Riva Lehrer's Circle Stories Exhibition at Chicago Cultural Center Explores Disability and Magic Realism
From March 27 to May 30, 2004, the Chicago Cultural Center will host Riva Lehrer's exhibition, Circle Stories, showcasing portraits of disabled artists and activists that intertwine personal narratives with political commentary. A Chicago-based painter living with spina bifida, Lehrer initiated this series after becoming part of a disabled artists group in 1997. The featured subjects range from a dancer to a playwright, including individuals who are little people or utilize wheelchairs. Employing Magic Realism, each portrait fuses elements of fantasy with reality. Influenced by notable artists such as Judy Chicago and Hollis Sigler, Lehrer's work resonates with a lineage that includes George Tooker and Vincent Disiderio. The catalog essay elaborates on Lehrer's medical background and artistic journey.
Key facts
- Exhibition dates: March 27 – May 30, 2004
- Venue: Chicago Cultural Center at 78 East Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602
- Artist: Riva Lehrer, a Chicago painter with spina bifida
- Series began after joining a disabled artists group in 1997
- Subjects include disabled artists and activists, such as little people and wheelchair users
- Art style: Magic Realism, influenced by Franz Roh and artists like George Tooker
- Notable portraits: Tekki Lomnikki, Hollis Sigler, Rebecca Maskos, William Shannon, Eli Claire
- Influences: Judy Chicago and Hollis Sigler, encountered in Chicago in 1980
Entities
Artists
- Riva Lehrer
- Judy Chicago
- Hollis Sigler
- George Tooker
- Vincent Disiderio
- James Valerio
- John Sebraw
- Tekki Lomnikki
- Rebecca Maskos
- William Shannon
- Eli Claire
- Franz Roh
Institutions
- Chicago Cultural Center
- artcritical
Locations
- Chicago
- United States
- Germany
- Latin America