Vertical Gallery is Chicago’s premier urban-contemporary art gallery. Established in April 2013 in the West Town neighborhood, the gallery focuses on work influenced by street art, urban environments, graffiti, pop culture, graphic design and illustration. Vertical Gallery has distinguished itself as a pioneer in its consistent programming of significant emerging and established local, national and international artists. The gallery has served as a catalyst for numerous artists who have moved on to exhibit at major art venues and museums worldwide.
As of October 2025 the gallery will focus on art fairs, pop-ups, and destination events across the U.S. and abroad. The new approach begins at Aqua Art Miami (December 3–7) and builds on Vertical’s successful presentations in Paris and New York.
Chicago will remain part of the journey. In March 2026, Vertical will celebrate its 13-year anniversary in partnership with Jackson Junge Gallery, and in July the gallery will present acclaimed Dutch painter Collin van der Sluijs in collaboration with Joy Machine Gallery. Additional exhibitions are planned.
Read more here on the 2025 update
Image: Gallery View, 11-Year Anniversary exhibit
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Born in Mexico, but raised in Colombia, Stinkfish has been honing his skills on the streets of his hometown of Bogota since an early age. He first experimented with stencils in 2003 and has since perfected his own, unique style. His murals always have a stenciled portrait at their center. These portraits are taken from photos that the artist shoots during his travels around the world. They are faces that catch his eye, but not people he approaches and talks to. Another source is found photographs; either discovered lying on the streets or bought at flea markets. He fashions large format stencils based on these photographs, which on the street are then amended by impromptu, colorful halos.