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 November 2, 2024
House of the Exquisite Corpse IV: Superstition
Steppenwolf Merle Reskin Garage Space: 1624 N Halsted St, Chicago
$21-46
November 1-2, 2024
Nadia Beugré: Quartiers Libre Revisited
Walker: 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis, MN
$35
November 1-December 21, 2024
Christmas Traditions® 50th Anniversary
520 N Main Center, St. Charles, MO
Free
Friday, November 1, 12-1pm
Artist Talk: Ronald Young at Webster University
Webster University, Sverdrup Hall 123: 8300 Big Bend Blvd, St Louis, MO
Free
Friday, November 1, 2:30-4pm
Talk: Writing in Exile: Intersection of Literature, Displacement, and Resilience
Minneapolis Institute of Art: 2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN
Free
Friday, November 1, 5-8pm
November First Friday
LUX Center for Arts: 2601 N 48th St, Lincoln, NE
Free
Friday, November 1, 5-8pm
Fengzee Yang: SOUNDER WIND
ARC Gallery: 1463 W Chicago Ave, Chicago
Free
Friday, November 1, 5-8pm
Sungho Bae and Sophia Karina English: by will or by trust
Chicago Artists Coalition: 2130 W Fulton St, Unit B, Chicago
Free
Friday, November 1, 5-8pm
Alexis de Chaunac: For the mother of the many changing names
Chicago Artists Coalition: 2130 W Fulton St, Unit B, Chicago
Free
Friday, November 1, 5-8pm
María Burundarena: Insula
Chicago Artists Coalition: 2130 W Fulton St, Unit B, Chicago
Free
Friday, November 1, 5-8pm
Anneke Eussen: Beyond purpose
DOCUMENT: 1709 W Chicago Ave, Chicago
Free
Friday, November 1, 5-8pm
20 Years of Western Exhibitions
Western Exhibitions: 1709 W Chicago Ave, Chicago
Free
Friday, November 1, 5-10:30pm
Matt Shapeless Rodriguez: ENTERING
Buena Vista Projects: 10056 S Ewing Ave, Chicago
Free
Friday, November 1, 6-8pm
Wander Home!: Meet The Artists
Izora Contemporary (Pop Up): 4872 N Clark St, (The Guesthouse Hotel)
Free
Friday, November 1, 7pm
Olympic Efforts
Walker: 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis, MN
$12-15
Friday, November 1, 7-8pm
Love and Loss in the Desert: A Conversation with Authors Clyo Mendoza and Javier Peñalosa
Pilsen Community Books: 1102 W 18th St, Chicago
Free
Friday, November 1, 7-9pm
Halloween Cover Show featuring Hard Femme, Bussy Kween Power Trip, and Bloofer Girl Puppets with Slugscape
Leather Archives & Museum: 6418 N Greenview Ave, Chicago
Free
Friday, November 1, 7-11pm
Radical Joy
Heaven Gallery: 1550 N Milwaukee Ave, FL 2, Chicago
Free
Friday, November 1, 8pm
Norman W. Long/Sharon Udoh, Mabel Kwan
Tritriangle: 1550 N Milwaukee Ave, Fl 3 Chicago
$10-15
Friday, November 1, 8-10:30pm
Yaya Kambaye, Glenn and Laurie Asch
Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts: 926 E Center St, Milwaukee, WI
$10
Friday, November 1, 8:30pm
29th Chicago Asian American Jazz Festival – Day 1
Elastic Arts: 3429 W Diversey Ave, #208, Chicago
$10-15
Saturday, November 2, 10am-12pm
Art Together November 2024
Mark Arts: 1307 N Rock Rd, Wichita, KS
Free
Saturday, November 2, 11am-5pm
Does Anyone Still Wear a Hat? (Closing Reception)
Hans Goodrich: 1747 S Halsted St, Chicago
Free
Saturday, November 2, 1-2pm
Guest Gallery Talk: “Robert Longo: The Acceleration of History”
Milwaukee Art Museum: 700 N Art Museum Dr, Milwaukee, WI
Free with Admission
Saturday, November 2, 1-3pm
Workshop: Ukiyo-e with Mami Takahashi
International Museum of Surgical Science: 1524 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago
$35
Saturday, November 2, 1-4pm
Kid Quest: Joyful Journals
Plains Art Museum: 704 First Ave N, Fargo, ND
Free
Saturday, November 2, 4-7pm
D Rosen: VAMP
Comfort Station Logan Square: 2579 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago
Free
Saturday, November 2, 4-8pm
The Politics of Collage
Theatre Y: 3611 W Cermak Rd, Chicago
Free
Saturday, November 2, 6-8pm
Sasha Miasnikova + Ada Wickens: Bourgeois Et…Pute!
Hardboiled: DM For Address
Free
Saturday, November 2, 7pm
Lit & Luz Festival: Live Magazine Show
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago: 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago
$10-19
Saturday, November 2, 7-9pm
Charlie Rumback’s Tag Book Band with Jim Baker and John Tate
Compound Yellow: 244 Lake St, Oak Park, IL
$15
Saturday, November 2, 7:30pm
Rami Atassi Cosmic Dance Band
Hungry Brain: 2319 W Belmont Ave, Chicago
$15
Saturday, November 2, 8:30pm
29th Chicago Asian American Jazz Festival – Day 2
Elastic Arts: 3429 W Diversey Ave, #208, Chicago
$10-15
Sunday, November 3, 1:30-2:30pm
Lives in Code: Stories of African American Resilience Under the Illinois Black Codes, 1819-1865
Batavia Depot Museum: 155 Houston St, Batavia, IL
Free
Sunday, November 3, 7-8:30pm
Lake Heritage: Performance
International Museum of Surgical Science: 1524 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago
$10-15
Sunday, November 3, 7-8:30pm
Indigo Sessions: a night of jazz, poetry & expression
Dorothy: 2500 W Chicago Ave, Chicago
$12-17
Monday, November 4, 5:30pm
Smart Salon: The World according to Robert Earl Paige
Smart Museum of Art, The University of Chicago: 5550 S Greenwood Ave, Chicago
Free
Monday, November 4, 6-11pm
Queer Fiber Artist Night at Dorothy
Dorothy: 2500 W Chicago Ave, Chicago
Free
Monday, November 4, 7-9pm
In Stitches with Shannon Downey and Greta Johnsen
Chop Shop: 2033 W North Ave, Chicago
$0-32
Monday, November 4, 8pm
Nesting
{}() {}∆‡!(){} No Nation T a π g e π t i a l U π s p a c e A r t L a b: 1542 N Milwaukee Ave, Floor 2, Chicago
Free
Wed, November 6, 4-7pm
Emily Lindskoog: Making Arrangements
Material Exhibitions: 2025 W Belmont Ave, storefront, Chicago
Free
Wed, November 6, 7-8:30pm
John Early: A More Perfect Union
UIS Visual Arts Gallery: One University Plaza Health and Sciences Building, 201, Springfield, IL
Free
Wed, November 6, 7:30-10pm
Comfort Film Presents First Nations Film and Video Festival 2024
Comfort Station Logan Square: 2579 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago
Free
Thurs, November 7, 4-6pm
Fireside Wisdom: Honoring Indigenous Culture
Elgin Community College: 1700 Spartan Dr, Elgin, IL
Free
Thurs, November 7, 5-6pm
VIRTUAL TALK: Identities and Communities Through Art Education
Gallery 400: Online
Free
Thurs, November 7, 5:30-7pm
David Alabo
Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita State University: 1845 Fairmount St, Wichita, KS
Free
Thurs, November 7, 6-9pm
Performance: Fading Out of Dead Air
International Museum of Surgical Science: 1524 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago
Free
Thurs, November 7, 6-8:30pm
Dear Diary After Hours
Washington Pavilion: 301 S. Main Ave, Sioux Falls, SD
$20
Thurs, November 7, 7-8:30pm
Stripping Through Time: a sultry burlesque extravaganza
Dorothy: 2500 W Chicago Ave, Chicago
Free
Thurs, November 7, 7-9pm
Melodramas of the Midwest
Center on Halsted: 3656 N Halsted St, Chicago
$10
Thurs, November 7, 9pm-1am
Jazz Against Genocide: A Benefit for the Rida Family in Gaza
Hungry Brain: 2319 W Belmont Ave, Chicago
$15
Thurs, November 7, 6-7pm
Traditional Jazz: A Historical Perspective of Early Jazz from the New Orleans and Chicago Era
Reddick Library: 1010 Canal St, Ottawa, IL
Free
Thurs, November 7, 5-9pm
Dunning: A history of the Cook County Insane Asylum
The Center for Mad Culture: 410 S Michigan Ave, suite 419, Chicago
Free
Thurs, November 7, 6-7pm(EST)
GAPP Lecture: Adam Sanzenbacher
Toledo Museum of Art: 2445 Monroe St, Toledo, OH
Free
Thurs, November 7, 6-9pm
Leather and Fur: Uncommitted Crimes
Parlour and Ramp: 2130 W 21st St, Chicago
Free
Thurs, November 7, 6:30pm(EST)
AIA (Archaeological Institute of America) Toledo Society Lecture Series
Toledo Museum of Art: 2445 Monroe St, Toledo, OH
Free
Thurs, November 7, 7pm
Reflections: Laurel Halo
Epiphany Center for the Arts: 201 S Ashland Ave, Chicago
$41.72
November 8-21, 2024
BLACK HARVEST FILM FESTIVAL
Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago: 164 N State St, Chicago
$6.50-60
Fri, November 8, 7-8:30pm
Performance: You Burden Your Mouth
International Museum of Surgical Science: 1524 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago
$10-20
Fri, November 8, 7:30pm
A Motown Christmas
Washington Pavilion: 301 S. Main Ave, Sioux Falls, SD
$44-63
Fri, November 8, 8pm
IRVINVILLE
Tritriangle: 1550 N Milwaukee Ave, Fl 3 Chicago
$10-15
November 8-December 6, 2024
Christina Navarro | Jonah Criswell | Zena Segra/ Hannah Watters
ROY G BIV: 435 W Rich St, Columbus, OH
Free
November 8-December 31, 2024
Cup Show
Abel Contemporary Gallery: 524 E Main St, Stoughton, WI
Free
Sat, November 9, 12-1pm
History of American Pies: and Illinois is Well Represented
Dongola Public Library: 114 NE Front St, Dongola, IL
Free
Sat, November 9, 12-1pm(EST)
Curators Conversation: Mastering the Game: African Art, Strategy and Global Influence
Toledo Museum of Art: 2445 Monroe St, Toledo, OH
Free
Sat, November 9, 1-4pm(EST)
Gel Plate Printing with Rob Anderson
Taube Museum of Art: 2 Main St, North Minot, ND
Free
Mon, November 11, 11am-7pm
2024 William Rainey : A SENSE OF COLOR
Blue Gallery: 118 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, MO
Free
Mon, November 11, 7-9pm
OTAT: After Dark at Dorothy
Dorothy: 2500 W Chicago Ave, Chicago
Free
November 12-December 10, 2024
Vitality Arts: The Art of Weaving: An Introduction to Frame Loom Weaving
Minneapolis Institute of Art: 2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN
$125-225
Tues, November 12, 11am-1pm
Trickster Exhibits & Native Beadworking
Elgin Community College: 1700 Spartan Dr, Elgin, IL
Free
Tues, November 12, 8pm
The Black Jacket Symphony presents Led Zeppelin’s ‘IV’
Fargo Theatre: 314 Broadway, Fargo, ND
Free
Wed, November 13, 12-12:45pm
Lunchtime Talk by Kirk Nickel featuring the work of LaToya Ruby Frazier
Haggerty Museum of Art: 1234 W Tory Hill St Milwaukee, WI
Free
Wed, November 13, 5:30-7:30pm
Contributing Member Reception for Stanley Whitney
Walker: 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis, MN
Members only
Wed, November 13, 6:30-8pm
Critical Grooves Book Lab
Plains Art Museum: 704 First Ave N, Fargo, ND
Free
Thurs, November 14, 7-8pm
Daisy Hernández and Lourdes Torres celebrate A Cup of Water Under My Bed
Pilsen Community Books: 1102 W 18th St, Chicago
Free
Thurs, November 14, 7-9pm
Jesse Howard: The Emerging of a Black Diaspora
Wadsworth Family Gallery at Lewis University: One University Parkway, Romeoville, IL
Free
Thurs, November 14, 7:30-8:30pm
BRKFST Dance Company: STORMCLUTTER
Kohler Arts Center: 608 New York Ave, Sheboygan, WI
$20-25
Thurs, November 14, 8:30pm
RM Francis, Pooch Karton, Hunter Brown
Tritriangle: 1550 N Milwaukee Ave, Fl 3 Chicago
$10-15
Thurs, November 14, 9pm
Arab Blues
Hungry Brain: 2319 W Belmont Ave, Chicago
$15
November 15, 2024-January 15, 2025
THIRST TRAP
Bridgeport Art Center: 1200 W 35th St, Chicago
Free
Fri, November 15, 5-8pm
Opening Celebration for Richard Mosse, Broken Spectre
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art: 227 State St, Madison, WI
Free
Fri, November 15, 5:30-7:30pm(EST)
Artist Reception: Bernadine Rais: Souvenirs
Toledo Museum of Art: 2445 Monroe St, Toledo, OH
Free
Fri, November 15, 5:30-7pm
Making (Good) Trouble with The Guerrilla Girls
Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita State University: 1845 Fairmount St, Wichita, KS
Free
Fri, November 15, 6-9pm
Staple + Stitch Art Book and Print Fair Preview Party
21c Museum Hotel Chicago: 55 E Ontario St, Chicago
Free
Fri, November 15, 7-8pm
S. Bear Bergman presents SPECIAL TOPICS IN BEING A PARENT
Pilsen Community Books: 1102 W 18th St, Chicago
Free
Fri, November 15, 8-10pm
BiG SiSSY (a)live
Comfort Station Logan Square: 2579 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago
Free
Fri, November 15, 8:30pm
Martin Freeman & Michael Rosenstein, XTAL fSCK, Dan of Earth, Ritwik Bannerji
Tritriangle: 1550 N Milwaukee Ave, Fl 3 Chicago
$10-15
Sat, November 16, 1-2pm
StoneLion Puppet Theatre in the Art Lab
Mulvane Art Museum: 1700 SW Collage Ave, Topeka, KS
Free
Sat, November 16, 12-4pm
moCa Saturday: 3D Mobile Making w/ MC2STEM
moCa Cleveland: 11400 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH
Free
Sat, November 16, 7-10pm
Fetish Film Forum – Tokyo Decadence (1992)
Leather Archives & Museum: 6418 N Greenview Ave, Chicago
Free
Sat, November 16, 7-10pm
Fetish Film Forum – Tokyo Decadence (1992)
Leather Archives & Museum: 6418 N Greenview Ave, Chicago
Free
Sun, November 17, 2-3pm
No One Ever Sees Indians: Native Americans in Media
Elmhurst History Museum: 120 E Park Ave, Elmhurst, IL
Free
Sun, November 17, 3-4:30pm
Soapbox: Amira Hegazy
Comfort Station Logan Square: 2579 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago
Free
Tues, November 19, 12-1pm
VIRTUAL TOUR: Learning Together: Art Education and Community
Gallery 400: Online
Free
Tues, November 19, 6:30-8pm
Chicago Degrowth Book Club presents Braiding Sweetgrass (Meeting 3 of 3)
Comfort Station Logan Square: 2579 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago
Free
Wed, November 20, 7-8pm
poupeh missaghi and Julia Conrad celebrate SOUND MUSEUM
Pilsen Community Books: 1102 W 18th St, Chicago
Free
Thurs, November 21, 5-8pm
Art Club: Found Footage & Cameraless Filmmaking with Rhayne Vermette
Walker: 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis, MN
Free
Thurs, November 21, 6-7pm
Whisper Their Love: The Subversive Nature of Lesbian Pulp
Gerber/Hart Library and Archives: Online
Free
Fri, November 22, 5-9pm
Paul Wear and Andrea Jablonski: (is it) Enough?
Oliva Gallery: 3816 W Armitage Ave, Chicago
Free
Fri, November 22, 5:30-7:30pm
Proximities: conditions of exchange
Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education: 1010 W 35th St, Suite 697, Chicago
$12-15
Fri, November 22, 7pm
Our Winnipeg, Ourselves, curated by Rhayne Vermette
Walker: 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis, MN
Free
Fri, November 22, 7:30pm
The Moth Mainstage
Fargo Theatre: 314 Broadway, Fargo, ND
$45-65
Fri, November 22, 10pm
Whisper Their Love: The Subversive Nature of Lesbian Pulp
Empty Bottle: 1035 N. Western Ave. Chicago
$12
Sun, November 24, 7:30-9:30pm
Comfort Music: Wombat // Beth McDonald and Riley Leitch // Jack Langdon
Comfort Station Logan Square: 2579 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago
Free
November 26, 2024-February 1, 2025
ALTARS OF reconciliaton
Intersect: 3636 Texas Ave, St. Louis, MO
Free
Fri, November 29, 6-9pm
Gear Night @ The Museum
Leather Archives & Museum: 6418 N Greenview Ave, Chicago
Free
Sat, November 30, 4 and 7:30pm
Choreographers’ Evening 2024
Walker: 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis, MN
Free
Sat, November 30, 8:30pm
FPE Presents: Yea Big and Tatsu Aoki – Album Release
Elastic Arts: 3429 W Diversey Ave, #208, Chicago
$10-15
Sat, November 30, 10pm
Werk: Chicago’s Premiere Queer Comedy Show
The Lincoln Lodge: 2040 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago
$12-16
About the illustrator: Kalief Dinkins is a 26 year-old Visual Artist based in Chicago and inspiring Creatives everywhere.
