The Hyde Park Art Center is a visual arts organization and the oldest alternative exhibition space in the city of Chicago. Since 2006, HPAC has been located just north of Hyde Park Boulevard, at 5020 S.Cornell Avenue, in the Kenwood neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.
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At once vibrant, creative, and warmly human.
Walking into HPAC feels like stepping into a living art studio, where every hallway hums with possibility. The galleries are electric—featuring a rotating mix of community-inspired installations, multimedia works, and emerging artists whose voices feel urgent and expressive.
The space manages to feel intimate despite its size: cozy studio corners, sunlit gathering areas, and quirky nooks where you might find a mural mid-creation. Classes and open studios attract everyone from curious kids to passionate adults—creative energy that’s palpable and contagious.
Community events like Cocktails & Clay or artist talks feel genuine: welcoming, interactive, and unapologetically playful. Staff and instructors strike the perfect tone—they’re knowledgeable, supportive, and approachable, never pretentious or aloof, helping you feel instantly part of the creative pulse.
If you’re an art lover—or even someone just curious about what can happen when creativity is shared—HPAC feels like the kind of place you’d count on discovering in your neighborhood. Purposeful, inclusive, and...
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I’m a ceramist at HPAC. They fire up to Cone 10 and allow for several types of clay including porcelain. They also have residency programs for established artists and since Covid started they’ve run a ‘Work from Home’ class which I really appreciate. I’ve registered my kids here as well, and it’s SO nice to drop them off and walk right into the cafe for a cup of coffee. It’s a really great center full of super nice artists....
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HPAC is totally worth the trip from Logan Square to the Hyde Park. It's one of the best places to see art in the city. They utilize the large meandering space really well and there are usually a few different exhibitions going on at one time. I love to explore the space, there are a few sweet hidden passages, weird corridors, a library and interesting shows grace the main space. Also, their halloween celebration is the best...
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