Theaster Gates Opens Land School Arts Center in Former Chicago Elementary School
On September 14, 2025, artist Theaster Gates will officially open the Land School, a new arts center located in Chicago's South Side, just ahead of the Chicago Architecture Biennial scheduled for September 19. This initiative repurposes the former St. Laurence Elementary School, which was closed in 2002, into a 3,700-square-meter space dedicated to the African American community. Gates acquired the property for $500,000 and invested $12 million over seven years in renovations. The Land School is a component of the Reimagining the Civic Commons project, spearheaded by Gates' Rebuild Foundation. It will feature residencies for D-Composed, International Anthem, and DJ Duane Powell, along with artist studios, workshops, and exhibition spaces. Born in 1973, Gates is recognized for his work in urban regeneration.
Key facts
- Land School opens September 14, 2025
- Chicago Architecture Biennial starts September 19, 2025
- Former St. Laurence Elementary School at 72nd Street and Dorchester Avenue in Hyde Park
- School closed in 2002, purchased for $500,000
- Renovation cost $12 million over 7 years
- 3,700 square meters of space
- Preserved original exterior masonry, plasters, and roof tiles
- First residencies: D-Composed, International Anthem, Duane Powell
- Part of Reimagining the Civic Commons initiative
- Rebuild Foundation founded in 2009 by Theaster Gates
- Other Rebuild Foundation sites: Stony Island Arts Bank, Dorchester Art + Housing Collaborative, Kenwood Gardens, Archive House
- Gates born 1973 in Chicago, teaches Visual Arts at University of Chicago
- 2017 Garfield Boulevard park developed with University of Chicago
Entities
Artists
- Theaster Gates
- Duane Powell
Institutions
- Rebuild Foundation
- University of Chicago
- Chicago Architecture Biennial
- D-Composed
- International Anthem
- Stony Island Arts Bank
- Dorchester Art + Housing Collaborative
- Kenwood Gardens
- Archive House
- Artribune
Locations
- Chicago
- South Side
- Hyde Park
- 72nd Street
- Dorchester Avenue
- Garfield Boulevard
- Washington Park
- United States