Join us for Our Printmaking & Book Art’s AiR, Anna Wagner, for her exhibition, Beast Feast:

• Open June 20 to July 31 in the Annex Gallery.

Anna Wagner’s solo show, BEAST FEAST, is a study of the bloody economy of the animal/human world. In Anna’s intaglio prints and sculpture, the act of consumption is central. Her subjects reevaluate human/imal experiences: Does not the intimacy of the carnivore and her prey bleed through the boundary separating sacrificial violence and love?

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Drawing on research by guest curator Dr. Mary Trent, this exhibition illustrates how the turn-of-the-century practices of making paper dolls and paper dollhouse scrapbooks may have influenced Henry Darger’s evolution as an artist and maker.

By showcasing both finished artworks and original source materials, the exhibition demonstrates how Darger adapted these humble pastimes into sophisticated methods for constructing large-scale, mixed-media narratives.

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Blending ancestral Bulgarian weaving traditions with modern, nature-inspired design, this work creates woven pieces that honor nature’s rhythms and the depth of human emotional landscapes.

This contemporary weaving series explores the connection between nature and humanity—how both evolve, heal, and renew through cyclical rhythms.

Rooted in a mindful, contemporary practice, the work combines natural fibers, texture, and design to reflect emotional landscapes.

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Fine Line Creative Arts Center in St. Charles, Illinois, is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit. Founded in 1979, the center inspires creativity year-round through adult classes in a wide variety of arts and crafts, including weaving, pottery, blacksmithing, basketry and glassblowing. Welcoming everyone from beginners to experienced artists seeking community, Fine Line offers classes for all skill levels.

In addition to classes, Fine Line is also home to the Kavanagh Gallery and the Dempsey Artisan Shop. The Kavanagh Gallery hosts a number of exhibitions each year featuring work by local and national artists, providing a platform for artists to showcase their art to the broader community.

The Dempsey Artisan Shop gives local artists a year-round opportunity to sell their work. Fine Line offers a welcoming, supportive space for artists and art lovers to thrive.

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Join us for The Ride Home, a solo exhibition by Ceramics AiR Aaron Noble Eskridge, on view March 6–27.

Don’t miss his Artist Talk on March 20, 5–7 pm in the Lillstreet Lounge. Rooted in memories of growing up in El Paso, Eskridge’s ceramic work explores home as a space of family, vulnerability, and cultural belonging, drawing from family photos, neighborhood architecture, and sculptural car forms.

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Experience Violet, a powerful exhibition by Drawing & Painting AiR Lydia Cash that bridges painting and music through themes of healing and self-expression.

Each work draws from her upcoming album, inviting viewers into a vulnerable, intuitive, and deeply personal process.

Visit the exhibition February 2–28 and join us February 27 for an artist talk and live musical performance.

Artist talk : Feb 27, 2026 5 PM
RSVP HERE

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The Kitchen Sink is a juried exhibition of contemporary functional ceramics by artists from across the United States, featuring items commonly found in the kitchen.

Juror Jen Allen is a studio potter, educator, and mother based in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Participating Artists: Molly Rose Arnstein / Scott Barton / Anne Bernard-Pattis / Kate Biderbost / Kimberly Gust / Mariko Brown Harkin / Erin Drake / Brittany Mabry / Jennifer Mecca / Connie Norman / Laura O’Donnell / Emily Rangel-Cascio

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Catalyst: Im/migration and Self-Taught Art in Chicago underscores the creative contributions of migrants and immigrants, broadening the scope to include artists deserving of greater attention, while posing questions about access to the art world and how art comes to be defined and valued. Considering artists in the context of their migration experience, cultural backgrounds and communities invites new insights into their work.

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Intuit Art Museum (IAM) champions the diverse voices of self-taught art, welcoming both new and familiar audiences.

Located in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood, Intuit is a premier museum of self-taught art. IAM collects and exhibits work by artists who often work outside the mainstream due to societal, economic, or geographic barriers that have prevented them from pursuing formal training in the arts. Yet, they have developed a sustained artistic practice.

The museum’s mission is grounded in the ethos that the instinct to create is universal, and the arts must embrace, represent and be accessible to all.

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Lillstreet Art Center is an art school, art gallery, and artist studio space in Chicago, Illinois. We offer classes and workshops in Ceramics, Metalsmithing & Jewelry, Textiles, Printmaking, Digital, and Drawing & Painting. Founded in 1975, Lillstreet is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year!

We provide a creative retreat from the noisy world around us, where you can relax, find inspiration, enjoy meditative creative time, make friends, and reach your artistic goals. We foster a community where artists of all backgrounds, ages, and skill levels can learn together. We promise good vibes in the studio and a supportive space to explore your practice and learn new skills.

Through our annual Artist-in-Residence program, we offer career opportunities and workspace for emerging to mid-career artists. We remove barriers to art education through our growing Scholarship Programs and Free Visiting Artist Program. We are committed to giving back to the art community and beyond, with a portion of our profits going to local humanitarian organizations monthly.

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Joy Machine is a contemporary art gallery in Chicago’s Irving Park neighborhood.

Founded in 2025 by Grace Ebert and Christopher Jobson, Joy Machine exhibits works by emerging and established artists.

We believe that joy expands our ability to move and be moved and is an essential antidote to despair.

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