Partnering with EXPO CHICAGO, CXW features 50 gallery participants showcasing exhibitions, programs, and special events throughout the city to convene art collectors, enthusiasts, and local communities
Chicago, IL – August 28, 2024 – This fall, Gertie, the civic and cultural agency founded by Abby Pucker, will present the second annual Chicago Exhibition Weekend (CXW). Presented in partnership with EXPO CHICAGO, CXW mobilizes art galleries and creative spaces across the city from October 3 – 6, spotlighting Chicago’s vibrant cultural landscape and artistic spirit for locals and visitors alike. CXW 2024 participants feature a range of galleries and arts spaces, including Blanc Gallery, DOCUMENT, GRAY, Mariane Ibrahim, moniquemeloche, PATRON, Rhona Hoffman, and many more who have timed exhibitions to coincide with the weekend, extended hours, and organized special public programs.
Building off the success of last year’s edition, which attracted 5,000 attendees over three days, CXW 2024 will expand its footprint with 50 participating galleries, demonstrating the vitality and diversity of the city’s growing commercial art scene.
The weekend will bring together art collectors, enthusiasts, and local community members to engage with Chicago’s cultural community, helping artists and gallerists cultivate new collectors, broaden their audiences, and heighten global visibility for the local arts ecosystem. The weekend will feature citywide programming, including a partner kick-off dinner, a public Night Market Art Bazaar on Saturday night, a Mana Studio Crawl hosted by Stoodio, and much more. In an effort to remove barriers for entry in arts spaces throughout Chicago’s many neighborhoods, CXW has partnered with local arts leaders to curate their own customized routes with recommendations on galleries, non-profits, and local businesses to visit throughout the weekend, providing a multitude of ways to experience the weekend’s citywide offerings. CXW routes will be curated by Scott Vincent Campbell (curator, ICI), Nick Cave (artist), Bob Faust (artist), Laura Lester (art advisor), S.Y. Lim (arts organizer), and Carla Acevedo-Yates (curator, MCA Chicago). Programming details and routes will be published on Gertie’s website ahead of CXW in early September.
“Chicago has always been a place of unparalleled artistic production and creative talent, and our goal in forming CXW is to create a convening moment that galvanizes visual art spaces across our great city to work together to celebrate this ecosystem and forge new connections,” said Abby Pucker.
“EXPO CHICAGO is proud to partner with Gertie to further support Chicago’s rich cultural community, and showcase the diversity of our galleries, institutions, and artists,” said Tony Karman, President and Director of EXPO CHICAGO. “We welcome both local and visiting arts patrons to explore the many featured exhibitions and events that have been planned for CXW 2024 and to continue to take advantage of the creative excellence of our community year-round.”
Chicago Exhibition Weekend will engage the next generation of business, civic, and philanthropic leaders to interact with the city’s emerging artistic talent through community dinners, programming, and festivities. This four-day celebration will include a wide range of events, including those presented by EarlyWork, Gertie’s burgeoning membership network comprised of young Chicagoans seeking a community centered around cultural engagement. Throughout the weekend, members will have the opportunity to tour Chicago’s arts spaces alongside Pucker and a wide range of Chicago-based artists and arts leaders. EarlyWork events throughout the weekend include the grand opening of GRAY’s new gallery, advance access to exhibitions across the city, a night of celebration presented with Rococo Art Advisory, private collection tours, and more, offering the opportunity for convening and networking at the crossroads of art and business.
Support for CXW is provided by Cresset and Kirkland & Ellis.
About Gertie
Gertie is a civic and cultural agency that convenes and educates Chicago’s culturally curious through in-person gatherings and digital storytelling to develop, amplify, and expand the reach of the city’s creative ecosystem. Gertie bridges relationships with creative and corporate communities to craft and produce large-scale initiatives and iconic cultural moments that highlight and attract investment in Chicago’s arts and culture. For more information, visit gertie.co.
About EXPO CHICAGO
EXPO CHICAGO showcases leading contemporary and modern art galleries each April at Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, alongside a diverse and inventive program of talks, on-site installations, and public art initiatives. Inaugurated in 2012, EXPO CHICAGO draws upon the city’s rich history as a vibrant international cultural destination, while highlighting the region’s contemporary arts community. In 2023, EXPO CHICAGO was acquired by Frieze, the world’s leading platform for modern and contemporary art. For more information on EXPO CHICAGO, visit expochicago.com.