What Truly Counts as Art? 🎨✨

In Chicago —a city built by immigrants—art has never been confined to carefully framed paintings in museums. This spring of 2025, the newly transformed Intuit Art Museum presents a groundbreaking exhibition: *Catalyst: Im/migration and Self-Taught Art in Chicago*. This show challenges conventions and celebrates raw, unfiltered creativity ! 🖼️🔥 Featuring 22 artists deeply connected to Chicago , the exhibition showcases 75 works spanning paintings, prints, sculptures, and installations . Most of these creators never received formal art training , and many remained outside the mainstream art world during their lifetimes. Yet, their honest, visceral, and sometimes haunting expressions have infused the city’s culture with authentic and diverse voices . A standout figure is Henry Darger —a humble hospital janitor who secretly created thousands of artworks in his tiny rented room. Unknown in his lifetime, his pieces now sell for six-figure sums , forcing us to redefine what "art" means . 🧩💔 The exhibition also highlights: - Drossos P. Skyllas , a portraitist from the Ottoman Empire - Carlos Barbarena , a printmaker channeling traumatic memories into his work - Piloto , a Mexican artist who critiques social progress through his *Statue of Liberty* sculptures Though their styles vary, these artists share a common thread : exploring struggle, resistance, and self-identity through the lens of migration. 🌍✊ The curators emphasize: This isn’t just about reclaiming marginalized artists—it’s a bold question : *Who gets to decide art’s value? Shouldn’t the definition of art be more inclusive?* 🤔 Amid ongoing U.S. debates about immigration, this exhibition couldn’t be timelier . It documents how immigrant communities use art to voice their histories —and reveals the brilliant creativity that thrives even in adversity . 🖼 Exhibition Info 📍 Location : Intuit Art Museum, Chicago 📅 Dates : May 23, 2025 – January 11, 2026 🎟 Admission : $15 (Adults) | FREE for students & under 24 #Art #Artist #ArtLover #Exhibition #Museum #Chicago #Immigration #OutsiderArt #SelfTaughtArt #ChicagoCulture #ArtHistory #ContemporaryArt #MustSeeExhibits #InclusiveArt #CreativeVoices #ArtRevolution #HiddenGems