EXPO CHICAGO 2026 Preview: Seven Artists to Watch at Navy Pier
EXPO CHICAGO returns to Navy Pier from April 9 to 12, 2026, featuring hundreds of galleries and multidisciplinary programming across Chicago. Aliza Nisenbaum's vibrant portraiture, presented by Anton Kern and Regen Projects, includes smaller works echoing her Obama Presidential Center mural 'Reading Circles/ Weaving Dreams/ Seeding Futures'. Tawny Chatmon's newer portraits at Galerie Myrtis incorporate embroidery rather than gold leaf. Maya Fuji's 'Slice of Life' paintings at Charlie James Gallery depict everyday scenes inspired by mid-2000s manga. LaKela Brown presents black-coated polyurethane sculptures exploring ethnobotany through 56 Henry. Gerard Mas shows polychrome resin busts of spirited women with Ting Ting Art Space. Rahma Lhoussig's mixed-media works at dmincubator merge abstraction with magical realism. Dee Clements exhibits still-life paintings in hand-woven frames alongside Mindy Solomon.
Key facts
- EXPO CHICAGO runs April 9-12, 2026 at Navy Pier
- Aliza Nisenbaum's mural 'Reading Circles/ Weaving Dreams/ Seeding Futures' was created for the Obama Presidential Center
- Tawny Chatmon embroiders motifs onto portraits instead of using gold leaf
- Maya Fuji's 'Slice of Life' series references mid-2000s manga
- LaKela Brown's sculptures explore ethnobotany through collard greens, tobacco, corn, and chicken wings
- Gerard Mas creates polychrome resin busts of women in witty roles
- Rahma Lhoussig's works feature crayon scribbles and crude line drawings
- Dee Clements frames still-life paintings in hand-woven frames
Entities
Artists
- Aliza Nisenbaum
- Tawny Chatmon
- Maya Fuji
- LaKela Brown
- Gerard Mas
- Rahma Lhoussig
- Dee Clements
Institutions
- EXPO CHICAGO
- Anton Kern
- Regen Projects
- Galerie Myrtis
- Charlie James Gallery
- 56 Henry
- Ting Ting Art Space
- dmincubator
- Mindy Solomon
- Obama Presidential Center
- Colossal
Locations
- Navy Pier
- Chicago
- United States
- Barcelona
- Spain