SAIC at Chicago Exhibition Weekend

Chicago Athletic Association
12 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60603
6:00–8:00 p.m.
RSVP with EarlyWork

EarlyWork, Re/Match and Process/ Process are kicking off Chicago Exhibition Weekend (CXW) week with a special cocktail party and highly anticipated print release by Sofía Fernández Díaz.

Printed in collaboration with Chicago publishers Process/Process, a portion of all sales will benefit nonprofit Re/Match’s 2026 grants to Chicago artists.

Alumni Spotlights:
Sofía Fernández Díaz (MFA 2022)
Jessica Cochran (MA 2008) (Founder of Process/Process)
Samantha Reynolds (MA 2015) (Founder of Re/Match)

2025 Filter Photo Festival
Columbia College Student Center
754 South Wabash Avenue
12:00-1:00 p.m.
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In conjunction with the 2025 Filter Photo Festival, Filter Photo is pleased to present an artist talk with Leonard Suryajaya. Suryajaya (Chicago, IL) uses his work to test the boundaries of intimacy, community, and family. He uses photography, video, performance, and installation to show how the everyday is layered with histories, meanings, and potential.

Alumni Spotlight:
Leonard Suryajaya (MFA 2015)

Fullerton Hall
Art Institute of Chicago
111 South Michigan Avenue
12:30–1:30 p.m.
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On Loss and Absence: Textiles of Mourning and Survival is curated by four artists—Isaac Facio, Nneka Kai, L Vinebaum, and Anne Wilson—whose paths merged at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Fiber and Material Studies Department. The exhibition is deeply informed by their practices as makers and their respect for fellow artists as holders of material, ancestral, and cultural knowledge. The curators will discuss their processes in creating this exhibition. 

Alumni Spotlights:
Nneka Kai (MFA 2019)
Anne Wilson (HON 2025)

Color Club
4146 North Elston Avenue
Chicago, IL 60618
6:30 p.m.
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Drawn & Quarterly presents the premier comics event of the season with a trio of critically acclaimed, award-winning cartoonists: Tom Gauld, Lee Lai, and Mimi Pond. Join us for an evening of presentations and book signings hosted by Color Club, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Howling Pages.

Alumni Spotlight:
Josh Dihle (MFA 2012) (Founder of Color Club)

Columbia College Chicago Student Center
754 South Wabash Avenue
1:00–2:00 p.m.
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In conjunction with the 2025 Filter Photo Festival, Filter Photo is pleased to present an artist talk by current Filter Space exhibiting artist, Alayna N. Pernell. Pernell will discuss the duality of care towards Black women through her two bodies of work, Our Mothers’ Gardens and for the record. She will explore the nuances and interconnectedness of historical and personal facets of care towards the lives of Black women and their lived experiences.

Alumni Spotlight:
Alayna N. Pernell (MFA 2021)

The Digs
333 North Oakley Boulevard #305
Chicago, IL 60612
4:00–8:00 p.m.
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An open house event for visitors to tour the studio's facilities and meet some of our members at work.

Alumni Spotlight:
Fawn Penn (BFA 2020) (Founder)

Filter Photo
1821 West Hubbard Street, Suite 207
Chicago, IL 60622
5:00–8:00 p.m.
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In conjunction with the 2025 Filter Photo Festival, Filter Photo is pleased to present A layin’ on of hands..., a solo exhibition of work by Alayna N. Pernell.

In A layin’ on of hands…, Alayna N. Pernell explores the cultural and emotional significance of care in the lives of Black women, drawing inspiration from a phrase she often heard growing up in Alabama. In her community, "a laying on of hands" symbolized the transmission of power, healing, and blessing through touch—a love language Pernell has carefully incorporated into her visual practice. Through photography and archival exploration, this exhibition reflects on how the act of care shapes the lives and experiences of Black women.

Alumni Spotlight:
Alayna N. Pernell (MFA 2021)

SoNa Chicago
1527 North Ashland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622
6:00–7:30 p.m.
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Join us at SoNa Chicago for a moderated conversation with Industry of the Ordinary founders Adam Brooks and Mathew Wilson on Friday, September 19 from 6:00–7:30 p.m. 

Alumni Spotlights:
Adam Brooks (MFA 1989)
Mathew Wilson (MFA 1984)

Board the trolley at the Arts Block 
337 East Garfield Boulevard
6:00–8:00 p.m.
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Explore the dynamic intersection of public art, memory, and justice on a trolley tour of the imagined Washington Park Public Art Corridor, a new effort to expand the neighborhood’s commemorative landscape.

Route will include:

• Amanda Williams’ Other Washingtons at 51st and King Drive
• Ride through Washington Park, stopping at key artist and activist sites
• The future site of Breath, Form & Freedom, created by Chicago Torture Justice Memorials Foundation
• Arts + Public Life’s Arts Lawn for a preview of Yvette Mayorga’s highly anticipated City Lovers in Paradise

After the tour, join us at the neighboring Green Line Performing Arts Center for an evening of drinks, dessert, and conversation with Amanda Williams, CTJMF survivors and architect John Gay, and Yvette Mayorga.

Alumni Spotlights:
Amanda Williams (HON 2025)
Yvette Mayorga (MFA 2016)

Tala 
1644 West Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622
6:00–9:00 p.m.
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Tala is pleased to present a three‑person exhibition with Laila Majid (London), Joseph J. Greer (NYC), and Anastasia Sif Karkazis (London/Copenhagen), curated by Misael José Oquendo. Across sculpture and sound, the works suspend function and court misfit: vibrating devices, estranged industrial fittings, and a generative voice score trade utility for substitution, delay, and lure. The installation sets up a field of attention that flickers between warning and seduction, refusal and invitation.

Alumni Spotlight:
Misael José Oquendo (BFA 2016)

21c Museum Hotel Chicago
55 East Ontario Street
Chicago, IL 60611
7:00–8:00 p.m.
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Experience a unique art installation in Rm 921 at 21c Museum Hotel Chicago. On view is Willea Zwey’s projection Et Sic Videmus, a site-specific artwork created for Elevate: Rm 921.

Alumni Spotlight:
Willea Zwey Yang (BIA 2014)

Joy Machine
4148 North Elston Avenue
Chicago, IL 60618
11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
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In conjunction with the exhibition Speak of the Devil, Haylie Jimenez will be offering flash tattoos at Joy Machine from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on September 20. Choose from an array of line drawings with minimal shading, consisting of figures peering out of windows, posing in bikinis, and lounging in grassy parks.

Alumni Spotlight:
Haylie Jimenez (BFA 2020)

2025 Filter Photo Festival
Columbia College Student Center
754 South Wabash Avenue
1:00–2:00 p.m.
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In conjunction with the 2025 Filter Photo Festival, Filter Photo is pleased to present an artist talk with Marzena Abrahamik, as she discusses her project Underground.

Alumni Spotlight:
Marzena Abrahamik (BFA 2010)

ANDREW RAFACZ
1749 West Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622
2:00 p.m.
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Robert Burnier will give a brief walkthrough of his newest exhibition, Thumb Piano, on view in Gallery Two—followed with questions from the audience.

Alumni Spotlight:
Robert Burnier (MFA 2016)

Corbett vs. Dempsey
2156 West Fulton Street
Chicago, IL 60612
2:00–5:00 p.m.
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2:00–5:00 p.m.
Collin Moody/vom Boden Wine Tasting

2:00 p.m.
Jon Irabagon Plays Braxton & Hemphill

3:00 p.m.
3-D Doings Book Launch featuring Ian Berry, John Corbett, and Jim Dempsey

Alumni Spotlight:
Jim Dempsey (NFA 1991) (Co-Founder of Corbett vs Dempsey)

Chinese American Museum of Chicago
238 West 23rd Street
Chicago, IL 60616
2:00–5:00 p.m.
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The opening reception of Language of Abstraction will take place at the Chinese American Museum of Chicago on Saturday, September 20. This new exhibition, curated by Larry Lee, shows the work of Ruyell Ho and Lilin Lee as lexicon-building ecologies spanning decades of work in Chicago.

Alumni Spotlight:
Ruyell Ho (SAIC 1965)

Starting at the Museum of Contemporary Art
220 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
3:00–8:00 p.m.
RSVP with EarlyWork

On Saturday of CXW, EarlyWork is on the move. Starting at the MCA, we're hopping around the city exploring art spaces of different types—museums, galleries, and artist-run spaces—giving you a taste of Chicago’s art scene in every shape and size.

Stop 1: 3:00–4:30 p.m., Museum of Contemporary Art
City in a Garden exhibition walkthrough with curator Jack Schneider

Stop 2: 5:00–6:30 p.m., GRAY 
Alex Katz closing cocktail party

Stop 3: 7:00–8:00 p.m., Prairie
"First Look" Field Trip for Benefit Auction

Alumni Spotlight:
Jack Schneider (BFA 2014)

Monique Meloche
451 North Paulina Street
Chicago, IL 60622
3:00–4:00 p.m.
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Join Luke Agada in conversation with Braxton Garneau as they discuss their respective exhibitions on view in the gallery. 

Alumni Spotlight:
Luke Agada (MFA 2023)

Bert Green Fine Art
8 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 620
Chicago, IL 60603
3:00–5:00 p.m. 
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Bert Green Fine Art is pleased to present an artist talk with Mac Pierce for his current exhibition, Deathmatch, on view through October 18.

Alumni Spotlight:
Mac Pierce (MFA 2023)

SECRIST | BEACH presented in partnership with PATRON
1801 West Hubbard Street
Chicago, IL 60622
3:30–4:30 p.m.
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The Essence & The Choice is the latest performance by New York-based artist and choreographer Matty Davis. The work is a duet performed by Davis, and Wolfgang Cooper Grossardt, his 13 year-old stepson, featuring dramaturgy by two-time Pulitzer finalist Chloé Cooper Jones. Full of play, physical risk, trust, and vulnerability, The Essence & The Choice explores fatherhood through the impacts of our presence in (and absence) from one another's lives.

Alumni Spotlight:
Matty Davis (MFA 2016)

Prairie
2055 West Cermak Road
Chicago, IL 60608
5:00–6:30 p.m.
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Join us for Prairie's benefit auction, providing emerging and established collectors alike the opportunity to purchase artwork by over 30 friends of the gallery and artists from their program. All works will be on view at Prairie from September 20 through October 4 with bidding accommodated by The Auction Collective.

Featured artists include ASMA, B. Ingrid Olson, ektor garcia, Ficus Interfaith, Isabelle Frances McGuire, Justin Chance, Max Guy, Michelle Grabner, Paul Heyer, and Tony Lewis, among others. Proceeds from the auction support the artists and exhibitions at Prairie.

Alumni Spotlights:
Jack Schneider (BFA 2014)(Co-Founder of Prairie)
B. Ingrid Olson (BFA 2010)
Isabelle Frances McGuire (BFA 2016)
Tony Lewis (MFA 2012)
Justin Chance (BFA 2015)
Matias Armendaris (ASMA) (MFA 2018)
Hanya Beliá (ASMA)
ektor garcia (BFA 2014)

The Digs
333 North Oakley Boulevard, #305
Chicago, IL 60612
7:00–9:00 p.m.
RSVP with The Digs

In collaboration with Chicago Critique Group, this month The Digs is welcoming artists into the studio for a creative exercise in studying the figure. Artists are welcome to engage in this exercise with clay or self-supplied drawing materials.

Alumni Spotlight:
Fawn Penn (BFA 2020) (Founder of The Digs)

DePaul Art Museum
935 West Fullerton Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
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Join renowned artist Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle and DPAM Curator Ionit Behar for a conversation exploring the artist’s solo exhibition A Want for Nothing. 

Alumni Spotlights:
Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle (MFA 1989)
Ionit Behar (MA 2013)

The Franklin
3522 West Franklin Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60624
2:00–3:00 p.m.
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The Franklin is proud to present a conversation, motivated by our exhibition What Material Do I Want To Be?

Participants include: Kelly Kristin Jones, Ann Toebbe, Maria Burundarena, Mariana Noreña, Jacklyn Jacunski, Jordan Martins, and Yasmin Spiro.

Alumni Spotlights:
Edra Soto (MFA 2000) (Co-Founder of The Franklin)
Kelly Jones (MFA 2012)
Maria Burundarena (MFA 2022)
Jaclyn Jacunski (MFA 2017)

The Franklin
3522 West Franklin Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60624
3:00–5:00 p.m.
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Enjoy the artistic hors d'oeuvres and libations, presented by participating artists from the exhibition What Material Do I Want To Be? Featuring work by Jaclyn Jacunski, Maria Burundarena, Paola Cabal, Mariana Noreña, Yasmin Spiro, Edra Soto, and Dan Sullivan.

Alumni Spotlights:
Kelly Jones (MFA 2012)
Maria Burundarena (MFA 2022)
Jaclyn Jacunski (MFA 2017)
Edra Soto (MFA 2000) (Co-Founder of The Franklin)

The Franklin
3522 West Franklin Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60624
3:00–5:00 p.m.
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A two-hour performance featuring Jess Bass as a lemon, with liquids by Brutalist Brewing.

Alumni Spotlights:
Jess Bass (MFA 2022)
Edra Soto (MFA 2000) (Co-Founder of The Franklin)

LMRM & Latitude
2003 West Fulton Street #215
Chicago, IL 60612
RSVP with LMRM

Chicago Exhibition Weekend Poker Night—hosted by Latitude × LMRM. Close out the weekend on September 21 with an evening of community, poker, and friendly competition. 

• 4:00 p.m.—Doors open w/ studio tours of both Latitude and LMRM
• 5:30 p.m.—Poker play begins (up to eight players per table)
• 8:00 p.m.—Play ends, prizes awarded! Special music performance by Suicide Moi & Austin James Christ

Bring your game face and enjoy great company, art, and a little bit of luck. No need to worry if you're not a seasoned card player (or haven't played before at all!)—rules will be explained, patience will be abundant, and we'll progress at a comfortable pace for everyone.

Spots are limited. Register now!

Alumni Spotlights:
Hope Wang (BFA 2018) (Founder of LMRM)
Dæja Hansdóttir (BFA 2015) (Executive Director of Latitude)

Chicago Artists Coalition
1431 West Hubbard Street 
Suite 201
Chicago, IL 60642

'Sacred Containers: Capsules, Conduits, and Other Stories'
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Alumni Spotlights:
FÁTIMA (MFA 2023)
Bex Ya Yolk (MFA 2023)
Cecilia Beaven (MFA 2019)

'Resident Exhibition: 2025 Cohort 2 of 5'
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Alumni Spotlights:
Vanessa Payne (BFA 2023)
Rob Croll (MFA 2024)
Sebastian Bruno-Harris (MFA 2023)
Nick D’Alessandro (BFA 2023)

Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
220 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611

'Collection in Conversation with Pablo Helguera'
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Alumni Spotlight:
Pablo Helguera (BFA 1993) (Curator)

'Wafaa Bilal: Indulge Me'
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Alumni Spotlights:
Wafaa Bilal (MFa 2003)
Bana Katan (MA 2011) (Curator)

'City in a Garden: Queer Art and Activism in Chicago'
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Alumni Spotlight:
Jack Schneider (BFA 2014) (Curator)

SECRIST | BEACH
1801 West Hubbard Street

'Natura Non Constristatur'
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Alumni Spotlights:
Jeff Carter (MFA 1998)
Assaf Evron (MFA 2013)
Morgan Mandalay (BFA 2014)
William Staples (BFA 1991)

'The Conversion: Rings, Rupture, and the Forest Archive'
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Alumni Spotlight:
Jacqueline Surdell (MFA 2017)

Weatherproof
3336 West Lawrence Avenue, Suite 303
Chicago, IL 60625

'Pupa(e)'
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Alumni Spotlight:
Christopher Gambino (BFA 2018)

'Throw your phone into a body of water!'
September 19–21 (various times and locations)
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Weatherproof invites any and all participants to throw their phone into a body of water, wherever they are, at specific times of the day. This event will happen on the 19th, 20th, and 21st, at every instance of the numbers on a clock adding up to 4, in military time. (e.g. 0400, 1030, 1201, 1300, 2020, 2200 etc.). The body of water can be of any size, and your participation does not need to be recorded.

Alumni Spotlight:
Milo Christie (BFA 2022) (Co-Founder of Weatherproof)

Corbett vs. Dempsey
2156 West Fulton Street
Chicago, IL 60612
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Alumni Spotlights:
Aaron Curry (BFA 2002)
Jim Dempsey (BFA 1991) (Co-Founder of Corbett vs. Dempsey)

ACRE Projects
2921 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60657
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Alumni Spotlight:
Frey Micheal Austin (BFA 2014)

6018North
6018 North Kenmore Avenue
Chicago, IL 60660
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Alumni Spotlights:
Haerim Lee (MFA 2017, MA 2020)
Petra Bachmaier (BFA 1999) & Sean Gallero (BFA 1998) (Luftwerk)
Alexandra Antoine (BFA 2014)
Jennifer Kendler (MFA 2006)
Sherwin Ovid (BFA 2007)
Viet Phan (MFA 2022)
Tria Smith (MFA 2004)
Deborah Stratman (BFA 1990)
Aleksandra Walaszek (MFA 2024)
Sangwoo Yoo (MFA 2024)
Jan Tichy (MFA 2009)

21c Museum Hotel Chicago
55 East Ontario Street 
Chicago, IL 60611
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Alumni Spotlights:
Siebren Versteeg (BFA 1996)
Ann Hamilton (HON 2005)

Hyde Park Art Center
5020 South Cornell Avenue
Chicago, IL 60615
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Alumni Spotlight:
Kay Rosen (SAIC 1971)

400 North Peoria Street
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Alumni Spotlights:
Rashid Johnson (SAIC 2004, HON 2018)
Tony Lewis (MFA 2012)
Martin Puryear (HON 1992)
Wendy Jacob (MFA 1989)
Molly Zuckerman-Hartung (MFA 2007)

DOCUMENT
1709 West Chicago Avenue, 2nd Floor
Chicago, IL 60622
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Alumni Spotlight:
Gordon Hall (MFA 2011)

Epiphany Center for the Arts
201 South Ashland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60607
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Alumni Spotlights:
Ashley Bradley (BFA 2020)
Bennie Pabst (BFA 2024)
Katie Vota (BFA 2015)
Adrienne Weiss (MFA 2025)

Patient Info
902 North Western Avenue
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Alumni Spotlights:
Josiah Ellner (MFA 2023)
Jonathan Worcester (MFA 2024)
B. Ingrid Olson (MFA 2021)