Artropolis festival celebrates art in the city May 1-4
In a bustling metropolis like Chicago, what better name for a four-day celebration of all things art and culture than Artropolis? From May 1–4, modern meets antique at the Merchandise Mart, where three art shows will run concurrently with scheduled events throughout the city.
The centerpiece of the annual art festival is Art Chicago, an international fair of modern and contemporary art. Celebrating its 29th year, Art Chicago will feature work from 110 galleries from around the world, including sculpture, drawings, video and special installations. In addition to artworks, panels and presentations will feature more than 100 art experts. Attracting more than 50,000 people last year, Art Chicago remains a big draw for modern art lovers.
Next on Artropolis’ line-up is NEXT, an invitational exhibition of emerging art from commercial and non-commercial organizations. With work from project spaces to private collections, NEXT serves as a unique model for presenting little-known artists to collectors, dealers and critics.
If you're not a modern-art fan, the Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair might be more your speed. In its 12th year, the fair will feature purchasable pieces from more than 100 dealers around the world.
Designs from Americana to Asian art, folk art to furniture, textiles to tribal art will be on display. In addition, the antique fair will welcome magnate and antique collector Martha Stewart as its keynote speaker the morning of May 1.
If a trip to the Merchandise Mart isn’t possible, Artropolis can still be experienced throughout the city with 85 partnering cultural organizations. Art museums, dance troupes, theater companies and more will offer special events and exhibits in celebration of the festival.
Among the events, the Chicago Architecture Foundation will hold a downtown walking tour of modern sculpture, the famed Steppenwolf Theatre Company will perform Art, a play on modern art and friendship, and the Museum of Contemporary Art will hold artists discussions of their modern exhibitions.
Whether you’re a fan of modern or antique, theater or dance, sculpture or drawing, this art festival has it covered. With so many participants, events and works on display throughout Chicago, there’s guaranteed to be something for every art aficionado at Artropolis.
Posted by D.J. Siegel
