10 Art Exhibits to Visit In Chicago In 2022

Chicago is a great place for art lovers, and this year it offers hundreds of exciting exhibitions. This map shows the 10 most important art events — focused on today’s issues, personal experiences, and the past.

Photo by Kevin Dooley

1. Nick Cave: Forothermore opens on May 14 at the MCA. The artist’s first big exhibitions in his hometown features his interdisciplinary never-before-seen artworks.

2. Crip* is currently open at Gallery 400. The exhibition explores power, disability, and privilege.

3. Art and Race Matters: The Career of Robert Colescott showcases the artist’s works focused on race, gender, and inequity. The exhibition is currently open.

4. Cezanne at the Art Institute of Chicago will present the Post-Impressionist artworks of the French artist influenced by Monet and Picasso.

5. Immersive Frida Cahlo gives you a chance to experience her art in a new way by fully emerging in Frida’s sadness, love, and pain. The immersive experience is located at the Lighthouse Art Space.

6. Loving Repeating: New Work by Miller & Shellabarger will take place at the Hyde Park Art Center. Life-long art partners known for their signature silhouettes combined paper, light, and shadow to draw attention to the physical disconnect between people due to COVID-19.

7. Malika Jackson: Whispers of a World Without Words — works inspired by Jackson’s experiences and favorite writers. You can see her beautiful artworks at the Hyde Park Art Center.

8. I Wish I Could Be More Like You explores gender and race through healing and reimagining of the past through vintage advertisements and logos. This exhibit is located at the McAninch Arts Center.

9. Shahidul Alam: We Shall Defy is a collection of the Bangladeshi photographer, teacher, and activist that bring attention to today’s issues. Opens soon at the Wrightwoood 659 gallery.

10. This House Is Mine pays tribute to Bob Thompson, whose short but impressive career influenced by European art styles greatly influenced American Modern art. The exhibition opens February 15 at Smart Museum.