This week in Chicago, the art fair EXPO CHICAGO, sponsored by Northern Trust, returns to the Festive Hall at Navy Pier for a sweeping presentation on view April 11-14.
“EXPO CHICAGO is an international art fair deeply rooted in the cultural ecosystem of Chicago and the broader Midwest region, and this year we are thrilled to have for the first time two section curators that represent institutions from our region, while also bringing incredible international expertise and perspective to our programs,” explained Kate Sierzputowski, EXPO CHICAGO’s former Director of Programming and new Artistic Director.
“We are committed to platforming local-global idea exchange throughout the exposition, and the frameworks these two powerhouse curators bring to each program further strengthens this vision.”
Photo by Kevin Serna, courtesy of EXPO CHICAGO.
A Focus on Emerging Creatives and Exhibitions from 170 Premier Galleries
With a focus on emerging creatives and exhibition programs, a groundbreaking new era of EXPO CHICAGO ensues. In its inaugural edition as part of Frieze global art fairs, over 170 premier galleries hailing from 29 countries will descend upon the city, enhancing the rich cultural landscape with new and profound artistic investigations and experiences.
Nearly 100 exhibitors from last year’s edition return to the international presentation, including esteemed galleries such as Vielmetter Los Angeles (Los Angeles), DOCUMENT (Chicago, Lisbon), Shulamit Nazarian (Los Angeles), Galerie Poggi (Paris), Cristea Roberts (London), and Nara Roesler (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, New York). 49 newcomers inaugurate their participation in the global art event, including Hannah Traore Gallery (New York), Donald Ellis Gallery (New York, Vancouver), Hakgojae Gallery (Seoul), Les Enluminures (Chicago, New York, Paris), and Gibson Fine Art (London).
Expo Chicago 2023; photo by Justin Barbin, courtesy of EXPO CHICAGO.
Programming In and Around EXPO CHICAGO
Amara Antilla, Senior Curator at Large for the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) in Cincinnati meticulously curates the iconic IN/SITU platform, bringing avant-garde creations to both the Navy Pier and dynamic spaces beyond. Rosario Güiraldes, Curator of Visual Arts at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis curates the EXPOSURE category, shining light on solo and two-artist exhibitions from galleries 10 years and under.
In addition, a myriad of immersive programs including the /Dialogues panel series, OVERRIDE | A Billboard Project, and Northern Trust Exchange Stage rejoices in the participation of cultural figureheads such as Chance the Rapper; artists Iván Argote, Ebony G. Patterson, and Paul Mpagi Sepuya; organizations United States Artists, Art21, and For Freedoms; as well as curators Carla Acevedo-Yates, Miranda Lash, and Yesomi Umolu, culminating in a crowning 11th edition.
The primary Galleries category of EXPO CHICAGO makes way for the nuanced sections of EXPOSURE, PROFILE, Editions + Books, and Special Exhibitions. PROFILE highlights major artist and collective projects, solo booths, and established international gallery presentations within spaces featuring vivid installations and pivotal thematics.
On the occasion of the 10th Northern Trust Purchase Prize, both Directors and Curators from the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, GA; the Milwaukee Art Museum in Milwaukee, WI; and the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego will have the opportunity to choose artworks from the EXPOSURE section for acquisition into their permanent collections.
Expo Chicago 2023; photo by Justin Barbin, courtesy of EXPO CHICAGO.
The IN/SITU Platform Invokes the 1987 Dystopian Novel by Paul Auster
The wondrous IN/SITU platform, titled “In the Country of Last Things,” invokes the 1987 dystopian novel by Paul Auster of the same name, illuminating the artistry of 15 luminaries and their riveting study of nature’s fragility in our modern environment.
Visionaries including American Artist (Labor), Anne-Karin Furunes (RYAN LEE Gallery), Voluspa Jarpa (NOME), Josèfa Ntjam (Galerie Poggi), Claudia Peña Salinas (CURRO), and Tori Wrånes (Nazarian / Curcio) use their deft skills and expansive imaginations to express global turmoil and strive to spark collective awakening.
In a tremendous extension into Mother Nature, IN/SITU Outside influences passersby with captivating public art installations beside shimmering Lake Michigan and in revelatory moments throughout the city. Notable projects include a creation by Eddie Martinez at Navy Pier, as well as an artwork by Brendan Fernandes at the General John Alexander Logan Monument in Grant Park, curated and produced by Black Cube Nomadic Art Museum.
Expo Chicago 2023; photo by Justin Barbin, courtesy of EXPO CHICAGO.
OVERRIDE | A Billboard Project Presents a Collaborative Public Art Endeavor
OVERRIDE | A Billboard Project unites Chicago-based artists and international creatives for a collaborative public art endeavor. Between April 1 and 21, more than 100 digital billboards and informative panels in the city’s Central Business District will revel in the artistry of Art & Language (René Schmidt), Raphaël Barontini (Mariane Ibrahim), Judy Ledgerwood (Rhona Hoffman Gallery), Lucia Koch (Nara Roesler), and visionaries of Chicago including Lawrence Agyei, Jada-Amina, Jazmine., Tom Jones II, Victoria Martinez, and Yuge Zhou.
Alongside Independent Curators International (ICI), the 10th annual Curatorial Forum newly debuts a curatorial conference, titled “Curating and The Commons,” with a much-anticipated keynote by Miguel A. López, co-curator for this year’s Toronto Biennial of Art. In addition, the third edition of the Directors Summit makes way for a three-day program uniting leaders of the country’s esteemed art museums.
“The Curatorial Forum is an important platform for curators to meet, exchange, and address some of the biggest challenges in the field,” said Renaud Proch, ICI’s Executive and Artistic Director. “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. “
Expo Chicago 2023; photo by Justin Barbin, courtesy of EXPO CHICAGO.
Talks and Events Immerse Visitors in the Chicago Art Scene and the Global Creative Landscape
/Dialogues, alongside the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), presents a keynote with Chance the Rapper, Asma Naeem (Baltimore Museum of Art), and Nate Freeman (Vanity Fair) for a vibrant talk on the influence of the hip hop music genre on the global contemporary art scene. For Freedoms sparks meaningful conversation on the creation of art for positive social change, while ARTnews invites visitors to embark on a trailblazing forum on criticism as a form of art practice.
Within Navy Pier’s Northern Trust Anchor Lounge, “Exchange by Northern Trust: An Interactive Conversation Around the Art of Collecting” offers VIP guests access to integral industry discussions. The dynamics of developing a Chicago-based collection is explored by collector Anita Blanchard and Yesomi Umolu (Serpentine), while a panel on collecting prints is led by dealer David Cleaton-Roberts (Cristea Roberts Gallery), collector Dani Levinas, and Monica Brown (Freeman’s | Hindman).
Within the festivities of Expo Art Week, held during April 8-14, Choose Chicago and Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) rejuvenate the city with joyous events such as Art After Hours alongside partners Gertie, Masterworks, and Arete Wealth, and South Side Night, bringing live performances to Hyde Park, Bronzeville, and communities beyond.
Expo Chicago 2023; photo by Justin Barbin, courtesy of EXPO CHICAGO.
