SAIC Announces 2025 Faculty Sabbatical Triennial Exhibition at SAIC Galleries

CHICAGO—This fall, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) is proud to present the 2025 SAIC Faculty Sabbatical Triennial, on view at SAIC Galleries from August 25 to December 6. This expansive exhibition celebrates the creative research, scholarly pursuits, and innovative practices of faculty members who have completed sabbaticals or other paid leaves over the past three academic years.

Spanning a wide range of disciplines and media, the triennial features significant gallery-based presentations, a robust schedule of programs, and a dedicated website that documents the diverse practices of participating faculty. The exhibition provides a rare and valuable opportunity for the SAIC community and the public to engage with the ongoing contributions of SAIC’s renowned educators.

The triennial includes work by the following faculty members: Marzena Abrahamik, Giovanni Aloi, Claire Helen Ashley, Jonas N.T. Becker, Jeremy Biles, Sara Black, Jerry Bleem, John Bowers, Tom Burtonwood, Odile Compagnon, Tirtza Even, Pablo Garcia, Gaylen Gerber*, Susan Giles, Michelle Grabner, Adam J. Greteman*, Diana Guerrero-Maciá, Rebecca Keller, Piotr Michura, Frédéric Moffet, Judd Morrissey, Marlena Novak, Tyson Reeder, Sarah Ross, Alison Ruttan, Roberto Sifuentes*, Shawn Michelle Smith, Christopher Sullivan, Savneet Talwar, Christine Tarkowski, Jim TerMeer, Jan Tichy, Lan Tuazon, Amy Vogel, and Adrian Wong.

SAIC offers sabbaticals to eligible full- and part-time faculty after seven years of service, supporting time away from teaching and administrative responsibilities to focus on experimentation, research, and production. This support reflects SAIC’s commitment to instructional and professional excellence and underscores the vital role of inquiry and reflection in artistic and scholarly growth.

The Faculty Sabbatical Triennial is produced by SAIC’s Department of Exhibitions and Exhibition Studies and organized by Director of Exhibitions Staci Boris, with Senior Manager of Exhibitions Carlos Salazar Lermont and Graduate Curatorial Assistants D Coates, Callie Elms, Mikayla Hernandez Guevara, and Soo Kim.

For more information, visit here.

*participating with a program or performance/not in gallery show

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts

SAIC Faculty Sabbatical Triennial
August 25–December 6, 2025
SAIC Galleries, 33 E. Washington St.

Gallery Hours: Monday–Saturday, 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Public Reception: Friday, September 5, 5:00–7:00 p.m.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago
For nearly 160 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world’s most influential artists, designers, and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program ranked number two in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago museum, on-campus galleries, and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC’s undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world, and adults, teens, and kids in our Continuing Studies classes have the opportunity to explore their creative sides, build portfolios, and advance their skills. Notable alumni and faculty include Georgia O’Keeffe, Nick Cave, David Sedaris, Cynthia Rowley, Michelle Grabner, Richard Hunt, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and Jeff Koons.