Chicago Art Walk Guide
By Staff in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 1, 2012 8:10PM
One of the best ways to check out the art scene in Chicago is to attend one of the gallery walks throughout the city. Admission is free and often includes a glass of wine. You’ll find a different experience checking out galleries in each neighborhood. Here’s our insider’s guide to the best of the art walk scene.
River North was the focus of Chicago art during the Imagist movement and many of the commercial galleries that still exist there were founded during that time. However, many of the galleries in this area are now showing work to be collected and feature mid-career to late-career artists whose work is limited to a single medium such as photography or painting. This area is a favorite among interior decorators and great for those looking to buy a piece for their home, but you are less likely to find emergent or experimental work here. The area is still very densely populated with galleries so it’s easy to see a variety of art within just a few blocks. Some of our favorites are Roy Boyd Gallery and ZG Gallery. Art walks happen on the first Friday and second Saturday of every month.
Pilsen - 18th Street is the rebel child of the River North area. Many of the artists moved there for cheap live-work spaces. Expect a younger crowd and a more diverse mix of mediums. The Halsted Street section of Pilsen is mostly artist-run spaces and the work often lacks focus. Many of Chicago’s artists venture further west for openings at ACRE Projects, Roxaboxen, and the Plaines Project, where the work is more experience based. ACRE is one of the best places to see work in Pilsen - their residency program focuses on emerging artists, but their boards and projects include curators, dealers, and established artists. The closer ties to the more sophisticated art world show in the quality of the work exhibited here. Art walks happen on the second Friday of every month.
Wicker Park/Bucktown is where you will find most of the alternative spaces outside of Pilsen. Chicago is famous for these spaces and they are one of the strengths of the art scene here. You can’t have an apartment gallery in New York - rent is too high, egos are too big, but it works in Chicago and the result is that you get to see some of the best emerging and young talent. The area is home to several apartment galleries such as Roots & Culture, Happy Collaborationists, Heaven Gallery, and LVL3. Our pick for the neighborhood is LVL3, where Vincent Uribe expertly selects some of the best emerging artists. Art walks happen on the first Friday of every month.
West Loop is the art district that River North once was. Almost any gallery with international and academic praise is located here. This is the contemporary commercial gallery area and many of the spaces are on the cutting edge of the art world. Expect strong conceptual artists who are taking risks and creating truly contemporary work. Spaces to check out include Kavi Gupta, Andrew Rafacz, Western Exhibitions, Rhona Hoffman, Tony Wight, and non-profits like Three Walls. The hottest name in the art community right now is Kavi Gupta - the gallery represents Theaster Gates, who has gained international acclaim for his work. Most galleries are open all day Saturday, throughout the week, and closed Sunday.
By Julia Weeman