Chicago Artists Coalition

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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.

06/09/2026

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 Skyler Simpson, whose group show opens on Friday, July 10, 2026 from 5-8pm at Chicago Artists Coalition alongside Herman Aguirre and Diana Noh, curated by Rachel Dukes.

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

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

Image 1: Skyler Simpson, “Spinning Webs (detail)”, 2025 - 2026, Flashe, acrylic, and colored pencil on panel, 24” x 36”

Image 2: Skyler Simpson, “Strange Attraction (detail)”, 2026, Colored pencil, acrylic, and oil on panel, 24” x 20”

Image 4: Skyler Simpson, Studio View 1, 2026

Image 5: Skyler Simpson, “The Streetlight”, 2025, Colored pencil on mounted paper, 10” x 8”

Image 7: Skyler Simpson, Studio View 2, 2026

Image 8: Skyler Simpson, “Subterranean (detail)”, 2025 - 2026, Oil on panel, 40” x 30”

Image 10: Skyler Simpson, Studio View 3, 2026

06/08/2026

We know the future of artists in Chicago belongs to more than just the most prestigious institutions, galleries, or art schools. We know the future of artists in Chicago is in the hands of all of us.

Join us to give Chicago artists at all levels the support and skills they need to thrive.

Can we count on your donation today? Click the donation link here to give: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/HVl5wcVPUasCBJwIrViSUw.

Thank you from the team here at CAC.

Image: Clarence Ritchie teaching an Art Handling & Gallery Prep professional development workshop at Chicago Artists Coalition in April 2026.

06/05/2026

Here are the May statistics for the Jobs Board, Calls for Artists, and Space Finder web pages under the Resources section of our website!

Currently there are 64 job posts, 96 call for artists posts, and 9 space finder posts on our website for you to browse.

New listings are being added daily!

Visit the links in our bio to search listings today or go to:

chicagoartistscoalition.org/jobs/
chicagoartistscoalition.org/calls-for-artists/
chicagoartistscoalition.org/space-finder/

06/04/2026

Please join us on Thursday, June 18 from 6-8pm for a closing reception and artist talk on our current exhibition “homeward (un)bound”.

The talk will run from 6:30-7:30pm and will be moderated by Alivé Piliado, featuring artists Maryam Faridani, Jairo Granados-Cardenas, and Martha Osornio Ruiz.

We hope to see you there!

Image: Martha Osornio Ruiz, “Bordando Deconsideration”, 2025, screen print of Form I-821D, pg 1 of 7 on a large bedsheet, red thread, blue chair

06/03/2026

Chicago Artists Coalition is hiring! Do you want to be our next Residency and Exhibitions Manager?

The Residency and Exhibitions Manager will have five major areas of responsibility:

- Oversee residency and its programming
- Oversee exhibitions for gallery on site
- Community building
- Promote the residency, residents and their exhibitions through content for the newsletter, social media and website as determined by Executive Director
- Manage external exhibitions and special projects as necessary

This position will ensure that the organization’s programs and communication embody our core values of Community Building | Career Development | Knowledge Sharing | Strategic Partnerships | Equitable Opportunities.

Compensation is $26 per hour for up to 20 hours per week.

This position is hybrid.

Apply today via the link in our bio or at chicagoartistscoalition.org/jobs/. Applications will be accepted until Monday, June 22.

06/02/2026

Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate our new residents at the Warehouse Welcome Party last week! We had a great time with you and can’t wait to officially onboard this incredibly talented group of individuals in June.

Special shoutout to current resident Maryam Faridani () for their multimedia video performance during the event.

All new resident profiles are now up on the CAC website under Info —> Directory. Go check them out to get to know our incoming cohort better! We will be entering the rest of our current and former resident profiles over the coming weeks.

06/01/2026

If you are a Chicago artist, art-lover, or even just art-curious: we are here for you.

Because no one makes a career all on their own! That’s why we work so hard to understand today’s contemporary art industry and ensure that we give artists and curators the tools, skills, and connections that power lasting careers.

We can do that because people like you have got our back, too.

Help us keep Chicago a city where artists can live, work, and thrive by making a donation to Chicago Artists Coalition today at the following link: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/HVl5wcVPUasCBJwIrViSUw.

Image: Both current and incoming residents, as well as the CAC Team, gather for a photo at this year’s Newcity Breakout Artists Exhibition Opening on April 8, 2026.

05/29/2026

FREE COMMUNITY ART WORKSHOP:

Come to learn how to embroider your own I-D821 form, DACA documents. Join the artist and CAC Resident, Martha Osornio Ruiz, as she walks you step by step to fill out your own DACA documents using thread.

“homeward (un)bound” invites the viewer to grapple with what home means. Now more than ever, as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients are waiting longer periods of time for renewal to be approved, and they are losing their jobs, artist Osornio Ruiz asks the viewer to look closely at the documents that once protected her from deportation. Throughout the process of filling out the documents with thread rather than pen and ink, she asks the viewer to consider the burden of completing them every two years.

Join us from 1-3 pm on June 6th for an artist-making workshop by Martha Osornio Ruiz. This event will also be an opportunity to learn embroidery techniques. All materials will be provided; no prior experience necessary.

RSVP using the link in our bio.

This event is FREE and open to the public. All are welcome!

“homeward (un)bound” runs from May 1- June 18

05/27/2026

Thanks to all the members from the Arts Club of Chicago who came to see our current show and meet some of our residents yesterday!

We had a great time with you, as did our artists.

Swipe through to see photos from the gallery visit and studio walkthroughs.

05/26/2026

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 Diana Noh, whose group show opens on Friday, July 10, 2026 from 5-8pm at Chicago Artists Coalition alongside Herman Aguirre and Skyler Simpson, curated by Rachel Dukes.

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

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

Image 1: Diana Noh, “After Nine”, 2022, Archival pigment print on Hahnemühle canvas, thread, 89” x 121”

Image 2: Diana Noh, “Hourglass”, 2021, Archival pigment print on Canon canvas, thread, 100.5” x 70”

Image 4: Diana Noh, “Anchor”, 2023, Archival pigment print on Hahnemühle canvas, 41.5” x 30”

Images 5-6: Diana Noh, “DUPLEX//FEED”, 2024, Archival pigment print on Hahnemühle canvas, mother of pearl, 24” x 18”

Images 8-9: Diana Noh, “자화상”, 2024/2021, Archival pigment print on Hahnemühle German Etching bonded to acrylic artist frame, 20.25” x 13.5” x 0.75”

Images 10, 12: Diana Noh, “tinged with, but”, 2026, Archival pigment print on Hahnemühle canvas, thread, 22” x 9.25”

Images 13-14: Diana Noh, “keepsake”, 2026, Archival pigment print on Hahnemühle canvas, wood, dimensions variable

Images 16-17: Diana Noh, “Dreamcatcher”, 2026, Folded Archival pigment print on Arista metallic paper, 13” x 20.25” x 2”

Image 18: Diana Noh, “Hourglass”, 2021, Archival pigment print on Canon canvas, thread, 100.5” x 70”

Address

1431 W Hubbard Street, Ste 201
Chicago, IL
60642

Telephone

+13124918888

Website

http://www.chicagoartistscoalition.org/

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