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Arts of Life

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Arts of Life
EstablishedJanuary 2000
FounderDenise Fisher, Veronica Cuculich
TypeNon-profit, Progressive Art Studio
HeadquartersChicago, IL
Location
  • Chicago, IL Glenview, IL Highland Park, IL
AwardThe Distinguished Service Award - The Arc of Illinois
Websitewww.artsoflife.org

Arts of Life, based in Chicago, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides studio space, supplies, professional development support, and exhibition opportunities to artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities.[1] At the time of its founding in 2000, Arts of Life was the first program in Chicago to provide employment in the arts for adults with developmental disabilities.[2] It has two studio and gallery locations that are each 6,000 square feet, as well as one satellite studio. The West Town Studio is located at 2010 West Carroll Avenue, in Chicago, Illinois, the Glenview Studio is located at 1963 Johns Drive in Glenview, Illinois, and the satellite studio is located at 6400 South Kimbark in the Southside of Chicago, Illinois.[3] The studio artists work in various media, including painting, drawing, fibers, sculpture, music, and performance.[4] As of 2025, the three studios support and provides services for over 80 artists.[1]

About

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As a progressive art studio, Arts of Life is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities as they seek to build and sustain careers in the arts.[5] As an organization, Arts of Life focuses on inspiring artistic expression, helping artists build community, and promoting self-respect.[6] It was co-founded by Denise Fisher, the manager of a residential program for people with disabilities, and Veronica "Ronnie" Cuculich, a resident in the program, as an alternative to limited job roles offered in sheltered workshops.[7][2] Arts of Life artists and staff engage in collective decision-making on various aspects of the program including programming and the hiring of staff. Volunteers and staff facilitate the artists and offer instruction in art techniques and professional development.[4] The studio also assists artists in exhibiting and marketing their work.[8][9]

Studio Bands

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The Arts of Life Band was a collaboration between performers with and without disabilities. The band released albums containing original songs and was included on a compilation album of music by bands with members who have disabilities, Wild Things, released by British punk group Heavy Load in 2009.[10][7] The band is currently on hiatus. Similarly, artists at the Glenview Studio and musicians without disabilities perform together as the band Van Go Go. They performed at the 2025 Disability Pride Parade.[6]

Progressive Art Studio Alliance

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In 2025, Arts of Life helped to launch the Progressive Art Studio Alliance, to provide shared opportunities for advocacy, collaboration, education, research, and public policy for progressive art studios nationwide.

Circle Contemporary

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[edit]

The affiliated gallery space, Circle Contemporary, was founded in 2017. It is the only Chicago gallery dedicated to exhibiting the work of artists both with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities.[11] Exhibitions are co-curated by guest curators from the wider arts community and curators from Arts of Life.[12] Curators have included Bob Faust and Nick Cave[13], Edra Soto[14], Marc LeBlanc[15], and Madeline Gallucci:

Circle Contemporary also facilitates the exhibition of Arts of Life artists' work in galleries, museums, art fairs, businesses, and government offices around the city of Chicago, the United States, and the globe.

Exhibitions

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  • Intuit Art Museum (2026): Impressions of a City: Drawings by Marvin Young[16].
  • Design Museum of Chicago (2025): Community on the Make | Arts of Life 2000-2025.
  • Outsider Art Fair New York (2025)
  • Art on the Mart (2025, 2020): Work by Arts of Life artists was projected onto the Merchandise Mart building in downtown Chicago as part of the "Art on the MART" video art display between August - September 2025[17] and November - December 2020.[18]
  • Art Fair Tokyo (2023): Artwork by two Arts of Life artists, Ariée and Raina Carter, was exhibited with Sho + 1 gallery at Art Fair Tokyo, the largest art fair in Japan and the oldest in Asia.[19]
  • EXPO Chicago (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)[20]
  • Art Basel Miami (2022): Arts of Life exhibited at two fairs during Art Basel Miami. Arts of Life was among 146 galleries participating in the fair organized by The New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA), the definitive non-profit organization dedicated to the cultivation, support, and advancement of new voices in contemporary art.[21] Arts of Life also presented work at Untitled Art, Miami Beach.
  • Ducks on the Mag Mile (2020): In 2020, Arts of Life artists contributed sculpture designs to a public art project in conjunction with the annual fundraising event for Special Olympics Illinois.[22]
  • Chicago Cultural Center (2019): In Good Company [23]
  • Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art (2017): A is for Artist, curated by Scott Hunter, challenged "the idea of using the label 'outsider art' when describing artists who not only lack academic training in art, but who also suffer from [sic] neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disabilities."[24]

Publications

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  • 2wenty-5ive: Arts of Life 2000-2025: To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Arts of Life, this book celebrates a quarter century of community bullding and art making.
  • Love Man: In 2020, a collaboration between Arts of Life artist David Krueger and another Chicago artist, Ben Marcus, was released as Love Man: Forever and Ever Again by the publisher Perfectly Acceptable.[25]

Partnerships

[edit]
  • Artlifting: In 2022, the work of Arts of Life artist Ted Gram-Boarini was selected by Bank of America locations nationwide[26] through a partnership with Artlifting. The partnership was expanded in 2026 to include works by Ted Gram-Boarini and fellow artist Marcus Imani Kennedy[27].

Associated Artists

[edit]

Funding

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Arts of Life receives funding from the State of Illinois, individual donors, grants, and foundations.[6] The organization has partnered with sponsoring businesses, professional artists, service providers, and brands, including the MacArthur Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Illinois Arts Council, the Andy Warhol Foundation, the Arts and Business Council of Chicago, the Chicago Community Trust, and the West Town Chamber of Commerce.[59] It also holds a variety of group shows and benefits.[4][60][6]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 "Who We Are". Arts of Life. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Spotlight: The Arts of Life". LVL3. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  3. ↑ "Arts of Life – Creative Arts Community and Collective Space for Artists with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities". Retrieved 2025-03-07.
  4. 1 2 3 Kosters, Brandon (12 April 2010). "Art that Empowers". F Newsmagazine. School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  5. ↑ "Progressive Art Studio | MoMA". The Museum of Modern Art. Retrieved 2025-03-07.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Nocturnal journal with Dave Hoekstra: Arts of Life: Promoting independence and self-respect though music and art". WGN Radio 720. 27 July 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  7. 1 2 Pietrusiak, Leah (3 November 2011). "Saved by rock 'n' roll: The Arts of Life Band shows that being developmentally disabled doesn't stand in the way of rocking out". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  8. ↑ Kukulka, Alexandra (3 April 2017). "The Arts of Life creates artistic community for people with, without disabilities". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  9. ↑ Sanders, Hosea (2 June 2019). "Arts of Life celebrates abilities, creativity". ABC 7 Eyewitness News. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  10. ↑ Pearson, Laura. "A Little Bit of Rhythm and a Lot of Soul: The Arts of Life Band". Gapers Block. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  11. ↑ "Mysterious Feelings at Circle Contemporary". Disparate Minds. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  12. ↑ "Dance, Dance, Dance at Circle Contemporary". Disparate Minds. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  13. ↑ "What They Said exhibition, curated by acclaimed artists Nick Cave and Bob Faust". Choose Chicago. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  14. ↑ "Entrelazar". Arts of Life. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  15. ↑ "Chicago Art Exhibitions | You're All Dead to Me: Guest Curated Show by Marc LeBlanc". www.chicagogallerynews.com. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  16. ↑ "Impressions of a City | Exhibition". Intuit Art Museum. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  17. ↑ "Chicago Gallery News | Circle Contemporary (Arts of Life)". www.chicagogallerynews.com. Retrieved 2025-03-07.
  18. ↑ "Chicago Gallery News | Live Art Nightly? Yes, Please. Art on theMART to Run Nov 12–Dec 30". www.chicagogallerynews.com. Retrieved 2025-03-07.
  19. ↑ "Art Fair Tokyo – Arts of Life". Retrieved 2025-03-07.
  20. ↑ "25th Anniversary – Arts of Life". Retrieved 2025-03-07.
  21. ↑ "Arts of Life to Exhibit In NADA Miami – Arts of Life". Retrieved 2025-03-07.
  22. ↑ "Special Olympics Illinois celebrates 15 years of #ChiDuckyDerby with public arts display on the Mag Mile". Daily Herald. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  23. ↑ "In Good Company". www.chicago.gov. Archived from the original on 2025-03-22. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  24. ↑ Wawzenek, Tom (12 October 2017). "A is for Artist Brings "Outsider Art" Inside". Third Coast Review. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  25. ↑ Casey, RJ (14 February 2020). ""I Am the Love Man": A Valentine's Day Interview with David Krueger and Ben Marcus". The Comics Journal. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  26. ↑ "Artists Living with Disabilities or Impacted by Housing Insecurity to be Featured in Bank of America Financial Centers Across the United States". Bank of America. Archived from the original on 2026-05-20. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  27. ↑ "Bank of America Retail Partnership". ArtLifting. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  28. ↑ "Omar Abulsheikh – BEOPEN Art". Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  29. ↑ "City Circle Heart: Arts of Life". ART on THE MART. 2020-01-11. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  30. ↑ "PERCEPTIONS OF FLOW: FORMATION - Closing Reception". FAN. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  31. ↑ Shoenberger, Elisa (2025-09-25). "Review: "Community on the Make | Arts of Life 2000-2025" at Design Museum of Chicago". Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  32. ↑ "Arts of Life: 25th Anniversary Retrospective Exhibition". Design Museum of Chicago. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  33. ↑ "Caroline Chun - Biography". Arts of Life - Circle Contemporary. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  34. ↑ "Isamu Guy Conners". ArtLifting. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  35. ↑ Cardoza, Kerry (2025-03-19). "Inside the vibrant, joy-filled world of Arts of Life". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  36. ↑ "The Arts of Life creates artistic community for people with, without disabilities". Chicago Tribune. 2017-04-03. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  37. ↑ "Perceptions of Flow: "Formation" | Evanston Art Center". www.evanstonartcenter.org. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  38. ↑ "Perceptions of Flow: "Formation" | Evanston Art Center". www.evanstonartcenter.org. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  39. ↑ "Perceptions of Flow: "Formation" | Evanston Art Center". www.evanstonartcenter.org. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  40. ↑ "City Circle Heart: Arts of Life". ART on THE MART. 2020-01-11. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  41. ↑ "Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!, Patient Info". Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  42. ↑ Magazine, Artdose (2025-01-26). "Arts of Life Builds Community and Breaks Barriers for Artists with Disabilities". A Midwest Art Magazine. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  43. ↑ ArtsOfLife (2025-12-17). Katrina Jackson’s Artist Spotlight. Retrieved 2026-06-19 – via YouTube.
  44. ↑ "Marcus Imani Kennedy". ArtLifting. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  45. ↑ "Arts of Life - Artist Spotlight". Drawstring Magazine. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  46. ↑ "Dave Krueger". Disparate Minds. 2019-07-31. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  47. ↑ "Arts of Life in West Town in collaboration with Center on Halsted in Lakeview – Woman Made Gallery". womanmade.org. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  48. ↑ "Chicago Art Exhibitions | Perceptions of Flow: Formation". www.chicagogallerynews.com. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  49. ↑ Cardoza, Kerry (2025-03-19). "Inside the vibrant, joy-filled world of Arts of Life". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  50. ↑ Shoenberger, Elisa (2025-09-25). "Review: "Community on the Make | Arts of Life 2000-2025" at Design Museum of Chicago". Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  51. ↑ flor123 (2024-07-18). "Art After Work: Cyanotypes with Arts of Life's Carol Pyes". The Visualist. Retrieved 2026-06-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  52. ↑ "Alex Scott". ArtLifting. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  53. ↑ "Arts of Life - Artist Spotlight". Drawstring Magazine. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  54. ↑ "Tim Stone". ArtLifting. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  55. ↑ "City Circle Heart: Arts of Life". ART on THE MART. 2020-01-11. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  56. ↑ Bomke, Natalie (2019-12-04). "Suburban man with cerebral palsy inspires others with his artwork". FOX 32 Chicago. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  57. ↑ "Impressions of a City | Exhibition". Intuit Art Museum. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  58. ↑ McClanathan, Emily (2025-08-22). "Arts of Life's first-ever retrospective". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  59. ↑ "Community Partners". Arts of Life. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  60. ↑ "Blowout Sale and Block Party". The Visualist. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
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