Now in its 12th year as a leading international art fair, EXPO CHICAGO Contemporary Art Fair returns to iconic Navy Pier with an exciting roster of exhibitors, programs, installations, speakers, and more.
The event, which takes place April 24 – 27, 2025, will welcome more than 170 leading galleries representing 36 countries from around the world to Chicago.
EXPO CHICAGO celebrates contemporary and modern art with a diverse schedule of exhibits, programming, and installations. This year’s main event will take place in Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, with additional programs and events throughout Chicago.
EXPO CHICAGO exhibitors
This year’s exhibitors come to Chicago from more than 93 cities in Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Cuba, Ethiopia. France, Germany, Iran, Ireland, Lithuania, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, and beyond.
In a significant new partnership, EXPO CHICAGO will introduce a collaboration with the Galleries Association of Korea (Gaok), to present a selection of 20 leading Korean galleries within the fair’s core Galleries section.
The exhibitors include more than 50 exciting new additions for the 2025 edition. Highlights include Lehmann Maupin, Pippy Houldsworth Gallery, Two Palms, ILY2, april april, Mitre, Megan Mulrooney, Gratin, OCHI, and Alberta Pane.
The exhibitor showcase will include:
- Galleries, showcasing leading international exhibitors presented alongside one of the highest quality platforms for global contemporary art and culture.
- EXPOSURE, featuring solo and two-artist exhibitors from new and emerging galleries curated by Rosario Güiraldes, Curator of Visual Arts at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.
- PROFILE, presenting solo booths and projects by established international galleries that showcase ambitious and thematic installations.
- Special Exhibitions puts a spotlight on projects by non-profit museums and arts organizations, representing regional, national, and international groups.
Visitors can also explore print media and object-based practices in Editions + Books, which includes a cross-section of both established and emerging artists.
Explore the full list of participating galleries for EXPO CHICAGO 2025.
EXPO CHICAGO programs
Each year, EXPO CHICAGO presents a full schedule of thought-provoking discussions, installations, and exciting activations. This year’s core programs and events include:
- IN/SITU, with dynamic large-scale sculpture and site-specific works installed within Navy Pier’s Festival Hall. This year’s program is being curated by Jessica Hong, Chief Curator at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.
- /Dialogues, a series of provocative on-site conversations, panels, and forums with leading curators, artists, and designers on today’s hottest topics in art.
- OVERRIDE | A Billboard Project, a public art initiative that uses digital billboards across the city to display contemporary works by emerging and established artists from Chicago and around the world.
Curators will find special events like the Curatorial Forum and the free, public Curatorial Conference. EXPO will also present its fourth annual Directors Summit, a multi-day event that gathers emerging and distinguished art museum leaders from around the globe.
EXPO ART WEEK
April 21 – 27, 2025
Leading up to the main event at Navy Pier, EXPO ART WEEK celebrates Chicago’s diverse artistic scene with off-site programming and events all around the city. Check out a few of this year’s highlights:
- South Side Night (Tuesday, April 22): The official kick-off event for EXPO Art Week showcases venues and galleries in Hyde Park, Bronzeville, and more.
- Art After Hours (Friday, April 25): Enjoy extended evening hours at galleries across the city, featuring receptions, artist talks, and more.
Tickets for EXPO CHICAGO Contemporary Art Fair are now on sale. Choose from single-day and three-day admission options, along with a limited number of opening night tickets.
