danish':748B 'day':132B,210B,301B,947B 'de':798B 'decker':28B 'dedic':706B 'denmark':756B 'depart':1053B 'design':890B 'detail':1120B 'develop':732B 'di':791B,793B 'dialogu':649B 'differ':393B 'director':127B,170B,216B,353B,659B,926B,982B,1017B,1075B,1086B,1094B 'discours':1003B 'discuss':419B,1025B 'dr':166B,1071B 'dutch':802B 'edit':39B,110B,123B,317B,531B,543B,922B 'elect':978B 'emerg':933B 'en':800B 'engag':270B,384B,585B 'equit':967B 'establish':258B,647B 'event':1059B 'examin':475B 'exchang':15B,335B,693B,698B,730B 'excit':203B 'execut':350B 'expand':291B,406B 'expans':181B 'explor':275B,448B,1001B 'expo':1A,30B,58B,117B,218B,509B,844B,915B,1034B 'expochicago.com':1133B 'extens':228B 'face':972B 'faith':27B 'featur':77B,155B 'feel':602B 'festiv':49B 'field':280B,344B 'fifth':728B 'first':80B 'focus':708B 'foreign':736B 'forg':200B 'form':399B 'formal':624B 'forum':66B,75B,247B,289B,326B,362B,504B,546B,684B,838B,986B 'forward':591B 'foster':715B,1005B 'found':169B,685B,694B,1074B,1090B 'foundat':179B,660B,750B,866B,868B,872B,879B,899B,1047B,1082B,1109B 'framework':439B 'franc':786B 'fund':710B 'futur':394B,426B,473B,493B,716B,971B 'gallagh':884B 'gather':931B 'general':754B,762B,779B,784B,797B,810B 'generat':934B 'generous':855B 'global':656B,711B 'govern':831B 'great':605B 'ground':1007B 'growth':957B 'hall':50B 'hartfield':878B 'hear':370B 'heritag':909B 'highlight':904B 'honor':497B 'host':61B,1043B 'hotel':861B 'ici':57B,71B,348B,507B,847B 'imagin':391B,487B 'impact':240B 'import':329B 'includ':746B 'inclus':968B 'independ':54B,261B,372B 'initi':5A,35B,185B,236B,671B,707B,895B,929B 'institut':22B,265B,616B,774B,994B 'instituto':817B 'intern':56B,415B,691B,725B 'invalu':997B 'invest':462B 'invit':655B,679B 'issu':277B 'istituto':789B 'italiano':790B 'jill':152B,1014B 'join':593B,678B 'joyc':865B 'kate':213B 'keep':569B 'key':431B 'keynot':99B,157B,306B,539B,1062B 'knowledg':421B,441B 'last':471B 'leader':10A,139B,661B,938B,989B 'learn':18B 'lectur':158B,1063B 'level':726B 'librari':453B 'listen':578B 'lithuania':767B 'lithuanian':772B 'local':641B,722B 'look':590B 'loos':437B 'louis':167B,1072B 'lópez':103B,310B,524B 'm':495B 'made':849B,1097B 'may':1088B 'meet':334B 'memori':389B,458B 'méxico':799B 'mid':255B 'mid-car':254B 'miguel':101B,308B,522B 'model':634B 'moment':549B 'multi':209B 'multi-day':208B 'museum':9A,138B,150B,176B,658B,860B,937B,988B,1012B,1079B 'nation':413B,703B,723B 'natur':227B 'navi':46B,95B 'need':642B 'neoliber':612B 'netherland':813B 'new':201B,381B,648B,758B,815B,826B 'newli':398B 'ninth':67B 'non':623B 'non-form':622B 'normal':610B 'obama':173B,178B,1076B,1081B 'offer':253B,603B,984B,995B 'offic':832B 'on-sit':91B 'one':700B 'opportun':268B,285B,364B,606B 'organ':69B,434B 'organiz':956B 'panel':303B,418B 'part':852B,887B 'particip':668B,688B,1083B 'partnership':52B,148B,204B,734B,1010B 'past':446B 'paus':574B 'peer':273B 'photo':25B 'physic':466B 'pier':47B,96B 'place':90B,652B,1028B 'platform':330B 'play':483B 'possibl':518B,850B,1098B 'power':552B,620B 'present':469B 'presidenti':174B,1077B 'previous':582B 'proch':347B 'produc':842B 'profession':13A 'profound':974B 'program':133B,231B,251B,654B,806B,948B,1125B 'provid':283B 'public':361B,1023B 'question':432B 'québec':830B 'radic':564B 'reach':188B,238B,293B,443B 'redefin':563B 'reflect':576B 'releas':1128B 'renaud':346B 'republ':765B 'respons':953B,961B 'return':44B 'reveal':33B 'role':478B,557B 'roundtabl':1024B 'ryan':17B 'said':212B,345B,521B 'select':243B 'self':575B 'shape':387B,455B,467B,1008B 'share':991B 'sierzputowski':214B 'signific':276B 'site':93B 'snyder':153B,1015B 'someof':338B 'sothebi':1103B 'space':423B,460B,572B,999B 'special':1058B 'specif':639B 'sponsor':858B 'stage':1032B 'strategi':632B 'structur':553B 'summit':128B,145B,927B,983B,1018B,1087B,1095B 'support':856B,882B,1101B 'sustain':970B 'tackl':608B 'taipei':822B 'take':89B,1027B 'teach':587B 'teiger':867B 'tempor':438B 'tenth':63B 'terra':898B,1046B,1108B 'think':512B 'thinker':373B 'third':122B,921B,998B 'three':131B,417B,946B 'three-day':130B,945B 'time':81B 'today':32B,520B 'togeth':136B,193B 'toronto':113B,320B,534B 'tradit':556B 'truli':496B 'two':300B,1022B 'understand':627B 'univers':161B,1066B,1115B 'urgenc':645B 'us':588B 'usa':804B 'valu':613B 'villa':760B 'visual':875B 'vital':567B 'warhol':871B 'way':625B 'week':1132B 'within':614B 'work':260B 'world':198B,377B,745B 'year':73B,191B,207B,221B,355B,979B 'york':759B,816B,827B","thumbnail":"https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1721767458/rmcxou6cfenaohlpcllu.jpg","editor_pick":false,"category_name":"Announcements"},"related":[{"id":14456,"title":"Illinois Holocaust Museum to Reopen November 11 Following Renovation","excerpt":"","body":"<p><img src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1792084737/qrikvx76nvvt5agq24rq.jpg\"></p><p><br></p><p>By CGN STAFF</p><p><br></p><p>Illinois Holocaust Museum &amp; 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.</p><p><br></p><p>The project includes a redesigned Lillian &amp; 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.</p><p><br></p><p>Updates to the Zev &amp; 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.</p><p><br></p><p>“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.”</p><p><br></p><p>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.</p><p><br></p><p>Following the reopening,&nbsp;<em>Blacklist: The Hollywood Red Scare</em>&nbsp;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.</p><p><br></p><p>The Museum’s satellite location in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, <span style=\"color: rgb(13, 13, 13);\">Experience360, </span>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.</p><p><br></p><p>For information and ticket reservations, visit&nbsp;<a href=\"https://www.ilholocaustmuseum.org/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">ilholocaustmuseum.org</a>.</p><p><br></p><p><span style=\"color: rgb(136, 136, 136);\">Image: Museum exterior. Photo by David Seide/Definedspace.com</span></p>","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":"<p><img src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1791471661/j25vt7cxeohehapkz9n1.jpg\"></p><p><br></p><p>By GINNY VAN ALYEA</p><p><br></p><p>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. </p><p><br></p><p>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.</p><p><br></p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p><br></p><p>“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.”</p><p>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.</p><p><br></p><p>“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.</p><p><br></p><p>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.</p><p><br></p><p>SOFA Chicago is produced by Intersect Art and Design, which also organizes annual art and design fairs in Aspen and Palm Springs.</p><p><br></p><p>Additional details about exhibitors, partnerships and tickets are expected in the coming months. </p><p><br></p><p>Visit&nbsp;<a href=\"https://chicagoartfair.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">chicagoartfair.com</a> for updates.</p>","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":"<p><img src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1791479103/r9oi9u47474rx2synx0p.png\"></p><p><span style=\"color: rgb(136, 136, 136);\">The artist Richard Hunt</span></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>By CGN Staff</p><p><br></p><p>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.</p><p><br></p><p>As part of the month’s programming, the organization will host&nbsp;<em>Pigmented: Chicago to the World — A Black Fine Art Convening</em>&nbsp;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.</p><p><br></p><p>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.</p><p><br></p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p><br></p><p><img src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1791479104/lltcodkx39gd8sbhtus1.png\"></p><p><em style=\"color: rgb(136, 136, 136);\">Richard Hunt with artist Chris Devins, who recently completed a mural honoring the sculptor in Hyde Park. Photo courtesy of Chris Devins.</em></p><p><br></p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p><br></p><p>“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.</p><p><br></p><p>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.</p><p><br></p><p>#</p><p><br></p><p>Two events take place this month:</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Pigment International at SPECTRUM Chicago Art Fair</strong></p><p><br></p><p>October 7–10, 2026.</p><p>Chicago Merchandise Mart, seventh floor, booth #3091.</p><p>Wednesday, October 7, 5–8 pm, with a champagne toast in the booth and an artist meet-and-greet.</p><p>Thursday, October 8, 6-8pm with Diasporal Rhythms</p><p>Featured artists:&nbsp;Jesse Howard, Howard Simmons, Edo, Candace Hunter, Sura DuPart and Max Sansing.</p><p>Additional events are taking place during the fair</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Chicago to the World: A Black Fine Art Month Convening</strong></p><p>Presented by Pigment International as part of Black Fine Art Month, which the organization has dedicated this year to Richard Hunt.</p><p>Friday, October 23, 2026, 11:30 am–5 pm.</p><p>Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th Street, Chicago.</p><p><br></p><p>Details at <a href=\"https://pigmentintl.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">pigmentintl.com</a></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>","published_at":"2026-10-06 20:00:00","state":"published","slug":"pigment-international-dedicates-black-fine-art-month-2026-to-richard-hunt","type":null,"meta_description":"","text":null,"created_at":"2026-10-08 17:05:04.799","updated_at":"2026-10-08 17:05:04.799","category_id":1,"highlighted":false,"searchable":"'-8':495B '10':462B '11':557B '150':260B '1515':364B '160':266B '19':365B '1935':33B '1955':157B '1968':210B '1971':232B '2020':431B '2021':446B '2023':34B '2026':8A,27B,463B,556B '23':71B,555B '30':558B '3091':470B '35':235B '5':474B,560B '54th':367B '6':494B '60th':569B '7':461B,473B '8':475B,493B '915':567B 'abstract':133B 'addit':514B 'address':201B 'adler':90B 'african':228B,240B,338B 'age':234B 'also':200B,416B 'american':39B,229B,241B 'appoint':214B 'archiv':340B 'art':6A,25B,40B,67B,82B,96B,222B,254B,268B,339B,393B,438B,458B,529B,541B,566B 'artist':13B,164B,273B,318B,350B,486B,501B 'attend':151B 'b':197B 'base':372B 'becam':225B,237B 'bethun':192B 'black':4A,23B,65B,324B,436B,527B,539B 'block':171B 'booth':469B,483B 'born':104B 'brought':131B,358B 'café':315B 'cai':92B 'candac':507B 'career':256B 'center':79B,310B,563B 'cgn':17B 'champagn':479B 'chicago':29B,60B,76B,94B,98B,108B,295B,457B,464B,522B,571B 'chris':274B,290B,351B 'citi':47B 'commiss':181B 'complet':278B 'connect':44B 'continu':119B 'contribut':37B 'conven':68B,531B 'council':219B 'courtesi':288B 'creat':319B 'death':385B 'decad':176B 'dedic':3A,22B,415B,547B 'design':93B,321B 'detail':572B 'develop':113B 'devin':275B,291B,352B,375B,410B 'diaspor':102B,498B 'director':329B 'dupart':510B 'duster':356B 'e':366B,568B 'edo':506B 'emmett':152B 'encompass':257B 'encount':300B 'endur':142B 'event':448B,515B 'execut':328B 'exhibit':100B,262B 'fair':459B,521B 'fall':307B 'featur':425B,500B 'figur':184B 'fine':5A,24B,66B,437B,528B,540B 'first':227B,239B 'floor':468B 'form':134B 'foundat':89B 'founder':326B 'freedom':145B 'friday':553B 'funer':155B 'giant':390B 'great':207B 'greet':490B 'group':97B 'haslip':331B 'histori':305B 'historian':354B 'home':175B 'hometown':126B 'honor':183B,281B,316B 'host':58B 'howard':503B,504B 'hunt':11A,15B,32B,87B,112B,149B,173B,178B,215B,271B,301B,313B,336B,362B,378B,387B,422B,552B 'hunter':508B 'hyde':285B,348B 'ida':196B 'identifi':150B 'includ':84B,185B 'incorpor':334B 'inspir':406B 'instal':269B 'interest':143B 'intern':2A,20B,115B,413B,454B,535B 'jess':193B,502B 'johnson':213B 'jr':189B 'justic':148B 'king':188B 'later':177B 'legaci':88B,409B 'life':165B 'lifelong':43B 'like':403B 'littl':323B 'live':121B,168B 'logan':78B,309B,562B 'look':402B 'luther':187B 'lyndon':212B 'magazin':429B 'mari':190B 'mart':466B 'martin':186B 'materi':341B 'max':512B 'mcleod':191B 'meet':488B 'meet-and-greet':487B 'member':230B 'merchandis':465B 'metal':129B 'michell':355B 'middl':203B 'migrat':208B 'miller':346B 'modern':253B 'monica':330B 'month':7A,26B,52B,439B,452B,530B,542B 'mural':280B,360B 'museum':251B 'nation':218B 'natur':138B 'need':397B 'new':248B,297B 'octob':70B,445B,460B,472B,492B,554B 'offer':296B 'open':311B 'organ':56B,424B,545B 'owen':194B 'park':286B,349B 'part':49B,537B 'partner':83B 'passag':204B 'pearl':325B 'peopl':396B 'photo':287B 'photograph':343B,374B 'pigment':1A,19B,59B,412B,453B,534B 'pigmentintl.com':574B 'place':450B,518B 'pm':476B,496B,561B 'point':161B 'portrait':370B 'practic':117B 'present':532B 'presid':211B 'program':54B,440B 'project':293B 'public':95B,180B,267B 'rais':106B 'receiv':244B 'recent':277B,292B 'recogn':35B,116B 'refer':135B 'reflect':417B 'relationship':420B 'retrospect':246B 'rhythm':103B,499B 'richard':10A,14B,31B,86B,270B,386B,551B 'said':411B 'sandro':345B 'sans':513B 'sculptor':30B,242B,283B,383B 'sculptur':99B,130B,337B 'see':399B 'seventh':467B 'side':111B 'simmon':505B 'social':147B 'solo':261B 'south':110B 'space':333B 'spectrum':456B 'staff':18B 'street':368B,570B 'studio':380B,443B 'sura':509B 'take':449B,517B 'thursday':491B 'till':153B,166B 'toast':480B 'togeth':132B 'took':376B 'turn':160B 'two':170B,335B,447B 'univers':74B,91B 'way':298B 'wednesday':471B 'welcom':434B 'weld':128B 'well':198B 'work':123B,303B 'world':63B,139B,394B,525B 'would':182B 'year':549B 'york':249B","thumbnail":"https://res.cloudinary.com/dfafo598z/image/upload/v1791351200/u6rnvyx3skpwrg4h9tdx.png","editor_pick":true}]}