FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Isaac Reichman
ireichman@choosechicago.com
312-805-9586
CHOOSE CHICAGO ANNOUNCES VASHON JORDAN JR. AS 2023 ARTIST OF THE YEAR
CHICAGO (April 25, 2023) – Today, Choose Chicago announced the selection of Vashon Jordan Jr. as the 2023 Artist of the Year. Through this program, Choose Chicago selects a local artist that exemplifies the spirit of Chicago and commissions artwork from this artist to use for gift-giving opportunities throughout the year, including through the presentation of artwork to select major convention clients as a thank you for holding their event in Chicago. A selection of
Jordan’s cityscapes will be purchased by Choose Chicago through the Artist of the Year Program.
“Chicago is a city known for its beauty, and few people can capture that beauty like Vashon,” said Lynn Osmond, President and CEO of Choose Chicago. “We are so excited to welcome Vashon as our 2023 Artist of the Year and we cannot wait to share his amazing artwork with our clients and other stakeholders!”
Vashon Jordan Jr. is a 23-year-old visual artist born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. He uses photography and videography to showcase authentic stories and moments that reflect the people of Chicago. A graduate of Kennedy-King College and Columbia College Chicago, Jordan has experience as a photography intern for the Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Mayor’s Office, Chicago Tribune and served as staff photographer on Governor JB Pritzker and Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton’s reelection campaign.
In 2020, Jordan captured over 17,000 photographs at dozens of demonstrations across Chicago and self-published a photo book entitled, “Chicago Protests: A Joyful Revolution.” The Chicago History Museum acquired his photographs of the 2020 protests for its research center and collection and his work was included in an art exhibition at the Elmhurst Art Museum and Museum of Science and Industry. The book is currently available in over a dozen Chicago Public Libraries.
“It is an honor to be selected as the Choose Chicago Artist of the Year,” said Vashon Jordan Jr. “I am thankful for this opportunity to celebrate the beauty of our city and share my work with a new audience.”
The Artist of the Year Program is part of Choose Chicago’s wide-ranging efforts to support and acknowledge our convention clients while celebrating local artists. Since 2000, Choose Chicago has recognized 15 exceptional local artists through this program and presented hundreds of pieces of artwork as gifts.
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About Choose Chicago: Choose Chicago is the official sales and marketing organization responsible for promoting Chicago as a global visitor and meetings destination, leveraging the city’s unmatched assets to ensure the economic vitality of the city, its residents and our partner business community. Follow @choosechicago on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and Twitter and tag #ChicaGOandKNOW. For more information, visit choosechicago.com.
