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, Chicago’s leading visual arts calendar. Click here to get our Art Picks and latest articles delivered to your inbox monthly. This is a growing list, so check back often with new additions.
To learn more about this month’s featured illustrator Kiki Lechuga-Dupont, read her recent interview!
Click a button below to jump to a specific week of events.
In solidarity with and in support of an open letter to the Chicago party scene we recently published here at Sixty, we’d like to share this you in hopes that you read and consider while looking through the events listed below. The letter was cowritten by a group of disabled queers with the goal of reaching organizers who plan events and cultivate spaces for queer community building and joy.
August 1-September 4, 2022
Sophia Ruppert: Nokomis Fragments
Bonsack Gallery: 755 S Price Rd, St. Louis, MO
Free
August 2-September 4, 2022
Pioneers of Queer Cinema
Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 164 N State St, Chicago, IL
$12
Tues, August 2, 8-11:55pm
Notes On Masculinity: A Drag King Centered Cabaret
The California Clipper: 1002 N California Ave, Chicago, IL
$10
Wed, August 3, 2pm(EST)
Valences of the Algorithm
Wexner Center for the Arts: Online
Free
Wed, August 3, 2-3:30pm
Debating Eco-Socialist Futures
Haymarket Books: Online
Free
Wed, August 3, 8-10pm
Silent Film and Loud Music Present: Coupler with a live score of The Bat (1926)
Comfort Station Logan Square: 2579 N Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL
Free
Thurs, August 4, 5-6:30pm
ASSEMBLY HALL III
Gallery 400: 400 S Peoria St, Chicago, IL
Free
Thurs, August 4, 5:30-7:30pm(EST)
In Theory, In Practice: Vol. 4, Artist Run Spaces
Contemporary Arts Center: 44 E 6th St, Cincinnati, OH
Free
Thurs, August 4, 6-8pm
Green Roof Poetry: Coalition of the Possible Curated by Chris Fischbach
The Walker: 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis, MN
Free
Thurs, August 4, 6-10pm
PAINT THE TOWN RED
Red Clay Dance Company: 808 E 63rd St, Chicago, IL
$125-1200
Thurs, August 4, 8-10pm
Whisper & Shout
Contemporary Art Center of Peoria: 305 SW Water St, Peoria, IL
$3-12
Thurs, August 4, 7-10pm
Cherrie Yu: Trio A Translation Project
Roman Susan: 1224 W Loyola Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Thurs, August 4, 8-9pm
Live @ LOW END | Ana Paula Santana
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts: 724 S. 12th St, Omaha, NE
Free
August 5-December 11, 2022
Hold Me Closer
Des Moines Art Center: 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA
Free
Fri, August 5, 8am-6pm(EST)
Qahar Behzad: The Colors of Afghanistan
Big Car Collaborative: 1125 Cruft St, Indianapolis, IN
Free
Fri, August 5, 1-4pm
Yarn Dyeing Workshop with Sofia Hagström Møller
Compound Yellow: 244 Lake St, Oak Park, IL
$5-15
Fri, August 5, 5-8pm
Electric Pink Lemonade
Arts of Life and Circle Contemporary: 2010 W Carroll Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Fri, August 5, 5-9pm
The Bird 🐦 House Show
August House Chicago: 2113 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL
Free
Fri, August 5, 6-9pm
Lewis Achenbach: The Sonic Story Continues
Epiphany Center for the Arts: 201 South Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Fri, August 5, 6-9pm
Sharon Hoogstraten: Dancing for Our Tribe: Potawatomi Tradition in the New Millennium
Evanston Art Center: 1717 Central St, Evanston, IL
Free
Fri, August 5, 7-9pm
Salon de Refuse Opening Reception
Companion Co-Op: 2233 W Charleston St., G, Chicago, IL
Free
Fri, August 5, 7-9pm
Orchidelirium
Mckinley Park: 2210 W Pershing Rd, Chicago, IL
Free
August 6-27, 2022
AlexFace
Vertical Gallery: 1016 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
August 6, 2022-January 29, 2023
LATOYA RUBY FRAZIER: FLINT IS FAMILY IN THREE ACTS
MSU Broad Art Museum: 547 E Circle Dr. East Lansing, MI
Free
August 6-November 19, 2022
Lola Ayisha Ogbara: Hues of Black & Blue
Hyde Park Art Center: 5020 S Cornell Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
August 6-December 10, 2022
Pritika Chowdhry: Unbearable Memories, Unspeakable Histories: The Partition Anti-Memorial Project
South Asia Institute: 1925 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Sat, August 6, 11am
Forms & Features Online with Ernest O. Ògúnyẹmí
Poetry Foundation: Online
Free
Sat, August 6, 11am-7pm
LAWNDALE Arts Festival
Anna and Frederick Douglass Park: 1401 S Sacramento Dr, Chicago, IL
Free
Sat, August 6, 1-2pm
Latinos in Illinois and the USA: Music as a Cultural History
McLean County Museum of History: 200 N Main St, Bloomington, IL
Free
Sat, August 6, 4:20-5:30pm
AutoPhysioPsychic Music
Anna and Frederick Douglass Park: 1401 S Sacramento Dr, Chicago, IL
Free
Sat, August 6, 6pm
Somos Summer Set
Harris Theater: 205 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL
$5
Sat, August 6, 6pm
Meet This Author!: Mohsin Hamid
Left Bank Books: 399 N. EUCLID AVE ST. LOUIS, MO
Free
Sat, August 6, 7-9pm
Side Yard Sounds: Martin Yam Møller
Compound Yellow: 244 Lake St, Oak Park, IL
$15
Sat, August 6, 7-9pm
Sally Traxler-Lavengood: mostest
Parlour and Ramp: 2130 W 21st St Chicago, IL
Free
Sat, August 6, 7-10pm
Force in Motion presents: M_m
Comfort Station Logan Square: 2579 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Sat, August 6, 7-10pm
James Connolly: Control Signals
The Latent Space: 4150 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Sat, August 6, 8:30pm
Ana Everling & David Onderdonk: The Music of Guinga
Constellation: 3111 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL
$5-15
August 6-7, 2022
Open Omaha
Omaha By Design: Omaha, NE, multiple locations
Free
Sun, August 7, 4-6pm
Sunday Series: The Paul Ashford Band
Comfort Station Logan Square: 2579 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL
$15
Mon, August 8, 2-5pm
THE RE-WIRED PROJECT
Access Living: 115 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Mon, August 8, 8-11pm
Anagram Series: Dziedzic/Ernst/Scriver & Marcus Evans’ M.e.tet
Elastic Arts: 3429 W Diversey Ave, #208, Chicago, IL
$10-15
Tues, August 9, 2-4pm
Disability Portraiture Project: Let’s talk about Mental Health!
Access Living: 115 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Tues, August 9, 7pm
Virtual Conversation: Cara Hoffman & C. Russell Price
Women & Children First Bookstore: Online
Free
Tues, August 9, 7-9pm
Colson Whitehead: Harlem Shuffle
57th Street Books, The Seminary Co-op: Online
Free
Wed, August 10, 6-7pm
Lynne Tillman: Mothercare
57th Street Books, The Seminary Co-op: Online
Free
Thurs, August 11, 7-9pm
Comfort Music: HLDAY MAGIK
Comfort Station Logan Square: 2579 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Thurs, August 11, 7-9pm
Root of Two Performance Series | The Fugu Plan
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts: 724 S 12th St, Omaha, NE
Free
Thurs, August 11, 8:30-11:30pm
Improvised Music Series: Rempis/Abrams/Ra + Baker
Elastic Arts: 3429 W Diversey Ave #208, Chicago, IL
$15
Thurs, August 11, 6-8pm
WBEZ Presents: Open Mic Night in Ukrainian Village
Chicago Cultural Alliance: 921 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL
Free
Thurs, August 11, 5:30-7:30pm
The Correct Time – Exhibition Opening
Design Museum of Chicago: 72 E. Randolph, Chicago, IL
August 11-14, 2022
WikiMania
Art + Feminism: Online & In-Person (multiple locations)
Free
August 11 – October 16, 2022
Nazafarin Lotfi: A Garden to Build
University Galleries at Illinois State University: 11 Uptown Circle, Suite 103, Normal, IL
Free
Fri, August 12, 6-8pm
TIME TO RISE – Opening Reception
The Silver Room:1506 E. 53rd St. Chicago, IL
Free
Fri, August 12, 5-7pm
Bobby Price Exhibit Opening
Lawndale Pop-Up Spot: Douglas Blvd. & Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Fri, August 12, 6-9pm
Jaime Foster: Plant-Based
Elephant Room Gallery: 704 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Fri, August 13, 11am-3pm
Radical Used Book Fair
Haymarket Books: 800 West Buena Ave., Chicago, IL
August 13-14, 2022
South Asia Institute’s Freedom Festival
South Asia Institute: 1925 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Sat, August 13, 4-7pm
Breanna Robinson: Asking for the Moon
Tiger Strikes Asteroid Chicago: 2233 S Throop St., Unit 419, Chicago, IL
Free
Sun, August 14, 1-5pm
TechTonic Black Table @ Sundays on the Boulevard
Lawndale Pop-Up Spot: Douglas Blvd. & Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Wed, August 17, 8-10pm
Techtonic Black Movie Night
Lawndale Pop-Up Spot: Douglas Blvd. & Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Thurs, August 18, 2pm
Freelancing During Uncertain Financial Times
Freelancers Union: Online
Free
Thurs, August 18, 7-10pm
Jenni Stark & Nora Marks: live & acoustic
The Martin: 2500 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL
$10-12
Thurs, August 18, 6pm
In-person Book Launch: TUMBLE by Celia Perez
Women & Children First Bookstore: 5233 N Clark St, Chicago, IL
Free
Thurs, August 18, 7-9pm
Comfort Music: Ghost Voice
Comfort Station Logan Square: 2579 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Fri, August 19, 5-6pm
Hoodoo Healing and Hypnosis
Lawndale Pop-Up Spot: Douglas Blvd. & Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Fri, August 19, 5-10pm
Black and Indigenous Futures
Oliva Gallery: 3816 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Fri, August 19, 7-9pm
Side Yard Sounds: Harry Tonchev Trio
Compound Yellow: 244 Lake St, Oak Park, IL
$15
Fri, August 19, 8pm
Erwin Helfer
Hungry Brain: 2319 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL
$10
Fri, August 19, 5:30pm
We Paste: A Wheatpaste Show
2359 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL
Free
Fri, August 19, 6-9pm
DJ Set by Finding Ijeoma
Blanc Gallery: 4445 S. Martin Luther King Dr., Chicago, IL
Free
Fri, August 19, 7-9pm
DJ Ayana Contreras
Pilsen Yards: 1163 W. 18th St., Chicago, IL
Free
Sat, August 20, 8-11pm
AFRICLASSICAL FUTURES SERIES: ANGEL BAT DAWID
Elastic Arts: 3429 W Diversey Ave #208, Chicago, IL
$15
August 20-21, 2022
2022 Lubeznik Arts Festival
Lubeznik Center for the Arts: 101 W 2nd St, Michigan City, IN
Free
August 20-September 18, 2022
My Brother Langston
Black Ensemble Theater: 4450 N Clark St, Chicago, IL
$45-55
August 20 – September 23, 2022
Our Mother’s Garden’s
Blanc Gallery: 4445 Martin Luther King Dr. Chicago IL
Free
August 20-November 27, 2022
Nancy Friedemann-Sánchez: Turn of the Sea
Sioux City Art Center: 225 Nebraska St, Sioux City, IA
Free
August 20-October 1, 2022
Satélite
The Franklin: 3522 W Franklin Blvd. Chicago, IL
Free
Sat, August 20, 2-8pm
Community Healing Mercado at El Paseo
El Paseo Community Garden: 944 W 21st St, Chicago, IL
Free
Sat, August 20, 12 & 3pm(EST)
Shan Puppet Theater
Detroit Institute of Arts: 5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI
Free
Sat, August 20, 6-10pm
Exhibition #30
GRANITE CITY ART AND DESIGN DISTRICT: 1800 block State St, Granite City, IL
Free
Sat, August 20, 6:30pm
Noche de Danzón
National Museum of Mexican Art: 1852 W 19th St, Chicago, IL
Free
Sat, August 20, 7-9pm
Side Yard Sounds: Jakob Heinemann Quartet
Compound Yellow: 244 Lake St, Oak Park
$15
Sat, August 20, 12-7pm
The Collectors Series: An end of Summer Art Affair
Dan Parker, Leroy Bell & Thomas Phelps: 7240 S. Jeffery Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Sat, August 20, 1-6pm
South Side Picnic
Marz Community Brewing Co: 3630 S Iron St., Chicago, IL
Free
Sun, August 21, 1-5pm
TechTonic Black Table @ Sundays on the Boulevard
Lawndale Pop-Up Spot: Douglas Blvd. & Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Sun, August 21, 2-5pm
Woven Memories
Compound Yellow: 244 Lake St, Oak Park, IL
Free
August 23, 2022-February 26, 2023
Sarah McEneaney and Lydia Ricci: The Extra Ordinary
John Michael Kohler Arts Center: 608 New York Ave, Sheboygan, WI
Free
Tues, August 23, 6-9pm
Book Launch: The Healing Circle by Coco Picard
Comfort Station Logan Square: 2579 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
August 25-December 3, 2022
Myths of the West: Narrating Stories of the Land and People through Wichita Art Collections
Ulrich Museum of Art: 1845 Fairmount; Wichita, KS
Free
Thurs, August 25, 7-8pm
Public Assembly with musician Mary Lawson
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts: 724 S 12th St, Omaha, NE
Free
August 26-December 4, 2022
Best Buy Aperture: Minneapolis and St. Paul Are East African Cities
The Walker: 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis, MN
Free
Fri, August 26, 6-8pm(EST)
Co-LAB: A Queen’s Liberation Story
The Walker: 44 E 6th St, Cincinnati, OH
Free
Sat, August 27, 2-6pm
ESS & Compound Yellow present OPTION: Taalib-Din Ziyad & Mankwe Ndosi – Earth Connection
Compound Yellow: 244 Lake St, Oak Park, IL
Free
August 27, 2022-March 12, 2023
SHAWNÉ MICHAELAIN HOLLOWAY: DOGWHISTLE
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art: 227 State St, Madison, WI
Free
Sat, August 27, 7-11pm
Freedom From and Freedom To – ft. Opening Set w/ Douglas R. Ewart + Jayve Montgomery
Elastic Arts: 3429 W Diversey Ave, #208, Chicago, IL
$15
Sun, August 28, 1-4:30pm
Mental Health & the Black Community Workshop
Woodson Regional Library: 9525 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL
Free
August 28-October 15, 2022
Kenji Fujita: Cut and Cover
Devening Projects: 3039 W Carroll Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
August 28-October 15, 2022
Mason Saltarrelli: Astral Mute
Devening Projects: 3039 W Carroll Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Mon, August 29, 8-11pm
Anagram Series: Meghan Stagl Trio & Alvin Cobb Trio
Elastic Arts: 3429 W Diversey Ave, #208, Chicago, IL
$10-15
Tue, August 30, 8-11pm
Anagram Series Festival Night 1: Lenard Simpson Trio & Madsen/Sommers/Hemphill
Elastic Arts: 3429 W Diversey Ave, #208, Chicago
$10-15
Tue, August 30, 7pm
Soham Dance Space Transform | Affirm Kick-Off Convening
Soham Dance Space: Online
Freee
Through August 1, 2022
NICOLE MILLER: A SOUND, A SIGNAL, THE CIRCUS
Kemper Art Museum: One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO
Free
Through August 6, 2022
Nadav Assor & Tirtza Even: Chronicle of a Fall
Gallery 400: 400 S Peoria St, Chicago, IL
Free
Through August 6, 2022
Messejah Washington: Love is Omega
Elephant Room Gallery: 704 S Wabash Ave. Chicago, IL
Free
Through August 6, 2022
Madeleine Finley: Hearts, Concealed
ADDS DONNA: 3252 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
Free
Through August 6, 2022
Sharon and Guy: Remnants: Recombined, Reconsidered
Tiger Strikes Asteroid: 2233 S Throop St, Unit 419, Chicago, IL
Free
Through August 7, 2022
A Tale of Today: Theodora Allen Saturnine
The Richard H. Driehaus Museum: 40 E. Erie St., Chicago, IL
$0-$20
Through August 7, 2022
Remaking the Exceptional: Tea, Torture, & Reparations | Chicago to Guantánamo
DePaul Art Museum: 935 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Through August 7, 2022
Dial Tone
LVL3: 1542 N Milwaukee Ave #3, Chicago, IL
Free
Through August 10, 2022
In Living Color
University Galleries of Illinois State University: 11 Uptown Circle, Suite 103
Campus Box 7150, Normal, IL
Free
Through August 12, 2022
green belt
Jargon Projects: 3310 N Milwaukee Ave, Suite 202, Chicago, IL
Free
Through August 12, 2022
ENID: Generations of Women Sculptors
Harrison County Arts: 113 E. Beaver St., Corydon, IN
Free
Through August 13, 2022
Julia Schmitt Healy: Ray Takes a (Bad) Trip
Western Exhibitions: 1709 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Through August 13, 2022
Richard Galling Protein Culture
The Green Gallery: 1500 N Farwell Ave, Milwaukee, WI
Free
Through August 13, 2022
Kamrooz Aram: Privacy
The Arts Club of Chicago: 201 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL
Free
Through August 13, 2022
Azikiwe Mohammed: Maiden Voyage II: Heliocentric Forms of Blackness
Western Exhibitions: 1709 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Through August 13, 2022
SKIN + MASKS
Kavi Gupta: 219 N Elizabeth St, Chicago, IL
Free
Through August 13, 2022
Laura Letinsky: The indignation of counting spiders
Document: 1709 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Through August 14, 2022
Portal For(e) the Ephemeral Passage
Wexner Center for the Arts: 1871 North High Street Columbus, OH
Free
Through August 14, 2022
Ground Up: Reflections on Black Abstraction
Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit: 4454 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI
$5
Through August 14, 2022
Breaking Water
Contemporary Arts Center Cincinnati: 44 E. 6th Street, Cincinnati, OH
Free
Through August 14, 2022
Syllabus for Black Love Library
Wexner Center for the Arts: 1871 North High Street Columbus, OH
Free
Through August 19, 2022
OUTS
Filter Photo: 1821 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL
Free
Through August 26, 2022
Untitled IV (wall paintings), David Heo
Mana Contemporary: 2233 S Throop St, Chicago, IL
Free
Through August 26, 2022
FRAGMENTS, ENCOUNTERS AND REPRESENTATIONS
Hawthorn Contemporary: 706 South 5th Street, Milwaukee, WI
Free
Through August 26, 2022
The Land Between The Sea
ENGAGE Projects: 864 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
Through August 26, 2022
Dungeon Daze
Cleaner Gallery + Projects: 1856 N Richmond St, Chicago, IL
Free
Through August 27, 2022
Heft
PATRON: 1612 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL
Free
About the Illustrator: Kiki Lechuga-Dupont is a multidisciplinary artist based in Evanston, Illinois. She’s inspired by visual memory and its capacity for emotion and perspective. Though her body of work ranges in subject matter and style, she strives to design pieces that evoke a sense of wonder and mindfulness. When she’s not working, she’s tasting teas, collecting cookbooks, and exploring new drawing techniques. Photo by Matt Austin.
