Expo Chicago Breathes New Life into the Windy City Art Scene

The fair's third edition promises more goodies than a deep dish pizza.

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Expo Chicago 2013.
Photo: Cheri Eisenberg.
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Whitney Bedford at Carrie Secrist Gallery.
Photo: by Evan Bedford. Courtesy the artist and Carrie Secrist Gallery, Chicago.
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Monique Van Genderen at Ameringer McEnery Yohe.
Photo: Courtesy of Ameringer McEnery Yohe, New York.
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Molly Zuckerman-Hartung at Corbett vs. Dempsey.
Photo: Courtesy of Corbett vs. Dempsey, Chicago.
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Secundino Hernandez at Galerie Forsblom.
Photo: Couresty Galerie Forsblom, Helsinki.
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Sarah Cain at Honor Fraser Gallery.
Photo: Joshua White/JWPictures.com. Courtesy Honor Fraser Gallery, Los Angeles.
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Jessica Stockholder at Kavi Gupta.
Photo: Courtesy Kavi Gupta Chicago and Berlin.
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The Jessica Silverman Gallery booth at Expo Chicago 2013.
Photo: Audia.
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Spencer Finch at Lisson Gallery.
Photo: Courtesy Lisson Gallery, London.
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Magdalena Abakanowicz at Marlborough Gallery.
Photo: Courtesy Marlborough Gallery.
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Deana Lawson at Rhona Hoffman.
Photo: Courtesy Rhona Hoffman Gallery, Chicago.
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Fernand LĂ©ger at Richard Gray Gallery.
Photo: Courtesy Richard Gray Gallery, New York and Chicago.
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Luc Tuymans at David Zwirner.
Photo: Courtesy David Zwirner Gallery, New York and London.
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Grace Hartigan at Pavel Zoubok Gallery.
Photo: Courtesy Pavel Zoubok Gallery.
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Expo Chicago 2013 vernissage.
Photo: Audia.
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Richard Diebenkorn at Van Doren Waxter.
Photo: Courtesy Van Doren Waxter Gallery.
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McArthur Binion at Kavi Gupta.
Courtesy: Kavi Gupta, Chicago and Berlin.
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John Houck at On Stellar Rays.
Photo: Courtesy, On Stellar Rays, New York.
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Alice Aycock at Galerie Thomas Schulte.
Photo: Courtesy the artist and Galerie Thomas Schulte, Berlin.
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Yuh-Shioh Wong at Anthony Meier.
Photo: Courtesy Anthony Meier Fine Arts, San Francisco.

Now in its, third year, Expo Chicago continues to gather momentum under the leadership of Tony Karman. The upcoming edition, which runs from September 18–21 at Navy Pier, will feature 140 galleries from more than 17 countries and a packed roster of related events including artist talks, performances, and tours of  local collections. A special section entitled “Exposure” will highlight younger galleries including Lisa Cooley and James Fuentes, while mainstays like David Zwirner and Richard Gray Gallery will occupy booths in the main section.

artnet News surveyed exhibitors about what artists and works they are planning to show, and the responses indicate an eclectic mix of works ranging from American artists Thomas Hart Benton and Ellsworth Kelly at Debra Force, to Alice Aycock at Thomas Schulte, and Jessica Stockholder at Kavi Gupta.

New York gallerist Pavel Zoubok, an Expo Chicago first timer, told artnet News via email that Karman “has assembled an impressive and eclectic group of dealers and has really made the fair a must-see. I am looking forward to reconnecting with our existing clients and colleagues, and to introducing our program to a new audience. With the latter in mind, our installation will be an eclectic mix of contemporary and modern collage and assemblage, including Joe Brainard, Joseph Cornell, Vanessa German, Judy Pfaff and Mark Wager.”

Independent Curators International (ICI) recently announced its selection of names for “IN/SITU,” which provides an opportunity for artists to create large scale, site specific, and performative works intended to go beyond typical fair parameters. ICI executive director Renaud Proch selected artists including Elijah Burgher, Robert Burnier, Ken Gonzales-Day, Fernando Pareja & Leidy Chavez, Cheryl Pope, Michael Rakowitz, Jessica Stockholder, and Saya Woolfalk. The artists have a wide range of connections to Chicago; most have lived, worked, studied, or taught there.

Karman told artnet News: “My goals are numerous—that Expo Chicago further establishes itself on the international art fair calendar as the place for the art world to convene each September, that we broaden our partnerships with local and international museums, institutions, galleries, and artists, that our programming continues to be critically acclaimed, and most importantly that we remain supportive of our dealers and their artists to ensure their success.”

Expo Chicago 2014 runs September 18–21 at Navy Pier.