Art Encounter

06/05/2026

NEW MURAL! It was a great pleasure to work with artist Jeff Zimmermann and the Evanston History Center on this exciting mural, as part of .encounter ‘s . Inspired by an exhibition at the Evanston History Center last year called “It’s All Fun and Games”, this mural celebrates and uplifts the innovations and inventions that have come out of Evanston that relate to children’s play and culture. All of the images in the mural are ones whose makers lived or worked in Evanston, and include: Tinker Toys; Ice Cream Sundae; Games by Marvin Glass, including Talking Teeth/ Light Brite /Simon/ Operation; Spirograph; Ringling Bros Circus-related imagery; Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer; children’s View Master; and Duncan Yo-Yos. Some images are rendered more abstractly, some more literally, making a game out of the whole composition of the mural itself! Check it out in person at Greenwood Street and Sherman Avenue. Stay tuned for website links and date of a reception for the mural this summer!

05/29/2026

We are doing a big mural in the Fulton River District this year, and today is the kick-off! We’re bringing three exceptional Chicago- Jordan Nickel/ POSE, Max Sansing, and Jeff Zimmermann - together to collaborate for the very first time, on two massive walls at the Fulton and Milwaukee UP underpass. Today is a meet & greet with the community from 4-6 pm. With .0 🙏🏼 to and for the opportunity

05/21/2026

After visiting the beautiful exhibition of work by Alma Thomas currently on view at the Smart Museum of Art, 4th graders in our ARTiculations program created these lovely paper mosaics inspired by her work! Collaborating in groups of four, each student worked on their own canvas before combining them into one finished piece.

Our 10 week ARTiculations program reaches hundreds of 3rd–5th graders throughout Chicago every year, and is funded entirely through grants and individual donations. If you'd like to help sustain and grow Art Encounter programs like this one, we hope you'll consider a donation during the last few days of our Spring Fundraiser! Visit artencounter.org/make-a-donation to show your support.

05/18/2026

It's our birthday! 🥳 🎉 Art Encounter was founded in 1978 by three dedicated artists who saw the power and purpose of making art a part of our everyday lives. Over the last 48 years, we've brought transformational art experiences to hundreds of thousands of youth, adults, and seniors across the Chicago area. Here's to this day, to you, and to what's on the horizon as we near our big 50th in 2028!

If you share our belief in the power of visual art, we hope you'll help us celebrate by making a donation to sustain our programming for years to come. Visit artencounter.org/make-a-donation to contribute to our Spring Fundraiser!

Pictured: Art Encounter's founders: Bonnie Hartenstein, Joanna Pinsky, and Ellen Kamerling; and current staff: Dustin Harris, Leslie Luning, Joanna Pinsky, Lea Pinsky, Annie Trincot, Miriam Bahena-Cardona Bisby, Yadi Roysterm and Sarah Packer

05/15/2026

New project in Downtown Evanston! Participants from our evening art program with the Center for Independent Futures just completed their culminating project for the year: an art installation on the storefront windows of CIF’s headquarters! Talented muralist Molly Z led the group in designing and painting their own colorful, abstract patterned forms over the course of four sessions this spring. Come check it out at 1015 Davis Street in Evanston!

This program is sponsored in part by grants from the Illinois Arts Council and the Evanston Arts Council as well as individual donors.

05/07/2026

New mural alert! We had a wonderful time partnering with King Arts School and lead librarian Shalana Jacquess this school year to elevate their library with this powerful mural about Civil Rights Leaders from Around the World- by the phenomenal artist Damon Reed! With Evanston Mural Arts Program Lea Pinsky Thank you Evanston RoundTable for the coverage. This mural was made possible in part by a grant from Union Pacific Community Ties.

Unveiling of a new mural at Dr. Martin Luther King Arts School featuring global activists, designed by Chicago-based artist Damon Lamar Reed.

04/28/2026

We brought our Chicago Public School 3rd and 4th grade students to see the stunning Alma Thomas exhibit at the the Smart Museum this month, and they’ve had an amazing time back in the classroom creating their own artworks inspired by her aesthetic! Thank you to everyone at and for being so welcoming and kind to our groups ❤️

04/25/2026

We are so pleased to partner with again this year for their spring show, providing guided tours of the art gallery area of the fair! Our teaching artist is leading programs on Saturday April 25 at 2 pm and Sunday April 26 at 1 pm. Join us!

04/22/2026

Coming this summer.

Evanston Arts Council considers transforming an old embankment wall into a permission wall for graffiti-style art, fostering community and creativity.

04/21/2026

Back at King Arts with and a very talented group 8th grade graders to paint the completed design for their mural on Civil Rights Leaders from Around the Globe. Excited to install the finished piece in the school library, just in time for the 8th graders graduation gift to the school. Much gratitude to foundation, and King Arts School for helping make this project happen!