See what we’ve got in store for you April 11 – 14.
AN EXPERIENCE UNLIKE ANY OTHER
Performances and experiences for you to discover and immerse yourself in.
THE ART SWAP SHOP
Welcome to The Art Swap Shop, a game where luck and a sense of adventure collide to create unforgettable moments of artistic exchange!
The concept is simple: bring in an original piece of art you no longer cherish, and exchange it for something new. Whether you’re a seasoned collector looking to refresh your collection or an aspiring artist hoping to showcase your talent, the Art Swap Shop welcomes all. The catch? You won’t know what you’re swapping for until you’ve got it!
How it works:
Bring an artwork: Bring in an original work of art that you own (or buy one at the fair) to swap in the game.*
Spin the Wheel: Head to the Art Swap Shop game area where a wall of swappable artwork awaits. Spin the wheel to determine the artwork on the wall that you’ll be trading with.
Art Exchange: Once the wheel reveals which artwork you’ll be swapping with you’ll make the exchange. Will it be a whimsical watercolor or a thought-provoking photograph? The element of surprise adds to the excitement!
Repeat: The wheel keeps spinning, and the swaps keep coming! With each turn, you could end up with a new treasure for your collection or an unexpected surprise.
So come join us for excitement, mystery, and the unpredictable magic of swapping art!
*Original artworks only, no posters, re-productions or mass made artworks
Opening Night
Have a big art appetite? Get first dibs on thousands of affordable, original works by 110+ artists. After you’ve had your fill of art, be sure to leave room for dessert— meringue is on the menu! Enjoy the edible installation “Dreamscape” curated by Colossal from artist Hyun Jung Jun (Dream Cake Test Kitchen).
Witness the making of this installation, and enjoy a piece of the finished masterpiece. Opening Night only.
Kick off your weekend with us at Friday Late! AMFM Presents Friday Night Late, featuring DJs, Alexander The Great, and Cobra B, for sounds inspired by the diaspora, underground house music parties, afrobeats, jazz, and Hip-Hop.
Experience a rhythmic journey with Chicago’s own, Lester Rey. Using his signature congas, he will play alongside the DJs to bring his unique Juketeo style to the fair.
Set Times:
DJ Alexander The Great 6-8 PM
Cobra B 8-10 PM
Lester Rey Performances at 7:30 & 9 PM
FUR RUSH: TOUCH TOWN – Catie Burrill
FUR RUSH: TOUCH TOWNis a discourse on material knowledge – probing the difference between rags and riches. Conjuring touch, Burrill transforms found materials (such as worn out mattresses and salvaged commercial faux fur) into jumbo-sized soft sculptures that pop off the wall.
Join us on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening for a haptic rush of the senses at the PETTING ZOO activation for taboo touches, heavy petting, and chic styling of the art works. A variety of grooming brushes will be offered and viewers will be invited to touch the faux-furred sculptures.
Friday 6-8pm, Saturday & Sunday 2-4pm
This installation is presented with Chicago Art Department (CAD). Learn more about CAD’s mission of providing space and resources for civically-minded artists as an artist-run cultural center in Pilsen here.
Clown Antics – Claire Ashley
Explore the unusual with giant, colorfully painted, inflatable sculptures that spark intrigue and amusement. These whimsical, abstract figures, drawn from artist Claire Helen Ashley’s passion for alien worlds, outer space and neon pinks.
“mis flores para tu altar” – Marylu E. Herrera
mis flores para tu altar is an installation created to show the continuing memories of loved ones through arrangements that utilize the craft of women’s works to retell cultural and familial memories with the use of decoration as material expression.
Through this installation, Marylu E. Herrera explores relationships of closeness and distance between her family’s histories and moments of celebration through temporary altars, sculptures like Coronas, and ornate and” cluttered” installations.
This installation is presented with Chicago Art Department (CAD). Learn more about CAD’s mission of providing space and resources for civically-minded artists as an artist-run cultural center in Pilsen here.
*Located in Building 1, Second Floor near the Bar.
You are Artful – Matthew Hoffman
Matthew Hoffman is the custodian of You Are Beautiful, a project to better the world through positive messages. Over 9 million stickers have been shared by the community, & over 100 public art works have been permanently installed globally since 2002.
Specially commissioned for The Other Art Fair Chicago, with each artwork purchase receive a free “You are artful” sticker.
*While supplies last.
Go For it – Matthew Hoffman
Matthew Hoffman’s large inflatable sculpture based on his own handwriting, featuring the Phrase “go for it” will be on view in the Courtyard.
ART REFRAMED
Explore unforgettable art installations and exhibitions throughout the Fair.
ASPS Sent It – All Star Press
“ASPS SEND IT” is an immersive group art exhibit that pays tribute to the iconic PRIORITY MAIL sticker. This sticker has been a canvas for street artists and graffiti enthusiasts, offering a voice to people from all walks of life. The exhibition echoes themes of community, nostalgia, and connection.
Featured Artists Included: Esteban Whiteside, Ramiro Huizar, Isamar Medina, Joey D., Revise, Fedz, AJ Ainscough, Jason Undead, Aldair Dos Mil, Tubz, Jason Farley, Stevie Shao, Nate Otto, Lefty Out There, Don’t Fret, Gooseneck, Morgan Nicolette, Ruben Aguirre, Nick Apple, PITR, Jonski, Le Panther, Ant Ben, Nez, Alyssa Low, TJ Kiser, Glass Cuisine, Kyle Cobban, Delisha, Undersea Gravy, Penny Pinch, Ali Six, JC Rivera, Danny Martinez, Steve Seeley, Slang, Thrifty Davinci, Myron Laban, James Eastwood, Sentrock.
AMFM
AMFM presents a two-person booth exhibition featuring the work of Chicago-based artist, Kahari Rastafari, and Milwaukee-based artist LIV. Similar in style, both artists work abstractly to present vibrant and colorful figures through layering, deconstruction, and improvisational techniques. Kahari Rastafari does this through collaged works on paper, and LIV through paint.
Learn more about AMFM’s dedication to supporting emerging and established artists through web content with local artists and creatives from all over the globe, and through curated events, exhibitions, partnerships, and activations here.
Chicago Artists Coalition – HATCH Residents
Get ready to discover the vibrant and thriving art scene in Chicago, courtesy of the Chicago Artists Coalition (CAC). As a non-profit organization, CAC supports contemporary artists and curators with residency programs, exhibitions, and professional development resources.
Booth presentation will feature artwork by 2023-24 HATCH Residents: bARBER, Michelle Chun, Sophia Karina English, Vince Phan, and Ruby Que.
Englewood Arts Collective – Home is Where the Art Lives
Discover the creative pulse of the community at the Englewood Arts Collective, a group of artists with deep roots in this Chicago neighborhood dedicated to representing, amplifying, and supporting artists and creative engagements that uplift the Greater Englewood area.
Experience art in its many forms, from vibrant displays to hands-on workshops in beat-making, printmaking, mosaics, macrame, and more.
Ponder the concept of home at “Home is Where the Art Lives”, and join the dialogue about community enrichment through art.
Let your curiosity guide your art journey. See what they have in store for you at the fair!
Workshop Sessions
April 11th, 7 PM: Printmaking Workshop (until ink runs out)
April 12th, 7 PM: Mosaic Square Workshop
April 13th, 12 PM: Photos & Conversations
April 13th, 4 PM: Beat Making
April 14th, 12 PM: Folded Mapmaking
April 14th, 3:30 PM: Macrame
Live painting will happen on Friday and Sunday.
Pigment International – We Walk Here
“We Walk Here” is an underpass beautification project undertaken by the Gary Comer Youth Center (GCYC) in partnership with Pigment International, to improve the passageways that lead to and from the GCYC and the students’ homes and schools.
Stop by Pigment’s booth to hear from GCYC staff and students for a presentation and as they discuss the project and engage in an open dialogue on resources, suggestions and volunteer opportunities in support of the project.
Pigment International is also presenting the booth EDO – The Message.
Unleash your inner artist and add a touch of ‘simple good’ to our community mural!
Share a memorable experience or artwork from The Other Art Fair that filled you with happiness or gratitude. Each ‘simple good’ on the mural symbolizes our shared human bond.
Shop The Simple Good merchandise, including art activity books and clothing, to support TSG’s mindfulness-based Youth Art Programs.
Learn more about The Simple Good and their mission to connect the meaning of good from around the world to empower youth here.
DISCOVER MORE
Meet Our Artists
Who’s on your list? Explore the 110 game-changing artists exhibiting with us at Artifact Events in Chicago.
The New Futures program is part of our continued mission to break down traditional barriers of the contemporary art world by giving prizing to talented, often underrepresented, emerging artists. Each recipient is given free exhibition space at The Other Art Fair along with access to networks and opportunities designed to jump-start their careers.
Reevah Agarwaal is an artist from New Delhi, India, currently based in Chicago, IL. She is currently pursuing her MFA from SAIC. Through textiles and collages, her work explores girlhood and the complex dualities that exist in domestic relationships. Using textiles that have a personal history, she employs material history to reconstruct and reclaim narratives of women and girls.
FUEL UP & INDULGE
Swing by the outdoor lounge area where you’ll find delicious eats from some of Chicago’s hottest food vendors
Fat Miilk – Vietnamese Coffee
“Vietnamese coffee that slaps”, masterfully brewed by the all-women squad over at Fat Miilk (@fatmiilk).
Stop by for a cup of bold cup of goodness.
At the Fair Thursday – Sunday.
Yum Dum – Bao and Dumpling Food Truck
Yum Dum (@yumdumtruck) delivers on its name with yummy offering steamed dumplings, fluffy bao sandwiches, and their signature Kimcheesy Rice Balls, they bring “Mom’s Asian home cooking” to life in every bite.
Stop by the Fair Thursday – Sunday.
5411 Empanadas
Stop by (@5411empanadas) for the best gourmet baked empanadas in Chicago!
At the Fair Thursday – Sunday.
Art Proficiency Fine Art Services
Art Proficiency will be on-site all Fair long, wrapping your newfound obsessions free of charge for safe transport. Need to ship? Art Proficiency can provide a custom quote for you.
