Created in collaboration with The Visualist, Chicago’s leading visual arts calendar, Sixty’s Art Picks is a wide selection of Midwest arts events, handpicked for our audience of artists, cultural workers, and curators, prioritizing the spaces and events of historically marginalized peoples. Our list is broad but by no means comprehensive; please look at venue calendars to find more events.
All times are listed in Central Standard Time unless otherwise noted. Click here to get our Art Picks and latest articles delivered to your inbox monthly. You can find Art Picks from previous months here.
Before attending any in-person events, we hope you’ll read this open letter cowritten by a group of disabled queers to the Chicago party community, demanding COVID-safe protocols and mindful gathering to protect the most vulnerable members of our community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of this letter is to reach organizers who plan events and cultivate spaces for queer community building and joy. Please remember to mask; the pandemic is on-going.
Click a button below to jump to a specific week of events.
Through February 2, 2025
Drop-in Workshop: Quilt Design
Detroit Institute of Arts: 5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI
Free with admission
Through February 15, 2025
Aaron Spangler: Ramble Tamble
ENGAGE Projects: 864 N Ashland Ave, Chicago
Free
Through March 2, 2025
Fat Ham
Goodman Theatre: 170 N Dearborn St, Chicago
$35-80
Through March 1, 2025
Olive Stefanski & Jewlya Sturtevant: Hypersurface of the Present
Roots & Culture: 1034 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago
Free
Through March 8, 2025
legacy as lexicon, a stand-in for my voice
Goldfinch Gallery: 319 N Albany Ave, Chicago
Free
February 1-May 18, 2025
Bryana Bibbs: two hundred and fifty-one days
Chicago Cultural Center: 78 E Washington St, Chicago
Free
Saturday, February 1, 11am-1pm
Poetry Out Loud
Ulrich Museum of Art: Wichita State University, 1845 Fairmount St, Wichita, KS
Free
Saturday, February 1, 11am-5pm
The Digs Chicago Seconds Sale
The Digs Chicago: 333 N Oakley Blvd, Unit #305, Chicago
Free
Saturday, February 1, 1-4pm
put a bow on it.
Tiger Strikes Asteroid Chicago: 2233 S Throop St, 4th Floor, Chicago
Free
Saturday, February 1, 2-3:30pm
Woven Being: Art for Zhegagoynak/Chicagoland
Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music, Galvin Recital Hall: 70 Arts Circle Dr, Evanston, IL
Free
Saturday, February 1, 3 and 7pm(EST)
The Symbol of the Unconquered
Detroit Institute of Arts: 5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI
$9.50-11.50
Saturday, February 1, 7-10pm
by bye avondale
ILG Factory Building: 2850 N Pulaski Rd, Chicago
Free
Saturday, February 1, 7:30pm
Elisa Harkins: Wampum / ᎠᏕᎳ ᏗᎦᎫᏗ
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago: 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago
$10-30
Saturday, February 1, 8pm
BBBBBBB (JP), RKM Reality, Norman W. Long, Melon Sprout, Liv Mershon, Anti Soul Organization, Mountain Laurel, Manual Pollination, Embrasa
Tritriangle: 1550 N Milwaukee Ave, Fl 3 Chicago
$15
Sunday, February 2, 6-8pm(EST)
Oscar Micheaux Double Feature: The Girl from Chicago and Underworld
Detroit Institute of Arts: 5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI
$9.50-11.50
Sunday, February 2, 7pm
Allen Moore: Sunday Mourning
Elastic Arts: 3429 W Diversey Ave, #208, Chicago
Free
Sunday, February 2, 7-8:30pm
The Bi Wives Club: A Comedy Showcase
Dorothy: 2500 W Chicago Ave, Chicago
Free
Sunday, February 2, 3-7pm
Gregory Bae: CV: 2/2/25
Bill’s Auto: 3808 S Ashland Ave, Chicago
Free
Sunday, February 2, 3-4:30pm
Kink Klass – Impact Play: What to Know Before You Throw with Phoenix Carlotta
Leather Archives & Museum: 6418 N Greenview Ave, Chicago
Free
Tuesday, February 4, 4:30-6pm
Basia Krol: Wherever I May Roam
Western Illinois University Art Gallery: 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL
Free
Tuesday, February 4, 8pm
Pianist and a Partner (Perhaps) w/ Justin Dillard, Anaiet Soul, Julian Davis Reid, Angelo Hart
Elastic Arts: 3429 W Diversey Ave, #208, Chicago
$10-15
Wednesday, February 5, 12-1pm
Artist Lecture: Andy Slater
University Galleries of Illinois State University: 11 Uptown Circle #103 Normal, IL
Free
Wednesday, February 5, 6-9pm
Existential Bread Book Release Party
Bungalow by Middle Brow: 2840 W Armitage Ave, Chicago
Free
Wednesday, February 5, 7-8pm
Exhibit B presents The New Internationals with David Wright Faladé and James Stewart III
Pilsen Community Books: 1102 W 18th St, Chicago
Free
Thursday, February 6, 11am-12pm
The Imagination Equation Gallery Talk
Haggerty Museum of Art: 1234 W Tory Hill St Milwaukee, WI
Free
Thursday, February 6, 5-6:30pm
Voices: Eunsong Kim
Gallery 400 Lecture Room: 400 S Peoria St, Chicago
Free
Thursday, February 6, 5:30-6pm
Gallery Gathering: Karl Knaths’ Wounded Tree and Harold David Landes’ Pink Tree
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts: 314 S. Park St, Kalamazoo, MI
Free
Thursday, February 6, 6-7pm
Producing Culture with Printmaking
Newberry Library: 60 W Walton St, Chicago
Free
Thursday, February 6, 6-7pm(EST)
Mind/Body/Art
Cincinnati Art Museum: 953 Eden Park Dr, Cincinnati, OH
Free
Thursday, February 6, 6-8:30pm
Justice Lens Film Series: Whose Streets? screening and discussion with director Sabaah Folayan
Chicago Justice Gallery: 1344 S Halsted St, Chicago
Free
Thursday, February 6, 6-8:30pm
SPEAK Cafe: February 2025
Krannert Art Museum: 500 E Peabody Dr, Champaign, IL
Free
Thursday, February 6, 8:30pm
Improvised Music Series: Wagner /Dessel/Taylor, Miller/Beisel/Carey
Elastic Arts: 3429 W Diversey Ave, #208, Chicago
$10-15
February 7-13, 2025
Annual Festival of Films from Iran
Gene Siskel Film Center: 164 N State St, Chicago
$12+
Friday, February 7, 5-7pm
Opening Reception
Mulvane Art Museum: 1700 SW COLLEGE AVE, TOPEKA, KS
Free
Friday, February 7, 5-8pm
New Skin for the Old Ceremony
Circle Contemporary: 2010 W Carroll Ave, Chicago
Free
Friday, February 7, 5-8pm
Mel Watkin: BIRDLAND
ARC Gallery: 1463 W Chicago Ave, Chicago
Free
Friday, February 7, 5-9pm
Hitch
Point Blank: 3317 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago
Free
Friday, February 7, 5-9pm
First Friday: Celebrating Saj Issa
Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis: 3750 Washington Blvd, St. Louis, MO
Free
Friday, February 7, 5:30-7pm
chlee: OF GIRLS AND MEN
Fourth Presbyterian Church: 126 E Chestnut St, Chicago
Free
Friday, February 7, 6-8pm(EST)
Stepper’s Ball
Detroit Institute of Arts: 5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI
Free
Friday, February 7, 6-8pm(EST)
The Day Series: An Artist Talk by Ann Trondson
Toledo Museum of Art: 2445 Monroe St, Toledo, OH
Free
Friday, February 7, 6-8pm
Aonna Jones: For the Good
Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts: 540 S Lake Street, Gary, IN
Free
Friday, February 7, 6-9pm
Anti-Valentine’s Day Party
National Museum of Mexican Art: 1852 W 19th St, Chicago
Free
Friday, February 7, 7pm(EST)
Best of Fest: Shorts – Comedy Night
Heartland Film: 8950 Otis Ave, Indianapolis, IN
Free
Friday, February 7, 7-10pm
HARD DONE BY: Contemporary Irish Trans Films
FACETS: 1517 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago
$25-2,500
Friday, February 7, 7-11:59pm
POSTSCRIPT: Comfort Station’s 2nd Annual Gala
Sarabande: 2726 W Roscoe St, Chicago
$12
Friday, February 7, 7:15-9:30pm
You’ve NEVER been to a PK Psychokinesis mind-OVER-matter SPOON BENDING Party?
Timeless Arts Gallery & Studio: 3040 N. Ashland Ave, Chicago
Free
Friday, February 7, 9pm
MAAMEBEATS at Dorothy
Dorothy: 2500 W Chicago Ave, Chicago
Free
Saturday, February 8, 10am-12pm
Animation with Cecilia Beaven
National Museum of Mexican Art: 1852 W 19th St, Chicago
Free
Saturday, February 8, 10:30am-12pm
Art Detectives: The First Blade of Sweetgrass
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts: 314 S. Park St, Kalamazoo, MI
Free
Saturday, February 8, 1-3pm
Allison Svoboda: In Defense of Beauty
OS Projects: 601 Sixth St, Racine WI
Free
Saturday, February 8, 2pm(EST)
String Theory Theater
Detroit Institute of Arts: 5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI
Free
Saturday, February 8, 2-7pm
Queer Ecologies
Purple Window Gallery: 233 S Throop St, Room 845, Chicago
Free
Saturday, February 8, 3-4pm(EST)
Chris Schanck: A Surreality With Wesley Taylor + Steve Panton
MOCAD: 4454 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI
Free
Saturday, February 8, 5-8pm
Liz McCarthy: THE EXPECTANCIES
Roman Susan: 1224 W Loyola Ave, Chicago
Free
Saturday, February 8, 6-9pm
Epoch
Connect Gallery: 1451 E 53rd St, Chicago
Free
Saturday, February 8, 5-7pm
Hal Shipman: Forbidden Love at the Desert’s Edge – Opening and Artist’s Talk
Gerber/Hart Library & Archives: 6500 N Clark St, Chicago
Free
Saturday, February 8, 7pm(EST)
Best of Fest: Shorts – Love & Romance Night
Heartland Film: 8950 Otis Ave, Indianapolis, IN
$10
Saturday, February 8, 8pm
Midwest Books to Prisoners Benefit: The Ineffectuals, Sister/Brother, Butt Mommy, Brian Klein, Slurname
Tritriangle: 1550 N Milwaukee Ave, Fl 3 Chicago
Free
Saturday, February 8, 9pm-12am(EST)
Silent Disco: moCa’ture
Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland: 11400 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH
Free
Saturday, February 8, 10am-3pm(EST)
Black History Month Educator Workshop
Detroit Institute of Arts: 5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI
Free
Saturday, February 8, 7-9pm
Erotic Photography Workshop – Dramatic Lighting for Sultry Portraits
Leather Archives & Museum: 6418 N Greenview Ave, Chicago
$10
Sunday, February 9, 12pm
Genesis: there are no dead people
Chicago Athletic Association, Stagg Court: 12 S Michigan Ave, Chicago
Free
Sunday, February 9, 1:30pm
Gallery Talk: “Figments & Phantoms”
Des Moines Art Center: 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA
Free
Sunday, February 9, 3-4:30pm
Arrested Adolescence: A Queer Look at Leopold and Loeb with Robert Kloss and Erik Rebain
Leather Archives & Museum: 6418 N Greenview Ave, Chicago
Free
Sunday, February 9, 7:30-9:30pm
Culture of Care with Dr. Nicole Truesdell Pt. 1
Threewalls: Online
Free
Monday, February 10, 7-8:30pm
Tromblau&Friends Presents: Because We Love You
Dorothy: 2500 W Chicago Ave, Chicago
Free
Tuesday, February 11, 7-9pm
FEK Draw
Leather Archives & Museum: 6418 N Greenview Ave, Chicago
Free
Wednesday, February 12, 7pm(EST)
Uncommon Threads: Black Representation in Early American Needlework
Detroit Institute of Arts: 5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI
Free
February 13-27, 2025
Stories in the Stars: An Indigenous Planetarium Experience
Walker: 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis, MN
Free
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Stories in the Stars: Indigenous Star Lore with Wilfred Buck
Walker: 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis, MN
Free
Thursday, February 13, 12-1pm
Giving Hearts Day Concert + Lunch
Plains Art Museum: 704 First Ave N Fargo, ND
Free
Thursday, February 13, 5:30-8:30pm
IMSS 3rd Annual Speed Friending
International Museum of Surgical Science: 1524 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago
$35
Thursday, February 13, 6-7pm
Culture of Care with Dr. Nicole Truesdell Pt. 1
Threewalls: Online
Free
Thursday, February 13, 6-8pm
Boys and Men
Gene Siskel Film Center: 164 N State St, Chicago
$5-13
Thursday, February 13, 6-8pm(EST)
SONIC FUTURES: Portal Fire: Soundscapes of Armenian Futures
MOCAD: 4454 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI
Free
Thursday, February 13, 6:30-8pm
Critical Grooves Book Lab
Plains Art Museum: 704 First Ave N Fargo, ND
Free
Friday, February 14, 12pm
Heart of Chicago Soul Club Valentine’s Dance Party
Hideout Chicago, 1354 W Wabansia Ave, Chicago
$15
Friday, February 14, 5-7:30pm(EST)
Valentines Day – TMA’s Café Prix Fix
Toledo Museum of Art: 2445 Monroe St, Toledo, OH
$40
Friday, February 14, 7-9pm
Performance: Valentine’s Day with Rapt In Plastic
International Museum of Surgical Science: 1524 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago
$25
Friday, February 14, 8-9:30pm
3-for-1 Psychic Special
Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theater: 1700 N Halsted St, Chicago
$15
Monday, February 14, 9pm
DJ Ca$h Era at Dorothy
Dorothy: 2500 W Chicago Ave, Chicago
$10
February 15-March 2, 2025
Academy Award Nominated Short Films – Animation and Live Action
Detroit Institute of Arts: 5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI
Free with admission
Saturday, February 15, 2-5pm
VESNA JOVANOVIC: FLOSS WAGON
Compound Yellow: 244 Lake St, Oak Park, IL
$20
Saturday, February 15, 6-9pm
The Ryleans
Twelve Ten Gallery: 1210 W Thorndale Ave. Chicago
Free
Saturday, February 15, 6-9pm
Tempest
VSG Gallery: 673 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago
Free
February 20-22, 2025
Autumn Knight: Autumn Knight Live at the Walker, 2025
Walker: 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis, MN
$15
Thursday, February 20, 5-6:30pm
Tonika Lewis Johnson and Maria Krysan on Don’t Go: Stories of Segregation and How to Disrupt It
Gallery 400 Lecture Room: 400 S Peoria St, Chicago
Free
Thursday, February 20, 5-8pm
Celebrating Afro-Cuban Artist Wifredo Lam: A Talk with Art Historian Lowery Stokes Sims
Krannert Art Museum: 500 E Peabody Dr, Champaign, IL
Free
Thursday, February 20, 7-8:30pm
The Velvet Vixens Present: Boudoir Bliss: a celebration of self love
Dorothy: 2500 W Chicago Ave, Chicago
$20-25
Thursday, February 20, 8-10pm
Embodying the Spirit: the body finds its way
Visceral Dance: 3121 N Rockwell St, Chicago
$65
Friday, February 21, 5-8pm
Opening Reception for CAPE Exhibitions + Snow City Arts Spring Snowcase
Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education: 1010 W 35th St, Suite 697, Chicago
Free
Friday, February 21, 6-9pm
Delisha McKinney: The Colorful Chaos
Elephant Room Gallery: 704 S Wabash Ave, Chicago
Free
Saturday, February 22, 1pm
Music Frozen Dancing with The Egyptian Lover / BIB / Landowner / Double Over / Clickbait
Empty Bottle: 1035 N. Western Ave. Chicago
Free
Saturday, February 22, 2:30-4pm
Talk | Publishing Arts Criticism
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago: 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago
Free
Saturday, February 22, 5pm
Crash the Gala
John Michael Kohler Arts Center: 608 New York Ave, Sheboygan, WI
$60+
Saturday, February 22, 7-10pm
Fetish Film Forum – Blind Beast (1969)
Leather Archives & Museum: 6418 N Greenview Ave, Chicago
Free
Sunday, February 23, 7-9pm
ONE NIGHT ONLY
Piercing Heart
Asian Improv aRts Midwest: 4875 N Elston Ave, Chicago
$25
Tuesday, February 25, 6:30-8:30pm
Dreaming Home: Cultural Imagination and Racial Realities of Home Ownership
Green Line Performing Arts Center: 329 E Garfield Blvd, Chicago
Free
Wednesday, February 26, 6-7:30pm
Exhibition Keynote: Jordan Ann Craig in Conversation with m.s. RedCherries
Block Museum of Art: 40 Arts Circle Dr, Evanston, IL
Free
Thursday, February 27, 6pm
Exhibition Tours: Convergence: Health & Creativity
Plains Art Museum: 704 First Ave N Fargo, ND
Free
Thursday, February 27, 6-7pm
Devan Shimoyama
Ulrich Museum of Art: Wichita State University, 1845 Fairmount St, Wichita, KS
Free
Thursday, February 27, 6-8pm
An Evening with Anahita Ghazvinizadeh
Gene Siskel Film Center: 164 N State St, Chicago
Free
Thursday, February 27, 7-9pm
Paul Simmons: Blank Slate
Wadsworth Family Gallery at Lewis University: One University Parkway, Romeoville, IL
Free
Thursday, February 27, 7-9pm
Ben LaMar Gay: Provident
International Museum of Surgical Science: 1524 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago
$15
Friday, February 28, 6-9pm
sea salt // stone air
ARTRUSS: 4553 W Diversey Ave, Chicago
Free
Friday, February 28, 6-9pm
Gear Night @ The Museum
Leather Archives & Museum: 6418 N Greenview Ave, Chicago
Free
Friday, February 28, 9pm
The Sidepieces
Hungry Brain: 2319 W Belmont Ave, Chicago
$15
About the illustrator: Alexis Stein (she/they) is a multidisciplinary artist, designer, and community organizer based in Chicago. Her creative practice spans illustration, graphic design, photography, printmaking, and painting, often exploring themes of queerness and community. Alexis works as a graphic designer and illustrator for queer organizations and events throughout the city, using design to bring people together and build community. When they aren’t creating, Alexis spends time working as an urban designer, picking up new hobbies, and DJing whenever they can.
