Summer used to be a sleepy time in the Chicago art world. Gallerists knew better than to give their star artists the slow summer exhibition slots, filling them instead with group shows or trying out new artists. Many closed their doors entirely for the month of August. It’s not like that anymore.
This summer is a phenomenal time to be visiting (or living in) Chicago if you’re an art lover. Jeff Koons—who is, whether you love him or hate him, one of the most significant and provocative artists to emerge in the late 20th century—holds court at the Museum of Contemporary Art (220 E. Chicago Ave., 312.280.2660; mcachicago.org) through September 21. The MCA collected a number of seminal Koons pieces early on and has worked closely with the artist to augment them with others in this carefully curated survey of the artist’s sculptural works.
Millennium Park—which is, at its heart, a lavish, interactive sculpture garden—is at its best in the summer, when children and office workers alike dip their toes (or more) in Jaume Plensa’s colossal video fountain or marvel at the fun-house reflections of the Michigan Avenue cityscape in Anish Kapoor’s “Cloud Gate” (a.k.a., “the bean”).
It’s also a great time to head to any of several gallery districts in the city, where these days you’ll find summer exhibitions every bit as thoughtful and significant as those in other seasons—and you’ll be a lot more comfortable strolling from one to the next. Perhaps because we Chicagoans know that summer is so fleeting here, the city has a particular friendliness and energy during its few really warm months. That energy extends into the art scene, which no one can call sleepy anymore—not even in August.—Ann Wiens
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River North
Addington Gallery
704 N. Wells St., 312.664.3406
Tuesday – Saturday 11 to 6
addingtongallery.com
September marks the one-year anniversary of Addington Gallery, although the space has been mounting exhibitions of works by artists—mostly painters—with a strong sensitivity to their materials and a deep understanding of the play between abstraction and representation. Owner Dan Addington, an accomplished painter himself, bought the gallery from Gwenda Jay last year, but the two were partners in the venture for years before that, making for a smooth transition.
COUNT ON FINDING: Savvy painters who explore the area between abstraction and representation with full awareness of the Postmodern context they’re working in. The artists here tend to understand the physicality of paint, and whether working in precise realism or expressive abstraction, they know how to make the image emerge from the medium.
WHAT’S NEW? Through the summer, find works by San Francisco painter Robin Denevan, a relatively new artist to the gallery. Denevan works in the tricky medium of encaustic, layering beeswax, oil paint and natural resins to create light-filled images loosely inspired by his global travels including journeys down the Amazon or Yangtze rivers. In July and August, Thomas Monaghan’s “Lake Series” includes serene, sensitive twilight landscapes, in which the interplay of light and shadow conspire to create a softened realism evocative of our own lakeside memories.
Andora Gallery
77 W. Huron St., 312.274.3747
Tuesday – Friday 10 to 5:30, Saturday 10 to 5, and by appointment
andoragallery.com
Nothing seems more foreign to contemporary art than a vision of approachability, play and tactile delight. But it exists at Andora Gallery, the inviting home of one of the country’s most distinguished collections of contemporary fine craft. Whether you are a collector or simply appreciate the beauty of artful objects—the exciting collection is an engagement for the senses.
COUNT ON FINDING: This distinctive gallery, originally founded in Carefree, Arizona, and recently relocated to Huron Street, focusing on contemporary three-dimensional works by emerging and established artists working in clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood and jewelry.
WHAT’S NEW? Well, everything, as this unique new venue presents its “Inaugural Exhibition” in celebration of the gallery's grand opening. The launch features a collection of works by emerging and internationally known sculptors through June 28. From July 16 through August 10, “Bodies of Work: Abstractions of the Human Form” reveals expressions and emotions through the work of several figurative artists who are exhibiting in Chicago for the first time.
Ann Nathan Gallery
212 W. Superior St., 312.664.6622
Tuesday – Friday 10 to 5:30, Saturday 11 to 5
annnathangallery.com
Ann Nathan has been the vision behind her eponymous River North gallery for more than 20 years, yet that vision has remained perpetually fresh. Whether she’s talking about a new artist she has just discovered, or one of the fine-art painters or ceramists whose works she has favored for decades, her passion for the art she exhibits shines through.
COUNT ON FINDING: Heroic, narrative paintings created with a level of skill many thought had been lost generations ago as well as a small but careful selection of African art, prized ceramics and a smattering of folk art. Jim Rose’s Shaker-style influenced furniture made from steel is always a favorite.
WHAT’S NEW? Through May, the gallery will continue its show featuring grand figurative works by Bruno Surdo. In June, must-see photoRealist-Surrealist paintings by Christopher A. Klein (recently retired from National Geographic), ingenious ceramic sculpture by British star Peter Hayes, plus an ever-changing selection of notable artists.
Carl Hammer
740 N. Wells St., 312.266.8512
Tuesday – Saturday 11 to 5
hammergallery.com
As one of Chicago’s premiere galleries, the Carl Hammer Gallery has focused, since its founding in 1979, on the presentation of 20th- and 21st-century artists who create works rooted in the primary concern for making bold and insightful statements regarding the human condition. The gallery has garnered a unique international reputation for the resulting confluence of an aesthetic dialogue forged between mainstream art and Outsider art.
COUNT ON FINDING: Works by gallery artists that are representative of the full range of diversity inherent in American culture, wherein gender, ethnicity and philosophical beliefs are concerned.
WHAT’S NEW? Jan Petry’s austere collection of wood sculptures will be exhibited through July 2. Satirically titled “Juicy,” her works employ raw and simplistic elements. “Contents” by François Robert will be displayed through August 30. See the world through his eyes in his contemporary prints.
Melanee Cooper Gallery
740 N. Franklin St., 312.202.9305
Tuesday – Thursday 10 to 5, Friday 10 to 6, Saturday 11 to 5
melaneecoopergallery.com
Melanee Cooper’s inviting space offers contemporary art paintings in a variety of artistic styles and mediums. Many of the artists she represents share a respect for materiality and the engaging surface from their media. Whether the subject matter is figurative, abstract, Japanese anime or landscape, all artists have a focus on the process of exploring the surface of their works.
COUNT ON FINDING: Paintings with rich, luminous texture and surfaces by several encaustic artists utilizing a mixture of pigment and hot wax that requires special skill but yields incomparable results.
WHAT’S NEW? Through June, find Monica Reede’s latest collection of paintings, created with a particularly engaging process. To make her mixed-media abstract, Reede paints in oil, places a Plexiglass layer over the paint, then continues to etch the Plexiglass, adding a new dimension to her work. You’ll also find new paintings by established artist Wade Hoefer, who is well- known for his highly realistic landscapes that for the past four decades have found their way into museums and corporate collections around the world.
Perimeter Gallery
210 W. Superior St., 312.266.9473
Tuesday – Saturday 10:30 to 5:30
perimetergallery.com
The affable director Frank Paluch has presided over this gallery for 25 years, developing a program that consistently features thoughtful, carefully crafted contemporary painting, sculpture and works on paper by midcareer artists. “Quality” may seem like a subjective adjective with which to describe art, but in the case of the works here, it’s consistently applicable.
COUNT ON FINDING: Works by master contemporary ceramic and fiber artists, and accomplished paintings, sculpture and works on paper in a variety of styles, linked by attention to fine craftsmanship and well-developed ideas. There are plenty of representational works (including some stunning landscapes) as well as elegant abstraction in many different media—and if you’re fond of sculpture, Perimeter is a must-visit.
WHAT’S NEW? Look for works by Laura Beard through July, in her first show at the gallery. Beard’s large-scale, abstract oil paintings build structure out of seemingly chaotic line. Through mid-July, Kathleen Holder shows minimalist pastel works on paper, with rich color that extends out from a central light source, creating a mysterious and inviting space. From mid-July through August, local artist Janis Pozzi-Johnson exhibits minimalist colorful paintings, which emerge from hundreds of layers of oil paint that give her surfaces a luminescent, rippling effect.
Roy Boyd Gallery
739 N. Wells St., 312.642.1606
Tuesday – Saturday 10
to 5:30, Monday by appointment
royboydgallery.com
Ann and Roy Boyd helped pioneer River North as a gallery district, and three decades later they’re still showing powerful, mostly abstract works in their inviting, two-level gallery. The Boyds treat their artists (and clients) like family, and the loyalty shows, with many artists and collectors building their careers and collections right alongside the evolution of the gallery. Of course, newcomers find a warm welcome, too.
COUNT ON FINDING: Abstract paintings, sculpture and works on paper by established and emerging artists, with the occasional appearance of representational works that have caught Roy Boyd’s discerning eye. This is a great place to find works by midcareer Chicago artists, several of whom have been with the gallery for decades.
WHAT’S NEW? Jay Kelly’s avant-garde sculptures, crafted from metal, wire and wood, which will be on view along with his abstract geometric drawings through July 15. Then catch Chad Buck’s new series of captivating, chromatic paintings, starting July 18 through the end of the summer. His peppery hues and subtle shifts in pattern are inspired by those of the natural world.
Vale Craft Gallery
230 W. Superior St., 312.337.3525
Tuesday – Friday 10:30 to 5:30, Saturday 11 to 5
valecraftgallery.com
An accomplished ceramic artist in his own right, owner Peter Vale brings together a collection of fine American crafts with a significant dose of whimsy. The eclectic, consistently high-quality selection includes unique jewelry collections, functional art, sculpture, and artistic quilts and other textiles.
COUNT ON FINDING: Playful found-object sculpture and clocks by Mark Brown, textured ceramics by Randy O’Brien and a wonderful, ever-changing selection of one-of-a kind, artisan jewelry. Art quilts that are made from textiles but read more like paintings are also a highlight.
WHAT’S NEW? Throughout the summer, Lauren Camp’s “The Fabric of Jazz” series includes striking portraits and still-lifes, inspired by jazz and created with multiple layers of fabric. Bursting with color and energy, these harmonious works are reminiscent of hot jazz, translated into visual form. Drawing inspiration from several instruments playing together, Camp creates a composition—the round sounds of the saxophone, higher notes of other brass instruments and the tinkling of the piano—with the colors, textures and shapes she “hears.
Michigan Avenue Area
Colletti Gallery
67 E. Oak St., 312.664.6767
Monday – Saturday 10 to 6, Sunday 12 to 5
collettigallery.com
Chicago’s Oak Street is known worldwide for its up-to-the-minute fashions, but cutting-edge culture of another era can be found here, too. Colletti Gallery is a world unto itself: an elegant foray into the glamour (with a touch of decadence) of 19th-century Paris. The artists who captured—and helped create—the scene that centered around the Moulin Rouge were at their finest creating posters for the stars of the day, and here you’ll find one of the world’s largest collections of these original works.
COUNT ON FINDING: Antique posters and original lithographs by Toulouse-Lautrec, Mucha, Bonnard, Chéret and Cappiello as well as lavish period furniture and accessories and an impressive collection of ceramics by Amphora, Massier and Zsolnay.
WHAT’S NEW? Posters from Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, c. 1885; a 1925 burled-walnut dining ensemble by Italian Futurist Giovanni Guerini; and rare, very-limited-edition linocuts by Pablo Picasso. New pieces arrive almost daily.
Galleries Maurice Sternberg
875 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2850, 312.642.1700
Open by appointment
galleriesmauricesternberg.com
This is likely the oldest continuously operating gallery in the city, getting its start in 1945. Current owners Harvey and Susan Poole (who got their start with the gallery as collectors) have continued Sternberg’s tradition of offering museum-quality American and European paintings from the 19th and early 20th centuries, and have added Sternberg Contemporary to the mix, specializing in works by established living artists from around the world, such as Danish painters Niles Strobek and Soren Hagen.
COUNT ON FINDING: Primarily a 19th-century paintings gallery, although the paintings you find on view may have been created in the 1800s…or last month. Approximately four major shows a year are divided between traditional and contemporary artists, with a respect for classic aesthetic tastes prevailing.
WHAT’S NEW? A collection of works by Robert Amft, including personal paintings from 1938 through 1960 is featured through June 30. “Robert Amft: Out of His Mind” features paintings that touch on social realism, modernist abstraction and surrealism, often relating to Chicago. Amft’s use of color and distinctive brush strokes conveys an abundance of expression and emotion through the artistic styles of his day.
Hildt Galleries
617 N. State St.,
312.255.0005
Tuesday – Saturday 11 to 5:30
hildtgalleries.com
The Hildt family, originally from England, opened its gallery in the American Midwest more than 25 years ago, realizing that British, European and American paintings from the 19th and early 20th centuries offered an especially good value in the American art market. Jeremy Hildt carries on the tradition today, offering a well-edited selection of these works in his warm, inviting gallery housed in State Street’s historic Tree Studios
building.
COUNT ON FINDING: Original oil paintings and watercolors in traditional styles including genre scenes, landscapes, still lifes, figure paintings, seascapes and Parisian street scenes. The gallery also handles works by contemporary artists who carry on the traditions of the past, and the quality period framing, carefully matched to the era of each work, is a wonderful touch.
WHAT’S NEW? Most of the artworks here are from the past century or two, but Hildt also represents several contemporary artists who are keeping alive the difficult academic techniques and high-level painting skills of the past. Among them you’ll find a new body of Polish Impressionist works. And new “old” works are always coming in, keeping the gallery’s offerings continually fresh.
Kamp Galleries
140 E. Walton Pl.,
(Drake Hotel arcade) 312.664.0090
Open daily 11 to 6 except Sunday and Wednesday by appointment
kampgallery.com
Currently housed in the arcade of the historic Drake Hotel (with a second location in the North Shore suburb of Winnetka), Kamp was established in the 1970s. The intimate, salon-style Chicago space offers a fitting showcase for the traditional contemporary paintings and early 20th-century American Impressionists and European and Russian painters from the Baroque through the Postimpressionist eras
that the gallery favors.
COUNT ON FINDING: Works by early 20th-century American Impressionists, which hang alongside paintings by European and Russian masters from the Baroque through the Impressionist periods. The gallery has an inviting, European-academy vibe, with a vast selection of works that owner Nick Vahlkamp describes as “nice, period decorative paintings…original compositions in traditional styles by well-trained European artists.”
WHAT’S NEW? By popular demand, Kamp Gallery is extending its show “Chicago Artists We Love” through August 30. The exhibit features new acquisitions of historical Midwestern artists circa 1890 – 1940 obtained from private collections and not shown publicly for 70 – 110 years. Artists highlighted in the exhibit are George Ames Aldrich, Charles Frances Browne, Paul Cornoyer, Charles Dahlgreen, Frederic Milton Grant, Louis Grell, Alfred Jansson, Sam Ostrowsky, Frank Charles Peyraud and Emil Thulin.
Lakeview
ArtDeTriumph and Artful Framer Studios
2936-38 N. Clark St., 773.832.4038
Tuesday – Friday 11 to 7, Saturday 10 to 6, Sunday 12 to 5
artdetriumph.com or nanciekingmertz.com
Nancie King Mertz has found a way to seamlessly merge her passion and her livelihood, creating an astonishing hundred or so original paintings each year and offering them to collectors in her gallery and accompanying framing studio. Nancie captures the spirit of her own sweet home Chicago as well as scenes from her world travels. Her husband/partner Ron Mertz produces fine-art cards of the image, and high-quality Giclée prints once the original is sold, so admirers on any budget can bring their favorite scene into their lives.
COUNT ON FINDING: Both classic and more unusual scenes of Chicago, including most local landmarks, as well as images from Nancie King Mertz’s travels around the world. You’ll find original oil paintings and pastels, collective Giclée prints for more modest budgets, and fine-art cards for framing.
WHAT’S NEW? Through June, “Chicago to China” presents Nancie’s works created during and following a trip to China this April, when she joined other plein air painters traveling to southwestern China and hiking into remote mountain villages to paint the local scenes and people in situ. Nancie's characteristic thick brush strokes and vivid palette bring to life the culture, scenery and people of the Chinese countryside.
The Leigh Gallery
3306 N. Halsted St., 773.472.1865
Wednesday – Monday 11 to 6, Closed Tuesday
theleighgallery.com
Artist Jean Leigh, wanting to give her Lakeview neighbors and visitors a “nice, fun, happy, casual” place to see art, opened the gallery about three years ago. The warm, inviting ambience suggests that she’s achieved her goal. The gallery is as friendly as the effervescent Leigh herself, with an environment that quickly defies the stereotype of the aloof, rarified art-viewing experience.
COUNT ON FINDING: A nonintimidating environment for new collectors, and such a diverse range of works—Leigh represents more than 60 artists—that you’re sure to find something to suit your individual taste. Most media are represented, as are styles
ranging from Abstractionism to Realism.
WHAT’S NEW? Michael McKee’s dramatic pastel landscapes, which are inspired by trips to New Mexico. His works demonstrate a balance of color, expression and technique. The works in Chris Klassen's “Acrylic Autumn” series are also new to the gallery. The tree-lined landscapes are punctuated by fiery-red and burnt-orange foliage that leave the canvases glowing.