From the start of the Great Migration until today, Chicago has supplied a rich tapestry of Black art and culture. The Chicago Black Renaissance produced groundbreaking literature from Gwendolyn Brooks and Richard Wright, dance from Katherine Dunham, and art from Archibald Motley Jr., and Elizabeth Catlett during the ‘40s and ‘50s.
The Black Art Movement fostered influential groups like the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians and AfriCobra, an artist collective focused on creating a Black aesthetic during the ‘60s and ’70s. Today, that legacy continues to thrive thanks to a diverse array of Black arts organizations all over the city.
Black art galleries and museums in Chicago
Explore exhibits spotlighting contemporary Black artists as well as films, workshops, and community events at one of the oldest Black art centers in the country, the South Side Community Art Center.
Take an art, culinary, or gardening workshop at Bronzeville’s Little Black Pearl, whose mission is to uplift the community through art.
In Garfield Park, 345 Art Gallery is a beautiful space that showcases works by local artists, Chicago Public School students, and more.
Get acquainted with emerging and established Chicago visual artists at the Hyde Park Art Center, which also offers artist workshops and tours.
At the South Shore neighborhood’s Stony Island Arts Bank, dive into rotating exhibitions and the organization’s pivotal archives, including the Johnson Publishing Company’s Ebony and Jet Magazines and the personal vinyl collection of house music founder Frankie Knuckles.
Stroll through galleries, studios, and artist shops in the Chatham community at the newArtists on the 9.
Browse an extensive display of paintings, African art, and photos with the option of getting them framed on the spot at The Wood Shop art gallery and frame shop
Visit Mariane Ibrahim Gallery for a robust glimpse into international artists of African descent. The West Town gallery specializes in art that reflects the stories of Black artists in the U.S., Africa, Europe, and Latin America.
Experience the beauty and cultural significance of African art from all over the continent as well as works by local artists from the Diaspora at Faie Afrikan Art. Nearby, Gallery Guichard is noted for blending art with chic events, like lively artist receptions in the Great Migration sculpture garden.
Also in Bronzeville, Blanc Gallery, exchanging ideas and conversations through visual art and community discussions are the focus.
Insider tip: Explore all three of these galleries and more during the Bronzeville Arts District Trolley Tours.
In the heart of the Loop, explore the historic galleries of The Art Institute of Chicago where you’ll find historic and contemporary Black art.
Black theatre in Chicago
Founded in 1976 by iconic Chicago actor, playwright, and director Jackie Taylor, Black Ensemble Theater showcases the lives of famous Black artists and everyday people with dynamic musical productions.
Named for the sacred Black space in New Orleans, Congo Square Theatre presents transformative plays rooted in the complexities of the Black experience.
Established in 1990, Ma’at Production Association of Afrikan Centered Theatre produces thought-provoking, original productions grounded in African traditions throughout the Diaspora.
For over 52 years, Eta Creative Arts Foundation has provided performing arts training, art exhibits, community events, and plays by local and national playwrights that highlight the humanity of Black lives.
African dance in Chicago
Deeply Rooted Dance Theater supplies elegant contemporary dance through the lens of the African American traditions of dance and storytelling.
There’s no way you can stay in your seat when you attend a Muntu Dance Theatre performance. The explosion of colors, motions, and rhythms is part of traditional African dance and audience participation is expected.
Performing dances from the African Diaspora as a form of activism, Red Clay Dance Company amplifies these voices and experiences through dance.
M.A.D.D. Rhythms brings the joy and excitement of tap dance to stages with a versatile collective of performers who range in age from teens to middle-aged.
Showcasing the artistry of Black, Brown and LGBTQIA+ performers, Joel Hall Dancers provide an impressive repertoire of lively jazz dance.
A Chicago cultural mainstay, Najwa Dance Corps celebrates a range of dance styles, including traditions from the Old Mali Empire, Liberia, the Senegambia region, Trinidad, Haiti, Jamaica, and African American swing dances.
Cultural venues in Chicago
The South Shore Cultural Center is a landmark venue nestled along a sparkling stretch of lakefront. The cultural jewel of the South Shore neighborhood, the stunning building was a former country club and the site of Barack and Michelle Obama’s wedding reception. Today, you’ll find an array of community programming, including performances from the Grant Park Orchestra and Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, dance and theatre camps, movies on the manicured grounds, and more.
In the Austin neighborhood, The Kehrein Center for the Arts is a venue dedicated to civic engagement and creative expression that puts a spotlight on the Black experience. The striking space, a restored mid-century modern auditorium, houses a 900-seat event theatre, art gallery, and community gathering spaces. Check the schedule for concerts, film festivals, fashion shows, symphonies, dance recitals, and beyond all year long.
The Harris Theater for Music and Dance, located on the Millennium Park campus, is one of the city’s top venues for the performing arts and has become a hub for Black dance groups. The theater’s many resident companies include a variety of diverse groups exploring Black and African dance styles, including Muntu Dance Theatre, Red Clay Dance Company, and South Chicago Dance Theatre.
