As the yellow steps of the Museum of Contemporary Art boldly declare, “MUSEUMS ARE NOW.” We love Chicago’s museums and galleries, and we love plugging art shows in our weekly events roundup.
These five shows recently caught our eye.
“Poor Man’s Paradise” at Project Onward in Bridgeport
Maxwell Street was a poor man’s paradise. A gritty American Dream. This show pays homage to that bygone era, bringing together outsider art about Maxwell Street alongside artifacts from the ol’ market itself. It opens Aug. 15.
- Related: What happened to Maxwell Street? [Hey Chicago 💻]
From “Far Down the Phantom Air” (Courtesy of Sawhorse)
“Far Down the Phantom Air” at Sawhorse in Hermosa
Comprising industrial window grates, this show is so Chicago. “Far Down the Phantom Air” juxtaposes paintings by Jane Leipold and geometric sculptures by Alex Adkinson — the effect is natural and postindustrial at once. It’s on till Aug. 24.
“Night/Crimes” at The Art Institute in the Loop
For the first time since 1995, “Night/Crimes” is coming back on display. The series by Charles Gaines pairs archival photographs of violent crime scenes, victims, and mug shots, but the connections between the pictures are not causal. It’s up to the viewer to play mental detective. The exhibit opens Aug. 9.
“Cherry Coke” (Courtesy of the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago)
“City in a Garden” at the MCA in Streeterville
This big group show traces Chicago’s queer community from the 1980s to the present through the work of over 30 local artists. The collection aims to present Chicago as a sanctuary, embodying the city’s utopian motto, “Urbs in horto,” aka “City in a garden.” Luckily, you’ve got lots of time to catch this one — it runs through May 2026.
- Go on a Tuesday for free, and you can catch Tuesdays on the Terrace!
Everything at Epiphany Center for the Arts in Near West Side
Four concurrent shows launched Aug. 1 at Epiphany Center for the Arts. There’s “Wunderkammer,” a series of colorful paintings by Renee Robbins; “Weaving Ambiguity,” a solo interdisciplinary exhibition by Bethany Cordero; “Parallel Tracks,” an exploration of Chicago and Tokyo transit by Nick Fury; and the official American Tapestry Biennial. It’s all running till Sept. 12.
