EXPO Chicago 2018 Reflects Shifting Fair Landscape Amid Political Tensions

In September 2018, EXPO Chicago commenced during Christine Blasey Ford's Senate testimony about Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, which overshadowed the art fair. There was a noticeable decline in enthusiasm and gallery participation, with a reduced presence of major galleries from cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Oslo, and Paris. Younger galleries began to reassess the fair's significance. Curated by Anna Gritz, EXPO VIDEO showcased pieces including Tony Cokes's text-driven video and Kandis Williams's Eurydice (2018). The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago featured exhibitions like I Was Raised on the Internet and Heaven and Earth: Alexander Calder and Jeff Koons. The Art Institute of Chicago highlighted Hairy Who? 1966–1969, while Regards gallery displayed Violence and DOCUMENT gallery featured Stan VanDerBeek's POEMFIELD no. 7. This article was published online on October 3, 2018.