Chicago Artists Coalition

Chicago Artists Coalition Supporting Chicago contemporary artists and curators.

Over 40 years ago, CAC began as a small group of artists advocating for rights, support and visibility in the city’s cultural landscape and economy. Small in size but mighty in impact, CAC was critical to the formation of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs, the development of Chicago Artists Month and the passing of the Percent for Art Ordinance. The latter designates 1.33% of new constructi

on or renovation budgets of public buildings to a public art fund dedicated to the commission, purchase and maintenance of public art in Chicago

Since then, the organization has evolved and grown to meet the needs of Chicago’s artists, moved into the West Loop in 2011, and launched its groundbreaking residencies and professional development programs. CAC was the first to offer a residency with a curatorial component (HATCH Projects) and is still one of the only residency programs that offer onsite studio space and a guarantee of a solo exhibition to its 10 BOLT residents. Since then, 60 BOLT artists have had solo shows, 288 HATCH artists have participated in group shows, 2,950 artists have participated in professional development programs, and 24 curators have further developed their curatorial and exhibition making skills

In 2012, the Coalition significantly expanded its programs and outreach by acquiring the Chicago Artists Resource website, known as CAR, from the City of Chicago. The Coalition was identified early on by the City and other stakeholders as the exemplary candidate to assume ownership of CAR because of the organization's long commitment to providing direct services to individual practicing artists and helping to build networks and resources for a thriving creative marketplace within the community. The acquisition of CAR fulfills important strategic goals for the organization, including serving artists in any and all creative disciplines, enhancing other programs and outreach for more diverse populations, and positioning the Coalition for national growth.

You are invited to Chicago Artists Coalition’s ‘90s & Neon Night fundraiser!Thursday, October 1 at Ignite Glass StudiosE...
08/15/2026

You are invited to Chicago Artists Coalition’s ‘90s & Neon Night fundraiser!

Thursday, October 1 at Ignite Glass Studios
Event begins at 6pm

Support art by supporting the artists and curators behind it. This is what Chicago Artists Coalition does best. From our residency program to our public offerings like professional development and the Resources section of our website, we believe helping artists and curators level up in their careers begins with the basics: relationship-building and knowledge-sharing.

Dress to impress in your 90s & neon attire! Enjoy a special performance and music by CAC Alum Jacqueline Guerrero (fka CQQCHIFRUIT). Bites and beverages included!

Early bird pricing through September 1:
Artist/Arts Worker/Student Early Bird - $50
Individual Early Bird - $100
*More ticket pricing options at the link in our bio

This evening, CAC honors Ginny B. Van Alyea and her long history of supporting the Chicago artists community through CGN / Chicago Gallery News.

Help us continue help emerging artists and curators in Chicago by supporting our mission today and celebrating with us!

Timeline:
6-7pm - Check In/Cocktails/Food
7pm - Welcome + Disc Jacqui performance
7:20pm - About CAC + Paddle Raise
7:45pm - Dance floor opens

Reserve your spot today at the link in our bio!

Please join us on Thursday, August 20 from 6-8pm for a closing reception and artist talk on our current exhibition 𝘋𝘶𝘴𝘵 ...
08/14/2026

Please join us on Thursday, August 20 from 6-8pm for a closing reception and artist talk on our current exhibition 𝘋𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘓𝘢𝘺.

The talk will run from 6:30-7:30pm and will be moderated by curator Rachel Dukes, featuring artists Herman Aguirre, Diana Noh, and Skyler Simpson.

A catalog on the exhibition will also be released at the event! The catalog features artwork and installation photography by Diana Noh and writing by rachel dukes 🫧, Cristobal Alday, Joan / Jo, Samuel Schwindt, and Erin Toale. Shoutout to Quimby’s Ink Quimbys Bookstore who managed printing for the catalog and Chicago DCASE for providing the Individual Artists Program grant that made it all possible.

We hope to see you there!

On Thursday, September 10 from 6-8pm we have our next professional development workshop, Keywords with Colleen Keihm.REG...
08/13/2026

On Thursday, September 10 from 6-8pm we have our next professional development workshop, Keywords with Colleen Keihm.

REGISTER TODAY AT THE LINK IN OUR BIO.

A keyword is a specific word or phrase that signifies the core topic of your practice, research, and queries.

Why are keywords good for your practice: people will ask you what you do and you want them to! Beyond stating your medium, consider having 3-6 keywords in your pocket that key someone into “what are you working on?” By having a keyword, you can be more concise and focus on making rather than explaining.

Presented by CAC Alumna Colleen Keihm.

Rooted in our core values of knowledge-sharing and building community, this 90-minute seminar will include 30 minutes of conversation with participants. Bring your experience and your questions to the group!

This is a hybrid event. Participants may attend in person or via Zoom. Registration is required.

$10 for the general public
$5 for CAC alumni
FREE for current residents

Thank you to Brian Gillham from Zolla/Lieberman Gallery for sharing your knowledge with us at our most recent profession...
08/12/2026

Thank you to Brian Gillham from Zolla/Lieberman Gallery for sharing your knowledge with us at our most recent professional development workshop “How To Value Your Work” and to everyone who attended in person and online!

Our next workshop is “Keywords” Colleen Keihm on Thursday, September 10 from 6-8pm. Participants can attend in person or online via Zoom.

Check out our other upcoming workshops at the links in our bio or on our website at chicagoartistscoalition.org/upcoming-events/.

08/11/2026

For our current exhibition “Dust That Lay”, we sat down with Herman Aguirre, Diana Noh, Skyler Hunter Simpson, and Rachel Dukes to speak about the collaborative piece they created together for the show.

Listen to see what the artists and curator have to share about their experience!

We will be sharing more from the interview before the show ends on Thursday, August 20, when we will also be hosting a Closing Reception and Artist Talk at Chicago Artists Coalition from 6-8pm (Artist Talk from 6:30-7:30pm).

Artwork featured: Herman Aguirre, Diana Noh, and Skyler Hunter Simpson, “Tectonic”, 2026, Oil, acrylic, and archival pigment, 72” x 48”

We are back with our Resident Spotlight series, where we highlight our 2025 Residents ahead of their shows opening later...
08/07/2026

We are back with our Resident Spotlight series, where we highlight our 2025 Residents ahead of their shows opening later this and next year.

Up next is Nick D’Alessandro, whose group show opens on Friday, September 4, 2026 from 5-8pm at Chicago Artists Coalition alongside Sebastian Bruno-Harris, Rob Croll and Van Payne, curated by Taj Richardson.

You can read the full interview at the link in our bio.

Scroll to see photos of Nick’s work and excerpts from the interview.





Image 1: Photo credit: Avery Johnson

Image 2: Nick D’Alessandro, “Miser”, 2026, silk, mold, wood, 37” x 31”

Image 4: Nick D’Alessandro, “Outfit”, 3/3, 2026, cast scrap glass, approx. 13” x 11” x 2”

Image 5: Nick D’Alessandro, “Product”, 2026, cotton, eucalyptus, iron, wax, 21” x 13”

Image 7: Left to right:
Nick D’Alessandro, “Scab”, 2026, cotton, lawn fertilizer, 13’ x 91”
Nick D’Alessandro, “Runaway Stylist”, 2026, cotton, tar, 13” x 91”
Nick D’Alessandro, “How to wrap an air conditioner”, 2026, cotton, plaster, 13” x 91”
Nick D’Alessandro, “Jackknife”, 2026, polyester, epoxy, 13” x 91”
Nick D’Alessandro, “Hermit”, 2026, polyester, eucalyptus, 13” x 91”

Image 8: Left to right:
Nick D’Alessandro, “Slump”, 2026, polyester, iron, 13” x 91”
Nick D’Alessandro, “Lap Magnet”, 2026, polyester, latex, 13” x 91”
Nick D’Alessandro, “Stable Jaw”, 2026, polyester, Advil, 13” x 91”
Nick D’Alessandro, “New Shroud”, 2026, cotton, buried, 13” x 91”

Image 10: Nick D’Alessandro, “Jasper”, 2025, lint, aluminum zip ties, 40” x 43” x 33”
Image 11: Nick D’Alessandro, “Untitled”, 2025, t-shirts, free, dimensions variable

Image 13: Nick D’Alessandro, “Sudarium”, 2026, vinyl, cotton, 38” x 91”

Image 14: Photo credit: Avery Johnson

Research and writing are a big part of the curatorial process. My notes are usually very messy at first— I try to priori...
08/07/2026

Research and writing are a big part of the curatorial process. My notes are usually very messy at first— I try to prioritize getting my thoughts out and then I edit them into more structured writing over time.

I’ve really enjoyed researching and exploring hauntology through my work with this exhibition! Hauntology is a cultural philosophy that suggests the present is haunted by elements of the past and their unrealized futures.

Our catalog will feature writing by Cristobal Alday Erin Toale Samuel Schwindt and Joan / Jo that dives deeper into Hauntology in the context of the work in the show. We’ll have catalogs available at our artist talk and closing reception on August 20 from 6-8pm 🌀

Slide 1: Diana, Herman, Skyler, Rachel with one of the collaborative pieces, 𝙏𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙘
Slide 2: I bought a typewriter earlier this year 🤭 :) Here is a cropped image of my notes following one of our meetings!
Slide 3: Pg. 11 of Rachel Rose: Wil-O-Wisp exhibition catalog. One impactful quote: “Rose delves into the looping temporalities of the past, finding there both the enduring possibility of enchantment and the roots of our current condition.”

Hello! I’m rachel dukes 🫧, the curator of 𝑫𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑳𝒂𝒚 on view at CAC through August 20 💫Our exhibition is the result o...
08/05/2026

Hello! I’m rachel dukes 🫧, the curator of 𝑫𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑳𝒂𝒚 on view at CAC through August 20 💫

Our exhibition is the result of very intentional and thoughtful collaboration. From the start, we really prioritized getting to know each other and our practices, which laid a strong foundation for our relationship over the last year.

This spirit of collaboration carried over into other aspects of the exhibition, with everyone excitedly contributing to different parts of the show. Herman shared leftover panels that we repurposed to create more wall space in the gallery. Skyler designed the title design, and Diana photographed all of the work in the exhibition. Bringing 𝑫𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑳𝒂𝒚 to life was truly a team effort 🤍

Beyond the installation, the artworks 𝘕𝘦𝘣𝘶𝘭𝘢 and 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤 were created through organic collaboration. In reference to our exploration of Hauntology—the idea that time is continuously interrupted or ‘haunted’ by unseen elements of the past— these artworks in particular speak to the parts of ourselves that we subconsciously bring into our relationships with others.

To learn more about 𝘕𝘦𝘣𝘶𝘭𝘢 and 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤, join us on August 20 from 6-8pm for an artist talk and closing reception 💫 We’ll also have copies of our catalog available as well! Hope to see you there :)

Thank you Patric McCoy—art collector, photographer, co-founder of Diasporal Rhythms, environmentalist and former environ...
08/03/2026

Thank you Patric McCoy—art collector, photographer, co-founder of Diasporal Rhythms, environmentalist and former environmental scientist—for taking time out of your day to come speak with our residents on Friday!

We are back with our Resident Spotlight series, where we highlight our 2025 Residents ahead of their shows opening later...
07/31/2026

We are back with our Resident Spotlight series, where we highlight our 2025 Residents ahead of their shows opening later this and next year.

Up next is Rob Croll, whose group show opens on Friday, September 4, 2026 from 5–8pm at Chicago Artists Coalition alongside Sebastian Bruno-Harris, Nick D’Alessandro and Van Payne, curated by Taj Richardson.

You can read the full interview at the link in our bio.

Scroll to see photos of Rob’s work and excerpts from the interview.





Image 1: Rob Croll, I Know What Time It Is, 2025, binder’s board, fabric, risograph print on paper, PVA, laser-cut MDF, aluminum enamel, lamp, and ball-type compass, 9” x 13.25” x 4” when closed

Image 2: Same as above

Image 3: Rob Croll, Waymark, 2025, installation, dimensions variable

Image 5: Rob Croll, Forced Perspective (Crowd Arriving, Crowd Leaving), 2025, winter coats in artist’s frame with custom steel armatures, 58” x 38” x 8”

Image 6: Rob Croll, Barrier/Free I, Zitadelle Spandau, 2025, inkjet print with cutout and mirror in artist’s frame, 16.5” x 11.5” x 1.75”

Image 7: Rob Croll, Barrier/Free III, Logan Square Park, 2025, inkjet print with cutout and mirror in artist’s frame, 16.5” x 11.5” x 1.75”

Image 9: Rob Croll, Columbus Park Memento Mori, 2025, inkjet print in artist’s frame, 3.5” x 5.5” x 1.75”

Image 10: Rob Croll, The Gnomon, 2024, installation, dimensions variable

Image 11: Rob Croll, Emission Theory, 2024, cyanotype on cotton in artist’s frame, 73” x 48” x 1.25”

Image 13: Rob Croll, Recalibrations (triptych), 2024, inkjet prints in artist’s frames, 15.25” x 12.75” x 1” each

Image 14: Rob Croll, Narrow Cone of Vision, 2024, cyanotype on cotton in artist’s frame, 9” x 12” x 1.5”

Image 15: Rob Croll, Remembered Landscape, 2024, cyanotype on cotton, 13” x 17”

Image 17: Rob Croll, All the Way Down, 2023, inkjet prints on bond paper, 24” x 36” x 2.5”

Image 18: Rob Croll, Echo (echo), 2024, c-type prints and paper, 10” x 10” x 0.5”

Image 19: Rob Croll, Inflection Point, Berlin, 2024, c-type print, 11” x 14” x 1”

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1431 W Hubbard Street, Ste 201
Chicago, IL
60642

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+13124918888

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