🏳️🌈 Happy Pride Month, lovelies! 🏳️🌈
If you’ve followed us for a while, you know that our Art Picks offer a wide scope of events that are relevant to our audiences because we and the artists, cultural workers, curators, spaces, and projects we support live full lives that know no boundaries. We maintain expansive practices and work toward justice for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and disability communities in Chicago and the Midwest.
Created in collaboration with The Visualist and adapted for social-distancing due to COVID-19, this list offers online exhibitions, streaming events, a list of online collections from Black and LGBTQIA+ archives, and other ways to spend time in the virtual space.
Featured image: An abstract illustration of many different colored overlapping squares cut from tissue paper. Illustration by Ryan Edmund Thiel.
This is a growing list, so check back often with new additions.
Through June 5, 2021
Joanne Aono: Harvesting Ethnic Roots
Boundary: 2334 W 111th Pl, Chicago, IL
Free
Through June 5, 2021
David Leggett: Four Door Lexus
Aspect/Ratio: 864 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL
Free
Through June 12, 2021
Ebony G. Patterson: She is Land…She is the Mourning…
Monique Meloche: 451 N. Pauline St., Chicago, IL
Free
Through June 12, 2021
Brittney Leeanne Williams: How Far Between and Back
Monique Meloche: 451 N. Pauline St., Chicago, IL
Free
Through June 12, 2021
A Field Guide, Pic of Pig
Filter Photo: 1821 W. Hubbard st., Ste. 207
Free
Through June 13, 2021
Quiet, Cold
Jargon Projects: TBD
Free
Through June 19, 2021
Brave Enough To Be It
Contemporary Art Center of Peoria: 305 SW Water St, Peoria, IL
Free
Through June 19, 2021
Gordon Parks: Home in the Wilderness
Rhona Hoffman: 1711 W. Chicago Ave. Chicago, IL
Free
Through June 19, 2021
Deeper and Deeper: Devin Balara & Bobby Gonzales
Roots & Culture: 1034 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL
Free
Through June 20, 2021
Bounce Back
Heaven Gallery: 1550 N. Milwaukee Ave. #2, Chicago, IL
Free
Through June 21, 2021
Just Above My Wall, (To The Right)
South Side Community Art Center: 3831 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Through June 25, 2021
1 Cancer Patient
DANK Haus: 4740 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Through June 26, 2021
Our Two Scents
Cleaner Gallery Projects: 1856 N. Richmond St., Chicago, IL
Free
Through June 26, 2021
Liberation Among the Stars: A Past and Future Dream by Tesh Silver
Co-Prosperity Sphere: 3219 S. Morgan St., Chicago, IL
Free
Through June 27, 2021
MFA Thesis Exhibition: The Long Day
Logan Center Exhibitions: 915 E. 60th St., Chicago, IL
Free
Through June 27, 2021
Won’t You Celebrate With Me
Flxst Contemporary: 2251 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL
Free
Through September 18, 2021
Sweet Bitter Love: Jeffrey Gibson
Hanson Gallery at Newberry Library: 60 W. Walton St., Chicago, IL
Free
June 2021
DECAHEDRON
Artists on the Lam: Online
Free
June 1-August 1, 2021
Making Our Space: Members of the Peoria Guild of Black Artists
University Galleries of Illinois State University: 11 Uptown Circle #103, Normal, IL
Free
Tue, June 1, 12-1:30pm
Ritual, Ground to Sky Workshop | Ritual, Tierra al Cielo
El Paseo Community Garden: 944 W 21st St, Chicago, IL
Free
Tue, June 1, 11:30am- 12:30pm
The Path Toward Racial Equity: A Conversation about Land Acknowledgments
The Arts Club of Chicago: Online
Free
Tue, June 1, 6pm
How to Document The Movement with Respect for Chicago’s Communities
14 East Magazine: Online
Free
Wed, June 2, 4pm
Black Freedom on Native Land
Newberry Library: Online
Free
Wed, June 2, 6pm
Does Chicago Have a Place for the Statue of Peace?
HANA Center: Online
Free
Wed, June 2, 6pm
Latinx Art within the Archipelago
DePaul Art Museum: Online
Free
Wed, June 2, 7-8pm
Cecil McDonald, Jr. on Cuts and Beats
Chicago Humanities Festival: Online
Free
Wed, June 2, 8-9pm
Sojourner Zenobia: Whisper. Rest. Hot Chocolate
Elastic Arts: Online
$10
Wed, June 2, 8-10pm
Phantoms of the Past: a program of short films by Ayisha Abraham
Comfort Station Logan Square: 2579 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
June 2 – September 5, 2021
what flies but never lands?
Chicago Cultural Center: 121 N. Lasalle Street, Chicago, IL
Free
June 3-August 29, 2021
An-My Lê and Shahzia Sikander: Much Unseen is Also Here
Museum of Contemporary Photography: 600 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
June 3-August 29, 2021
Martine Gutierrez
Museum of Contemporary Photography: 600 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
June 3-6, 2021
Dreaming Rivers, Weaving Collectives
Block Museum of Art: Online
Free
Thurs, June 3, 4-5:15pm
STACIA YEAPANIS: Daily Practice and the Sacred Secular
Fiber and Material Studies at SAIC: Online
Free
Thurs, June 3, 5pm
La Otra Ribera: Peruvian Photography Virtual Exhibition Launch
DePaul Art Museum: Online
Free
Thurs, June 3, 6pm
A Film Discussion Series @Graham: On the Road
University of Chicago Graham School: Online
Free
Thurs, June 3, 6pm
Our Muses: Art and the Family Archive
Center for Black Diaspora at DePaul University: Online
Free
Thurs, June 3, 8pm
Improvised Music Series: Fred Jackson Jr. Trio
Elastic Arts: Online
$10
Thurs, June 3, 6:30-7:30pm
Reclaiming the Sacrifice Zone: Meet the Makers of the Comic
Borderless Magazine: Online
Free
June 4- July 17, 2021
Griffin Goodman: I’m a Rubber Chicken, Watch Me Fly
Andrew Rafacz: 1749 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
June 4- July 17, 2021
Rachel Hayden: Mirror in the Sky
Andrew Rafacz: 1749 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
June 4- August 8, 2021
Tali Keren: Un-Charting
MOCAD: 4454 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI
Free
June 4- August 8, 2021
Brood
MOCAD: 4454 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI
Free
June 4- August 8, 2021
Amna Ashghar: Well Wishes
MOCAD: 4454 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI
Free
June 4- August 8, 2021
Damon Davis: Filling in the Cracks
MOCAD: 4454 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI
Free
Fri, June 4, 11am-1pm
Healing House Music: Free Dance Session
Heaven Gallery: Online
Free
Fri, June 4, 12pm
Photos at Zoom Discussion Session: Binh Danh
Museum of Contemporary Photography: Online
Free
Fri, June 4, 5-8pm
TotesFerosh: My Dazzling Queer Fantasy
Elephant Room Gallery: 704 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Fri, June 4, 6-9pm
The Sketch Journals of Jordan Mechner
Chicago Gamespace: 2418 W Bloomingdales Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Fri, June 4, 6-10pm
Amanda Strong: Animations
Tube Factory artspace: 1125 Cruft St, Indianapolis, IN
Free
Fri, June 4, 7-9pm
Marvin Tate and Bill MacKay: Paper Memories
Compound Yellow: 244 Lake St, Oak Park, IL
$15
June 5 – July 31, 2021
Exhibition: Shaping the Past
Goethe Institut, the 21c Museum Hotel (55 E Ontario St, Chicago, IL) and the PO Box Collective (6900 N Glenwood Ave, Chicago, IL)
Free
June 5-6, 2021
Chicago’s 57th Street Art Fair
William H Ray School: 5631 S Kimbark Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
June 5-6, 2021
Michael Mac and Amanda Maraist: sounds from another room
Roman Susan: 1224 W Loyola Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
June 5-19, 2021
IMON BOY: One Day More, One Day Less
Vertical Gallery: 1016 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
June 5-20, 2021
LtdWear5
LVL3 Gallery: 1542 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
June 5-July 10, 2021
Samuel Levi Jones: No color in the pages
PATRON Gallery: 1612 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
June 5-July 10, 2021
Samira Yamin: All the Skies Over Syria
PATRON Gallery: 1612 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
June 5-July 11, 2021
Dorothy Graden: Liminal Spaces
Evanston Art Center: 1717 Central St, Evanston, IL
Free
June 5-July 17, 2021
Tromarama: Tromarama
Document: 1709 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
June 5-July 24, 2021
Edie Fake: The Pieces
Western Exhibitions: 1709 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
June 5-August 1, 2021
Charley Friedman: Soundtracks for the Present Future
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts: 724 S. 12th St, Omaha, NE
Free
June 5-August 1, 2021
All Together, Amongst Many: Reflections on Empathy
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts: 724 S. 12th St, Omaha, NE
Free
June 5 – June 26, 2021
It Matters How We Go: A Vessel for Collective Loss & Grief
Comfort Station: 2579 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL
Free
June 5-September 6, 2021
Frida Kahlo: Timeless
Cleve Carney Museum of Art: 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL
$23-40
Sat, June 5, 1pm
HAIRstory Part II
moCa Cleveland Toby’s Plaza: 11400 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH
Free
Sat, June 5, 4-8pm
Vic Barquin: ASSEMBLE
Parlour and Ramp: 2130 W 21st St, Chicago, IL
Free
Sat, June 5, 3-7pm
Water Becomes Blood
Woman Made Gallery: 2150 S Canalport Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Sat, June 5, 7-9pm
Sistazz of Tha Nitty Gritty
Compound Yellow: 244 Lake St, Oak Park
$15
Sun, June 6, 1-2pm
The Hunger Will Wake Us: Virtual Reception & Artist Talk
Spudnik Press: Online
Free
Sun, June 6, 3-4pm
The METAMORPHOSIS of Gabriel Villa: Artist Talk
Hyde Park Art Center: Online
Free
Sun, June 6, 4-6pm
Kolmar Music Collective featuring Rae-Myra Hilliard at Compound Yellow
Compound Yellow: 244 Lake St, Oak Park, IL
$15
Mon, June 7, 8-10pm
Nasty, Brutish and Short: The Final* Puppet Quarantine
Links Hall: Online
$10-15
Mon, June 7, 8:30pm
Place of Assembly: Deep Refrains
Experimental Sound Studio: Online
$0-10
June 8-11, 2021
Elena Duque: Colección Privada
Roman Susan: 1224 W Loyola Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Wed, June 9, 5:30pm
CHOP IT UP: Black Wall Street Journey
Smart Museum of Art: Online
Free
Wed, June 9, 12-1:30pm
Community Drawing at El Paseo
El Paseo Community Garden: 944 W 21st St, Chicago, IL
Free
Wed, June 9, 12-1pm
Behind the Lens: Sandro
Museum of Contemporary Photography: Online
Free
Wed, June 9, 6pm
WORK IN PROGRESS 2021
Chicago Artists Coalition (CAC): Online
$0-300
Wed, June 9, 8pm
Nothing Is Too Small for a Revolution: Anarchist Films by Nick Macdonald
Comfort Station Logan Square: 2579 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Thurs, June 10, 4-5:15pm
MELISSA LEANDRO: Poco a poco, little by little
Fiber and Material Studies at SAIC: Online
Free
Thurs, June 10, 6pm
Push Pull
Hyde Park Art Center: 5020 S Cornell Ave
Free
Thur, June 10, 7-8pm
SlvrRm Book Talk: Okpara House
The Silver Room: Online
Free
Thurs, June 10, 7pm
THERE PLANT EYES: A PERSONAL & CULTURAL HISTORY OF BLINDNESS by M. Leona Godin with special guest Alice Eakes
Women & Children First Bookstore: Online
Free
June 11-August 1, 2021
Cabin Fever: Wild Ideas from a Regrettable Year
Real Tinsel: 1013 W Historic Mitchell St, Milwaukee, WI
Free
June 11 – July 10, 2021
Marcus Brutus Vol. 1
Monaco: 2701 Cherokee St., St. Louis, MO
Free
Sat, June 11, 2021
Juneteenth Virtual Live Panel Discussion
Eiteljorg Museum: Online
Free
Fri, June 11, 6-10pm
Alan Labb: In the Distance
mn gallery+studio: 3524 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL
Free
Fri, June 11, 7-9pm
Norman W. Long
Compound Yellow: 244 Lake St, Oak Park
$15
June 11-12, 2021
Old Town Art Fair
Old Town Triangle Association: 1763 N North Park Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
June 11-15, 2021
Erika Råberg: Mirror State
Roman Susan: 1224 W Loyola Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
June 12-July 24, 2021
PAULA KAMPS: RAIN OR SHINE
M. LeBlanc: 3514 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
June 12-October 24, 2021
Rayyane Tabet: Deep Blues
Walker: 725 Vineland Pl, Minneapolis, MN
Free
Sat June 12, 3-4pm
Lesié Honoré: In conversation with Erika Dudley + Silvia Inés Gonzalez
Chicago Art Department
Free
Sat, June 12, 4pm
Marcela Torres: Fire Drilling
DePaul Art Museum: Online
Free
Sat, June 12, 12-6pm
Record Store Day
Silver Room: 1506 E. 53rd St., Chicago, IL
Free
Sat, June 12, 7pm
Z FEST – Day 1
Elastic Arts: Online
$10
Sun, June 13, 1pm
Drag March for Change
Belmont & Halstead
Free
Sun, June 13, 1-4pm
Virtual Summer Solstice Gathering with Liz Gomez + Wahe Guru Yoga
The Honeycomb Network: Online
$15
Sun, June 13, 7pm
Z FEST – Day 2
Elastic Arts: Online
$10
June 13-August 1, 2021
Matthew Metzger: Heirloom
Renaissance Society: 5811 S Ellis Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Sun, June 14, 7pm
Z FEST – Day 3
Elastic Arts: Online
$10
Tue, June 15, 7-8pm
What’s Next: Museums
Chicago Humanities Festival: Online
Free
Wed, June 16, 10am
Film Screening: Pink Slime Caesar Shift: Gold Loop (Chapter 3)
Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis: Online
Free
June 17-19,2021
Dislodge
Various Locations
$10-55
June 17-19, 2021
Cultivating Black & Native Futures in Education
ASU: Online
Free
Thurs, June 17, 10am
Women as Activists: Jen Liu and Candace Borders
Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis: Online
Free
Thurs, June 17, 4pm
NELLY AGASSI: Innermost
Fiber and Material Studies at SAIC: Online
Free
Thurs, June 17, 6pm
Smart Reads: The Undercommons
Smart Museum of Art: Online
Free
Thurs, June 17, 7-9pm
Juneteenth: Opening Reception of Crossroads – solo exhibit featuring E-SOSA
Art West: 750 S. California Ave., Chicago, IL
$19-$100
June 18-26, 2021
LOCUS: VII – a virtual gallery exhibition
LOCUS Gallery: Online
Free
Fri, June 18, 6-7:30pm
An Unfurling for Dr. Margaret T.G. Burroughs
The People’s Forum: Online
Free
Fri, June 18, 7-9pm
Oui Ennui
Compound Yellow: 244 Lake St, Oak Park, Chicago, IL
$15
Fr, June 18, 12-1pm
Reclaiming Indigenous Material Culture: A Conversation with Jeffrey Gibson & Sven Haakanson
Newberry Library: Online
Free
June 18 – August 30, 2021 (unveiling June 18, 4pm)
Monumental Tour: Hank Williams
Englewood Village Plaza, 5801 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL
Free
Fri, June 18, 1-3pm
Juneteenth Eve: Sweet Tea & Storytelling
Art West: 750 S. California Ave. Chicago, IL
$0-$100
–Happy Juneteenth ❤️ 🖤 💚 (June 19th)–
June 18 – August 30, 2021 (unveiling June 19, 5pm)
Monumental Tour: Hank Williams & Arthur Jafa
Blanc Gallery, 4445 S Martin Luther King Dr., Chicago, IL
Free
Sat, June 19, 1-7pm
We Do This ‘Til We Free Us: A Defund CPD Juneteenth Block Party
The Breathing Room Space: 51st & Loomis, Chicago, IL
Free (RSVP to resistance training here.)
Sat, June 19, 1-2:30pm
ArtSmart Glory in Fabric: A Quilter’s Perspective
Diasporal Rhythms: Online
Free
Sat, June 19, 3-8pm
Black & Indigenous Solidarity BBQ w/ Chi-Nations
First Nations Garden, Chicago, IL
Free
Sat, June 19, 11am-4pm
Community Mural Painting with the DuSable Museum
Preston + Neighborhoods Art/Education Projects
Free
Sat, June 19, 2021
Juneteenth Community Celebration
Eiteljorg Museum: Online
Free
Sat, June 19, 4-6:30pm
Queer Heretics: Black Mass Performance & Reception
An Sylvia Exhibitions: 1154 W. Lunt, Chicago, IL
Free
Sat, June 19, 6-9pm
Some Time Of Way Opening Reception
Blanc Gallery: 4445 S. King Drive, Chicago, IL
Free
Sat, June 19, 12-2pm
Juneteenth Brunch & Libations
Art West: 750 S. California Ave., Chicago, IL
$19-$100
Sun, June 20, 6-9pm
Oli Rodriguez: Papi
Iceberg Projects: 7714 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL
Free
Mon, June 21, 6:30pm
June Intro to Printing Workshop
LATITUDE: Online
$55-70
Mon, June 21, 8pm
Conversation with artists Tesh Silver & Coriama Davis
Lumpen.TV: Online
Free
Tues, June 22, 10:30am-3:30pm
The Black Arts Archive Seminar: The Challenge of Translation
Northwestern University: Online
Free
Wed, June 23, 7pm
SWEETER VOICES STILL: An LGBTQ Anthology from Middle America
Women & Children First Bookstore: Online
Free
June 24 – 31, 2021
Black Led Mural Festival
Detroit, MI
Free
Fri, June 25, 3-8pm
Karen Dana Cohen: Longing Compass
Chicago Artists Coalition (CAC): 2130 West Fulton St, Chicago, IL
Free
Fri, June 25, 3-8pm
Residual Marks
Chicago Artists Coalition (CAC): 2130 West Fulton St, Chicago, IL
Free
Fri, June 25, 7-9pm
David Boykin as Dr Belsidus
Compound Yellow: 244 Lake St, Oak Park, IL
$15
June 26-August 14, 2021
Yukimasa Ida: Here and Now
MARIANE IBRAHIM: 437 N Paulina St, Chicago, IL
Free
Sat, June 26, 12-4pm
Jaclyn Jacunski: Burning Oneself Out
Tiger Strikes Asteroid: 2233 S Throop St, Chicago, IL
Free
Sat, June 26, 1-6pm and Sun, June 27, 1-5pm
Glimpses
LVL3 Gallery: 1542 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Sat, June 26, 12:30-1:30pm
The Smoky Bouquets of Flower Mountain: Incense Workshop
El Paseo Community Garden: 944 W 21st St, Chicago, IL
Free
Sat, June 26, 2-6pm
Hereafter: A Tribute to Timothy S. Brower
Roots & Culture: 1034 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Sat, June 26, 7-9pm
Cliff, Will O’Callahan
Compound Yellow: 244 Lake St, Oak Park
$15
Tue, June 29, 7pm
NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLE I’VE SEEN by Dr. Inger Burnett-Zeigler
Women & Children First Bookstore: Online
Free
June 26 – September 2, 2021
Nazafarin Lotfi & Erik Beehn
The Suburban: 723 S. 5th Street, Milwaukee, WI
Free
Tue, June 29, 2-4pm
Sprawl Session 2: Black Suburban Imaginaries
Laboratory for Suburbia: Online
Free
Tue, June 29, 2021
Opening: Kara Walker Exhibition
DuSable Museum of African American History: 740 East 56th Place, Chicago, IL
Free
June 30-August 7, 2021
Lauren Spencer King
Regards: 2216 W Chicago Ave
Free
Write For Us:
Sixty welcomes writers and artists to contribute through traditional and experimental arts writing around ideas, topics, and practices that are relevant to Chicago’s cultural landscapes. Priority will be given to writing by, about, and for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ artists, artists with disabilities, and the long list of writing, art-making, and cultural practices that have been neglected in mainstream conversations and canons about art and culture. If you are interested in pitching an idea or covering one of the listed art events, contact us at WriteForSixty@sixtyinchesfromcenter.org. See full pitch guidelines here.
