Through the Loop: Chicago’s Youth Artist Revolution is a mixed-media virtual exhibition that explores themes of youth displacement, positionality, and activism. Chicago’s youth are often faced with the harsh realities of their neighborhoods changing, unequal heavily policing of Chicago Public Schools, and forced adulthood. This exhibition aims to give visual representation and raise global awareness of Chicago’s underground youth DIY art scene. By highlighting diverse, new artists within this space that possess a variety of intersectional identities, platforms (@CTAFITS_, @BraidedMag), and unique cultural experiences, I aim to foster greater community within this scene and dissolve the personal/public barrier within the digital world. Chicago’s youth are powerful, creative, and resilient individuals that create transformative, innovative art and events that influence youth culture around the world. Fashion House (postponed due to COVID-19), a runway show featuring six up-and-coming designers, along with live musical performances hosted by the Museum of Contemporary Art is just one example of how this scene is home to many multi-dimensional, experimental artists that move to beat their own drum.

Growing up in the Windy City means growing up in a temporary ever-changing environment, with one exception, the CTA.  The city's public transportation system represents continuity and positionality.  In Chicago, positionality deeply influences our perspectives, art & culture, and those around us; The first question that Chicago natives ask each other is "Where did you go to highschool?" When thinking of a concept for this exhibition, the CTA was the first thing that came to mind; I have spent countless hours traveling to school, friend’s houses, and even grocery shopping via the CTA. While riding the train everyday, the Pink line - I am very aware of the blatantly racist societal structures that promote inequality.  Moving Through the Loop allows me to reflect on the ways in which I am both part of the system and creating change within it.

Through the Loop: Chicago’s Youth Artist Revolution focuses on four young Black femme and non-binary artists: Jade Foreman(she/her), Shayla Turner(she/they), LaDasia Bryant(she/her), and Ayana Sterling(they/them) who all engage with alternative ways of seeing, hearing, and resisting in their lives and practices. Through photography, mixed-media collages, and paintings these four young Chicago artists critique the art historical canon and re-imagine a world where intersectional identities, Black existence, and youth voices are heard, repeated, and the forefront of an art revolution in our digitized world. Each piece in this exhibition deals with aspects of growing into your body, intersectional identity, sexuality, and the power of voice in a binary old-fashioned world.

This exhibition is very personal for me, as it is my first exhibition I’ve ever curated and all of the artists I know of personally, and/or have simultaneously grown up with. I chose to focus on a younger generation (18-19 y/o) Black femme, nonbinary, and queer artist as a way to showcase the power and self-awareness that many Chicago youth have.  I am a young Black queer gender fluid artist myself and I am constantly thinking about the ways in Black art has become a commodity, and the ways in which there is a disconnect between the Black artist, curators, and audiences. Many of the artists I know constantly struggle with wanting to have their art be made accessible to larger audiences via a gallery or institution, but are left feeling uncomfortable being used to cater toward white audiences. This exhibition is meant to be the first step in the journey of bridging this gap. Using my experiences and perspective of growing up in Chicago, attending a disciplined-oriented charter high school, being a part of Chicago’s underground DIY art scene and now attending a predominantly white institution (PWI) in rural Ohio, my curation framework focuses on creating something for us by us - my audiences and who I am are deeply connected.   

-Courtney Brown

Oberlin ‘22