{"id":1868391,"date":"2026-04-06T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1868391"},"modified":"2026-04-06T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T21:00:00","slug":"7-artists-were-excited-to-see-at-expo-chicago-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1868391","title":{"rendered":"7 Artists We\u2019re Excited to See at EXPO CHICAGO 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1638\" height=\"1235\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/expo.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"an aerial view of an art fair\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">EXPO CHICAGO 2025. All images courtesy of the artists, galleries, and EXPO CHICAGO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">7 Artists We\u2019re Excited to See at EXPO CHICAGO 2026<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-06T10:11:07-05:00\">April 6, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-art\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/art\/\" rel=\"tag\">Art<\/a><a class=\"category-partner\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/partner\/\" rel=\"tag\">Partner<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/gebert\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Grace Ebert<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing has-visible-labels has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-is-layout-flex\">\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-facebook has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F04%2Fexpo-chicago-2026-artists-to-see%2F&amp;title=7%20Artists%20We%27re%20Excited%20to%20See%20at%20EXPO%20CHICAGO%202026\" aria-label=\"Share\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tShare\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-mail has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#28175b5d4a424d4b5c151f0d1a18695a5c415b5c5b0d1a187f4d0d1a1f5a4d0d1a186d504b415c4d4c0d1a185c470d1a187b4d4d0d1a18495c0d1a186d7078670d1a186b60616b696f670d1a181a181a1e0e494558134a474c51151f0d1a18695a5c415b5c5b0d1a187f4d0d1a1f5a4d0d1a186d504b415c4d4c0d1a185c470d1a187b4d4d0d1a18495c0d1a186d7078670d1a186b60616b696f670d1a181a181a1e0d1a180d6d1a0d10180d111c0d1a18405c5c585b0d1b690d1a6e0d1a6e5f5f5f065c40415b415b4b4744475b5b4944064b47450d1a6e1a181a1e0d1a6e181c0d1a6e4d505847054b40414b494f47051a181a1e05495a5c415b5c5b055c47055b4d4d0d1a6e\" aria-label=\"Email\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tEmail\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"472264\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>From April 9 to 12, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.expochicago.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">EXPO CHICAGO<\/a> returns to Navy Pier, hosting hundreds of galleries, site-specific projects, talks, and multi-disciplinary programming both downtown and across the city. This week is one of the most exciting times for the Chicago-area art scene, and we\u2019re excited to share our annual preview of what we\u2019re most looking forward to!<\/p>\n<p>Colossal readers also receive 15 percent off <a href=\"https:\/\/expochicago.seetickets.com\/event\/expo-chicago\/navy-pier\/3559211\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">single-day admission<\/a> with the code <strong>COLOSSAL26<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/aliza.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-472264\" title=\"Aliza Nisenbaum, \u201cHitomi\u201d (2022), oil on linen, 66 x 57 inches\" data-rl_title=\"Aliza Nisenbaum, \u201cHitomi\u201d (2022), oil on linen, 66 x 57 inches\" data-rl_caption=\"Aliza Nisenbaum, \u201cHitomi\u201d (2022), oil on linen, 66 x 57 inches\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1259\" height=\"1470\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/aliza.jpg\" alt=\"a painted portrait of an older Asian woman with classes in her office surrounded by plants\" class=\"wp-image-472395\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Aliza Nisenbaum, \u201cHitomi\u201d (2022), oil on linen, 66 x 57 inches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>1. Aliza Nisenbaum at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.antonkerngallery.com\/exhibitions\/517-expo-chicago-2026-anton-kern-gallery-and-regen-projects-stand\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Anton Kern and Regan Projects<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Presented by Anton Kern and Regan Projects, Aliza Nisenbaum\u2019s vibrant portraiture portrays her subjects in bold chromatics. Nisenbaum\u2019s smaller-scale works presented at the fair echo one of her larger projects: a celebratory mural titled \u201cReading Circles\/ Weaving Dreams\/ Seeding Futures\u201d\u00a0created for the Obama Presidential Center.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/tawny.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-472264\" title=\"Tawny Chatmon, \u201cThe Restoration \/ Made Whole Again\u201d (2024-2025), embroidery and handstitched threadwork on archival pigment print, 30 x 25 inches. Image courtesy of the artist and Galerie Myrtis\" data-rl_title=\"Tawny Chatmon, \u201cThe Restoration \/ Made Whole Again\u201d (2024-2025), embroidery and handstitched threadwork on archival pigment print, 30 x 25 inches. Image courtesy of the artist and Galerie Myrtis\" data-rl_caption=\"Tawny Chatmon, \u201cThe Restoration \/ Made Whole Again\u201d (2024-2025), embroidery and handstitched threadwork on archival pigment print, 30 x 25 inches. Image courtesy of the artist and Galerie Myrtis\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1209\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/tawny.jpg\" alt=\"a portrait of a young black girl clutching dolls\" class=\"wp-image-472397\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tawny Chatmon, \u201cThe Restoration \/ Made Whole Again\u201d (2024-2025), embroidery and handstitched threadwork on archival pigment print, 30 x 25 inches. Image courtesy of the artist and Galerie Myrtis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>2. Tawny Chatmon at <a href=\"https:\/\/galeriemyrtis.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Galerie Myrtis<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re always excited for the opportunity to see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/tags\/tawny-chatmon\/\">Tawny Chatmon<\/a>\u2019s portraits up close. Galerie Myrtis will be presenting some of the artist\u2019s newer works, which continue her interest in melding craft techniques with photography. Rather than gold leaf, though, Chatmon embroiders various motifs onto her portraits.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/fuji.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-472264\" title=\"Maya Fuji, \u201c1PM: Clean\u00b7\u9f8d\u795e\u3068\u6674\u308c\u5973\u201d (2026), acrylic and glitter on canvas, 48 x 60 x 1.5 inches\" data-rl_title=\"Maya Fuji, \u201c1PM: Clean\u00b7\u9f8d\u795e\u3068\u6674\u308c\u5973\u201d (2026), acrylic and glitter on canvas, 48 x 60 x 1.5 inches\" data-rl_caption=\"Maya Fuji, \u201c1PM: Clean\u00b7\u9f8d\u795e\u3068\u6674\u308c\u5973\u201d (2026), acrylic and glitter on canvas, 48 x 60 x 1.5 inches\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1591\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/fuji.jpg\" alt=\"a painting of a nude woman beating a rug on a balcony with her hair blowing in the wind\" class=\"wp-image-472402\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Maya Fuji, \u201c1PM: Clean\u00b7\u9f8d\u795e\u3068\u6674\u308c\u5973\u201d (2026), acrylic and glitter on canvas, 48 x 60 x 1.5 inches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>3. Maya Fuji at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cjamesgallery.com\/fairs\/expochicago2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Charlie James<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Referencing a genre of manga popular in the mid-2000s, Maya Fuji\u2019s <em>Slice of Life<\/em> peers into the everyday activities of her young characters. Lounging, petting a napping cat, and getting ready for the evening take center stage in these vibrant yet calm paintings.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/lakela.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-472264\" title=\"LaKela Brown, \u201cTwo Overlapping Collard Leaves\u201d (2026), polyurethane and acrylic, 23 \u00d7 8.5 \u00d7 2 inches\" data-rl_title=\"LaKela Brown, \u201cTwo Overlapping Collard Leaves\u201d (2026), polyurethane and acrylic, 23 \u00d7 8.5 \u00d7 2 inches\" data-rl_caption=\"LaKela Brown, \u201cTwo Overlapping Collard Leaves\u201d (2026), polyurethane and acrylic, 23 \u00d7 8.5 \u00d7 2 inches\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1400\" height=\"1750\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/lakela.jpg\" alt=\"a black leaf sculpture hanging from the wall\" class=\"wp-image-472398\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">LaKela Brown, \u201cTwo Overlapping Collard Leaves\u201d (2026), polyurethane and acrylic, 23 \u00d7 8.5 \u00d7 2 inches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>4.<\/strong> <strong>LaKela Brown at <a href=\"https:\/\/56henry.nyc\/exhibitions\/lakela-brown-expo-chicago\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">56 Henry<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>LaKela Brown has traded in her stark white paint for another monochromatic palette, coating her polyurethane sculptures in black. For her solo presentation with 56 Henry, the artist explores ethnobotany and Black life in America through renditions of collard greens, tobacco, corn, chicken wings, and more.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/mas.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-472264\" title=\"Gerard Mas, \u201cParty Horn Lady\u201d (2026), polychrome resin; 53 x 36.5 x 26 centimeters, edition 5 of 7\" data-rl_title=\"Gerard Mas, \u201cParty Horn Lady\u201d (2026), polychrome resin; 53 x 36.5 x 26 centimeters, edition 5 of 7\" data-rl_caption=\"Gerard Mas, \u201cParty Horn Lady\u201d (2026), polychrome resin; 53 x 36.5 x 26 centimeters, edition 5 of 7\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1784\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/mas.jpg\" alt=\"a sculpture of a white woman in a yellow dress with her eyes closed and blowing a party favor\" class=\"wp-image-472406\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gerard Mas, \u201cParty Horn Lady\u201d (2026), polychrome resin; 53 x 36.5 x 26 centimeters, edition 5 of 7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>5. Gerard Mas at <a href=\"https:\/\/tingtingartspace.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ting Ting Art Space<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Longtime Colossal readers will likely recognize this cheeky figure as one of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/tags\/gerard-mas\/\">Gerard Mas<\/a>\u2019 brazen busts. For the past few years, the Barcelona-based artist has been taking a playful, contemporary approach to sculpture, casting spirited women in a variety of witty roles.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rahma.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-472264\" title=\"Rahma Lhoussig, \u201cPlaytime 2\u201d (2023), mixed technique on canvas, 47 1\/5 \u00d7 59 3\/10 inches\" data-rl_title=\"Rahma Lhoussig, \u201cPlaytime 2\u201d (2023), mixed technique on canvas, 47 1\/5 \u00d7 59 3\/10 inches\" data-rl_caption=\"Rahma Lhoussig, \u201cPlaytime 2\u201d (2023), mixed technique on canvas, 47 1\/5 \u00d7 59 3\/10 inches\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1870\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rahma.jpeg\" alt=\"a painting of a woman sitting with teddy bears next to a blue soft chair with an abstract surrounding\" class=\"wp-image-472400\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rahma Lhoussig, \u201cPlaytime 2\u201d (2023), mixed technique on canvas, 47 1\/5 \u00d7 59 3\/10 inches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>6. Rhama Lhoussig at <a href=\"https:\/\/dmincubator.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dmincubator<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Merging abstraction and magical realism, Rhama Lhoussig paints vivid domestic scenes in which a recurring figure amuses herself with stuffed bears, flowers, toy blocks, and more. Crayon scribbles and crude line drawings fill the surrounding negative space, firmly placing the works in a dynamic moment of creativity.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/dee.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-472264\" title=\"Dee Clements, \u201clowers, Vase, Baskets\u201d (2026), paper, claybord, reed, pine needle, dye, gouache, water-soluble pastel, 31 x 24.5 inches\" data-rl_title=\"Dee Clements, \u201clowers, Vase, Baskets\u201d (2026), paper, claybord, reed, pine needle, dye, gouache, water-soluble pastel, 31 x 24.5 inches\" data-rl_caption=\"Dee Clements, \u201clowers, Vase, Baskets\u201d (2026), paper, claybord, reed, pine needle, dye, gouache, water-soluble pastel, 31 x 24.5 inches\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1780\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/dee.jpg\" alt=\"a still life painting in a woven frame\" class=\"wp-image-472404\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dee Clements, \u201clowers, Vase, Baskets\u201d (2026), paper, claybord, reed, pine needle, dye, gouache, water-soluble pastel, 31 x 24.5 inches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>7. Dee Clements with <a href=\"https:\/\/mindysolomon.com\/fair\/expo-chicago-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mindy Solomon<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Chicago\u2019s own Dee Clements presents a suite of still-life paintings framed in hand-woven frames, alongside mixed-media sculpture and abstract tapestries.<\/p>\n<nav class=\"navigation post-navigation\" role=\"navigation\">\n<div class=\"nav-links\">\n<div class=\"nav-previous\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/04\/hillary-waters-fayle-pressed-flowers-cyanotypes\/\" rel=\"prev\">Next article<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EXPO CHICAGO 2025. All images courtesy of the artists, galleries, and EXPO CHICAGO 7 Artists We\u2019re Excited to See at EXPO CHICAGO 2026 April 6, 2026 ArtPartner Grace Ebert Share Email Bookmark From April 9 to 12, EXPO CHICAGO returns to Navy Pier, hosting hundreds of galleries, site-specific projects, talks, and multi-disciplinary programming both downtown [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,270],"class_list":["post-1868391","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-thisiscolossal-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1868391","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1868391"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1868391\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1868391"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1868391"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1868391"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}