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Some 40,000 patrons attended EXPO to take in its 135 galleries from 25 countries and 58 cities. Photo by Haerim Lee. -
A collaboration between Jeanne Gang and Nick Cave launched EXPO CHICAGO 2017 and the Chicago Architecture Biennial on September 14th. Artist Nick Cave and architect Jeanne Gang put on their first performance collaboration, Here Hear Chicago. Photo by John Stevens. -
Emilio Rojas (M.F.A. 2017) performed his piece "Memorial to an Unbuilt Monument and/or a Litany of Reduction" for the "Not in My Name" exhibition at EXPO Chicago 2017 booth. Rojas' performance consisted in drawing on a wall of SAIC's booth the Columbus Monument with a Columbian Exposition silver half-dollar. This monument was proposed for the World’s Columbian Exposition (1892-1893) in Chicago. Photo by Haerim Lee. -
Antonio Monfreda and Sergio Salerni created an immersive art experience within the walls of Galerie Gmurzynska’s 1,200 square foot booth at the 2017 EXPO Chicago, presented in partnership with the Chicago Architecture Biennial. Photo by Emily Rich. -
Yvette Mayorga's solo presentation, "High Maintenance" for the Chicago Artist Coalition at EXPO Chicago. Photo by Haerim Lee. -
A collaboration between Jeanne Gang and Nick Cave launched EXPO Chicago 2017 and the Chicago Architecture Biennial on September 14th. Artist Nick Cave and architect Jeanne Gang put on their first performance collaboration, "Here Hear Chicago." Photo by John Stevens. -
On September 16, Northern Trust announced that the Northern Trust Purchase Prize, an annual gift of artwork selected from EXPO to be donated to Northwestern University’s Mary & Leigh Block Museum of Art. Photo by Haerim Lee. -
Part of the activities at EXPO Chicago included visitors taking pictures of their favorite artworks. Photo by Emily Kathryn Donaldson. -
The Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum booth. Photo by Haerim Lee. -
More shots of "Here, Hear Chicago," Jeanne Gang and Nick Cave's collaboration with EXPO and the Chicago Architecture Biennial. Photo by John Stevens. -
The work of Gregory Scott ,which explores the relationship between media in his works. Oil painting, photography, and video combine to “explore the idea of making a painting move.” Photo by Emily Rich. -
One of Nick Cave's famous Sound Suits in the wild. Photo by John Stevens. -
Painting by Davis Cone at the Forum Gallery Booth. Photo by Emily Rich. -
"Unidentified Semi Monic Substitution," by Robert Melee in the David Castillo Gallery booth. Photo by Emily Rich. -
Overhead view. Photo by Aden Richard Seeley-Smokey. -
Rushing through to see a few more pieces. Photo by Haerim Lee. -
The artist Derrick Adams spoke at the YoungArts Visual Arts forum. Photo by Haerim Lee. -
Emilio Rojas (M.F.A. 2017) installation at the SAIC booth, up close. Photo by Emily Kathryn Donaldson. -
The IN-Situ installation. Photo by Aden Richard Seeley-Smokey. -
The Peninsula Chicago featured “What it is to be Human,” an exhibition of sculptures and furniture by Gaetano Pesce that was curated by Salon 94 Design. Photo by Haerim Lee. -
Darryl Terrell's "#PROJECT20," in SAIC's booth. Photo by Emily Kathryn Donaldson. -
Detail of hanging installation by Wang Du. Photo by Aden Richard Seeley-Smokey. -
Sound Suits and Stage Buoys. Photo by John Stevens. -
Gaetano Pesce at the Peninsula. Photo by Haerim Lee. -
"The War We Won" by SAIC alum Roger Brown spotted in Kavi Gupta's booth. Photo by Emily Rich. -
A visitor of stops to look at work in the William Shearburn Gallery booth. Photo by Emily Rich. -
Young Chui Kwon's "Crowd Psychology" in the SIAC booth. Photo by Emily Kathryn Donaldson. -
Detail of sculpture. Photo by Aden Richard Seeley-Smokey. -
Sanford Biggers installation "Laocoön." Photo by Emily Rich. -
Collectors and gallerists. Photo by Emily Rich. -
"Money Collages" by Mark Wagner. Photo by Aden Richard Seeley-Smokey. -
More shots of SAIC alum Emilio Rojas (M.F.A. 2017). Photo by Emily Kathryn Donaldson.
EXPO began 37 years ago at Navy Pier under a different name: the less-snappy “Chicago International Art Expo.” After a decade at the Pier, the big show moved to the Merchandise Mart and stayed there 12 years. Then, five years ago, current president and director Tony Karman returned it to the Pier, where it is going strong as ever. In fact, the city’s premier arts exhibition ended this year with shattered attendance records.
Some 40,000 patrons attended EXPO to take in its 135 galleries from 25 countries and 58 cities. And an impressive 8,500 of these attendees showed up on the first night for Vernissage, the Museum of Contemporary Art’s exclusive opening night preview and fundraiser.
Karman told Chicago Business Journal that the secret to the exhibition’s increased success is tapping into Chicago’s collaborative spirit, adding that “the involvement of our cultural institutions, collectors, galleries, and artists will ensure that we will be welcoming the world together for many years to come.”
Aren’t you glad you went and got your free ticket?
Just in case you were not able to attend we sent our photographers to take some photos for you.
