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.
This month’s featured image is from a series of photographs featuring forest’s dear friend Iman Payne, a Black queer farmer based in Detroit. In forest’s words: “Black farmers have faced systemic discrimination and violence, which forced many to lose their land or relinquish ownership, leading to a decline in Black-owned farms. Some shifted to sharecropping, while others moved to cities like Detroit in search of better opportunities. Today, efforts continue to reclaim land and advocate for Black farmers’ rights.”
Click a button below to jump to a specific week of events.
October 1-13, 2026
Roving Exhibition “Home Grown”
Lubeznik Center for the Arts: Various Locations, IN
Free
Thursday, October 1, 1-2:30pm
Minds in Motion: Native American Dance and Culture
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: 4525 Oak St, Kansas City, MO
Sold Out
Thursday, October 1, 6-8pm
2026 Rich Bowman :: Land of Plenty
Blue Gallery: 118 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, MO
Free
Thursday, October 1, 6-9pm
’90s & Neon Fundraiser
Ignite Glass Studios: 401 N Armour St, Chicago
$75+
Thursday, October 1, 7pm
Screen Test
Roman Susan at PO Box Collective: 6900 N Glenwood Ave, Chicago
Free
Friday, October 2, 5-8pm
Walking on an Airy Road
Arts of Life and Circle Contemporary: 2010 W Carroll Ave, Chicago
Free
Friday, October 2, 6-9pm
Something Wicked…
Side Street Studio Arts: 15 Ziegler Court, Elgin, IL
Free
Friday, October 2, 7pm
Audre Lorde: The Life, Legacy & Power of a Black Feminist Icon
Sisters in Cinema Media Arts Center: 2310 E 75th St, Chicago
Free
October 3, 2026-January 24, 2027
Entre Tonos
DUBUQUE MUSEUM OF ART: 1000 Jackson St, Suite 105 Dubuque, IA
Free
October 3, 2026-February 7, 2027
Echoes of Time and Place: Sauk Art and Culture
DUBUQUE MUSEUM OF ART: 1000 Jackson St, Suite 105 Dubuque, IA
Free
October 3, 2026-March 7, 2027
Jacolby Satterwhite: Country Ball 1989–2012
Joslyn Art Museum: 2200 Dodge St, Omaha, NE
Free
Saturday, October 3, 9am-4pm
Queer History Symposium
Center on Halsted: 3656 N Halsted St, Chicago
$40-60
Saturday, October 3, 11am-3pm
The Great Art Tailgate with Bad at Sports
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago — Anne & John Kern Terrace Garden: 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago
Free
Saturday, October 3, 12-2:30pm (EST)
Family Canvas: Sky Signals
moCa Cleveland: 11400 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH
Free
Saturday, October 3, 12-5pm
Cooperation Racine Presents…South Side Flea 2026
6843 S Racine Ave, Chicago, IL, 60636
Free
Saturday, October 3, 12-3pm
meditation on: sculptural portals, a visual lecture by ebere agwuncha
Chicago Cultural Center: 78 E Washington St, Chicago
Free
Saturday, October 3, 1-2:30pm
Listening to Nature Soundwalk
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center: 12545 W 111th St, Lemont, IL
Free
Saturday, October 3, 1-4pm
Pleasure Power Portal: A Progressive Performance Experience – The Aperitif
Honey Pot Performance: Location to be disclosed upon ticket purchase
Free
Saturday, October 3, 2-5pm
Fall Exhibition Opening
Smart Museum of Art, The University of Chicago: 5550 S Greenwood Ave, Chicago
Free
Saturday, October 3, 3pm
AFw 2026: Xavi burgos, Black warrior angel (part one) staged reading and talkbalk
La Escuelita Bombera de Corazón: 3505 W North Ave, Chicago
Donation based
Saturday, October 3, 5pm
AFROFUTURIST WEEKEND 11: Mike monford j dilla tribute; RAP PANEL & J BAMBII Film
Elastic Arts: 3429 W Diversey Ave, #208, Chicago
Donation based
Saturday, October 3, 5-8pm
Dreaming in Blue
Purple Window Gallery: 2233 S Throop St, Unit 845, Chicago
Free
Saturday, October 3, 7-9pm
Side Yard Sounds: Dan Petry & Mark Snyder
Compound Yellow: 244 Lake St, Oak Park, IL
Free
Monday, October 5, 6-7pm
Behind Us We Are You: An Artist Talk and Exhibition by Atlan Arceo-Witzl
Archer Heights Branch Library – Chicago Public Library: 5055 S Archer Ave, Chicago
Free
October 6-7, 2026
Rhythm in Nature Workshop Intensives with Susie Ibarra and Jake Landau
JMKAC Theatre, Art Preserve: 3636 Lower Falls Rd, Sheboygan, WI
Apply Here
Tuesday, October 6, 6-7pm
Fall 2026 Puppetry Workshop: Cardboard Sculpting (Level 1)
Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival: online
$300
October 7-30, 2026
Common Ground
UWM Student Union (UN): 2200 East Kenwood Blvd, Milwaukee, WI
Free
Wednesday, October 7, 6pm
Share this event Patchbent: Sonic Resonance DJ Panel
Experimental Sound Studio: 5925 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago
Free
Thursday, October 8, 11:30am-1pm
Greatriarch Gathering
Harrison Center – Speck Gallery: 1505 N Delaware St, Indianapolis, IN
Free
Thursday, October 8, 5:30pm
A Film Noir Fundraiser Benefiting Milwaukee Film
Oriental Theatre: 2230 N Farwell Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202
$200-2,200
Thursday, October 8, 7pm
Jewel Rodgers | All About Love
North Omaha Music and Arts (NOMA): 2510 N 24th St, Omaha, NE
Free
Thursday, October 8, 7-9pm
F.E.K. Draw
Leather Archives & Museum: 6418 N Greenview Ave, Chicago
$10
Friday, October 9, 2026
The Revolution is My Boyfriend: The Films of Bruce LaBrucec
FACETS: 1517 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago
$15
Friday, October 9, 6-8pm
Seen and Unseen!
Intersect Arts Center Gallery: 3636 Texas Ave, St. Louis, MO
Free
Saturday, October 10, 10:30am
2026 Healing Arts Chicago: An Arts x Health x Wellness Summit
Malcolm X College: 1900 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago
Free
Saturday, October 10, 11am-4pm
Chicago Zine Fest 2026
Harold Washington Library Center: 400 S State St, Chicago
Free
October 11, 2026-Spring, 2027
Recent Acquisition: Roger Brown Study Collection
JMKAC Theatre, Art Preserve: 3636 Lower Falls Rd, Sheboygan, WI
Free
Sunday, October 11, 1-3pm
Harvesting Hope
Lawndale Pop-Up Spot, Chicago Sukkah Design Festival: 3615 W Douglas Blvd, Chicago
Free
Sunday, October 11, 7-9pm
Side Yard Sounds: Scorpio Celebration
Compound Yellow: 244 Lake St, Oak Park, IL
Free
October 13-18, 2026
Festival del Arte Popular 2026
National Museum of Mexican Art: 1852 W 19th St, Chicago
Free
Tuesday, October 13, 7:30-9pm
The Goodman x The Understudy Present: The Ground on Which We Stand
The Understudy Coffee and Books: 5531 N Clark St, Chicago
Free
Tuesday, October 13, 5pm
Careers in Museums: A Conversation with Chazen Staff
Chazen Museum of Art Auditorium, University of Wisconsin: 750 University Ave, Madison, WI
Free
Wednesday, October 14, 6-8pm
Professional Development: Effective Exhibition Proposals
Chicago Artists Coalition: 1431 W Hubbard St, Suite 201, Chicago
Free
Thursday, October 15, 6-8pm
Beyond the Covers: Gender-Affirming Pelvic Health, One Book at a Time
Gerber/Hart Library & Archives: 6500 N Clark St, Chicago
Free
October 16-18, 2026
Wisconsin Book Festival Lectures
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art: 227 State St, Madison, WI
Free
October 16-24, 2026
3320 Dance Series 2026
The Garage at Dovetail Studios: 2853 W Montrose Ave, Chicago
$27
Friday, October 16, 6-8pm (EST)
Loft Gallery: Marjaneh Abbasi Watercolor
Priscilla R. Tyson Cultural Arts Center: 139 W Main St, Columbus, OH
Free
Friday, October 16, 6-8pm (EST)
Resilience Unbound by Fatima Taylor
Priscilla R. Tyson Cultural Arts Center: 139 W Main St, Columbus, OH
Free
Saturday, October 17, 11am
Hui-min Tsen: After Oakenwald
Roman Susan at Lake Meadows: E 32nd Pl and S Rhodes Ave, Chicago
Free
Saturday, October 17, 1-2:30pm
Introduction to Printmaking w/ Natashna Anderson
Foundry Art Centre: 520 North Main Center, St. Charles, MO
$45
Saturday, October 17, 4:30pm
Finding Your Laughter
Logan Center, Performance Hall: 915 E 60th St, Chicago
$18
Saturday, October 17, 6-8pm
¡TINTA ARDIENTE! : Igniting Community Through Collective Action
National Museum of Mexican Art: 1852 W 19th St, Chicago
Free
Saturday, October 17, 7pm
The Magic of MOTOWN
The Historic Midwest Theater: 1707 Broadway, Scottsbluff, NE
$19-69
Saturday, October 17, 7:30pm
Pleasure Power Portal: A Progressive Performance Experience – Pre Fixe Performance
Honey Pot Performance: Location to be disclosed upon ticket purchase
$15-20
Saturday, October 17, 8pm
ESS 40th Anniversary Celebration
Experimental Sound Studio: 5925 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago
Free
Sunday, October 18, 11am-1pm
Film Screening: Exhibiting Forgiveness
Minneapolis Institute of Art: 2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN
Free
Sunday, October 18, 1-2pm
Architect’s Roundtable 2026
Lawndale Pop-Up Spot, Chicago Sukkah Design Festival: 3615 W Douglas Blvd, Chicago
Free
Thursday, October 22, 5:30-7pm
Where Are You: Two Films by Camille Billops & Maren Hassinger
Gallery 400: 400 S Peoria St, Room 3226, Chicago
Free
Friday, October 23, 11:30am-5pm
Pigmented: Chicago to the World A Black Fine Art Convening
Logan Center for the Arts, The University of Chicago: 915 E 60th St, Chicago
Free
October 24, 2026-January 24, 2027
Let Us Gather in a Flourishing Way
Des Moines Art Center: 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA
Free
Saturday, October 24, 11am-6pm
Pretty Good Fest 2026
Chicago Athletic Association: 12 S Michigan Ave, Chicago
Free
Saturday, October 24, 6-9pm
Afrodjia Social Club
Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center: 4048 W Armitage Ave, Chicago
$25.82
Saturday, October 24, 8:30pm
AIRMW Arts Initiatives Presents: Aine Nakamura
Elastic Arts Foundation: 3429 W Diversey #208, Chicago
$10-20
Thursday, October 29, 5-8pm
Samuel Schwindt: Leather: A Problem of Context
Robert F. DiCaprio Art Gallery at Moraine Valley Community College: 9000 College Pkwy, Palos Hills, IL
Free
Friday, October 30, 12:30-1pm
Conversation Piece: Rebekah Israel Cross
Smart Museum of Art, The University of Chicago: 5550 S Greenwood Ave, Chicago
Free
Friday, October 30, 5-8pm
Zombie
Chicago Artists Coalition: 1431 W Hubbard St, Ste 201, Chicago
Free
Friday, October 31, 9am
RISO BASICS with BearBear
Cactus Club: 2496 S Wentworth Ave, Milwaukee, WI
$95
Sunday, October 4
Selections From Our Collections
Rochester Art Center: 30 Civic Center Drive SE, STE 120, Rochester, MN
$5+
Sunday October 11 4PM
Florasonic 25th Anniversary: Jenn Grossman, Ótal, & Regina Martinez with Mario V. Martinez
Experimental Sound Studio: 2391 N Stockton Dr., Chicago
Free
Sunday, October 11
Ming Chiao Sumi-e Exhibition
Owatonna Art Center: 435 Garden View Lane, Owatonna, MN
Free
Saturday, October 24
Brendan Fernandes: The Noise Will Sound
Moniquemeloche: 451 N Paulina St, Chicago
Free
Monday, October 26
2025/2026 Visual Arts Fellowship
soomaal house of art: 2200 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis, MN
Free
Saturday, October 31
safe in the arms of your tree: Amanda Joy Calobrisi & Charles E. Roberts III
Roots & Culture Contemporary Art Center: 1034 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago
Free
About the image maker: na forest lim (they/them) is an autistic, queer, and trans artist, film director, and photojournalist from South Korea. They practice sustainable poetic living in Waawiyaatanong and use visual storytelling to tenderly lift up the resilience of marginalized individuals and communities.
