-%5BWhite-B%5D.png){kind=logo}
As Chicago’s newest arts hub, Epiphany Center for the Arts offers an alternative to the “white box” gallery experience. We invite visitors to explore our 42,000 square foot campus, anchored by the landmarked 1885 former Church of the Epiphany, preserved and creatively reused as a place for people to once again congregate, now as a state-of-the-art cultural center “For the Good of Art, Entertainment and Events.” Thoughtfully designed, Epiphany boasts three distinct venues and a stunning array of amenities, including eight art galleries, a commercial and catering kitchen, cafe and bar, VIP suite and a collection of artistically appointed outdoor spaces: quarter-acre courtyard, spacious terrace and patio with lounge seating.
Located on the artsy edge of Chicago’s West Loop, Epiphany Center for the Arts provides a platform for a diverse selection of artists from Chicago and beyond. Our mission is to showcase the work of women, the LGBTQ+ community, BIPOC community, and artists with disabilities. Our highest priority is to curate programs that are inclusive and where established artists can collaborate with emerging ones. Epiphany’s art galleries are unique spaces spread across the campus, providing visitors with the exceptional experience of viewing contemporary art while enjoying live performances, food and all that Epiphany has to offer.
.jpg)
Alex Velázquez Brightbill | Ethnic Bodies
Velázquez Brightbill’s ETHNIC BODIES collage series explores ideas of beauty, colonialism, and sexual identity. Alex’s starting point is an observation by the Kenyan artist Wangechi Mutu that “the female carries the marks, language, and nuances of their culture more than the male. Anything that is desired or despised is constantly placed on the female body.” In this series the female figures show their inner thoughts portrayed in their physical world – a grotesque woman, a cat lady, sexual innuendos, playful absurd fetishes, the physical scarring of a culture, fashion and animalistic language combined with humor. Alex explores the conflicting perceptions of Latinx women based on assumptions from history and from current affairs.
The series devotes a specific focus to the maquiladora women of Ciudad Juárez, victims of a wave of femicides in the early 2000s. These women, portrayed through a combination of pornographic imagery and archaeological artifacts, symbolize both sexual objectification and silenced voices. The collages draw parallels between their visibility as sexual beings and their invisibility as victims, reminiscent of how their remains were unearthed from the earth—masked and silenced.
Alex creates her work by piecing together magazine imagery with painted surfaces and found materials. Besides Wangechi Mutu, other sources of inspiration are the early photomontages of the German Dada artist Hannah Hoch, and Chicana queer poet, scholar, and feminist theorist Gloria Anzaldúa.
Through this series, Alex invites viewers to reconsider entrenched notions of femininity, sexuality, and cultural identity. It is a visual dialogue that challenges viewers to peel back layers of societal conditioning and see the multifaceted realities of Latinx women—both past and present. The inclusion of the mujeres de Juárez highlights the ongoing struggle against gender-based violence and the resilience of those fighting to have their voices heard. Closes November 1, 2024
Tony Armendariz | Latin Expressions
Currently concentrating on portraits and figurative work sometimes combined with architectural elements, Tony Armendariz presents the subjects in his paintings in the classic realist tradition, either as portraits or in scenes of life. It is his intent to display their soul, or authentic self, which at times may not reveal itself immediately. Many times, the "window" opens and shows itself not only through the eyes but also through other features that emote the complete range of “expressions of life” that include the mouth, hands and body language. Often it may include clothing and objects from domestic life and work. The range of the narratives can be quiet and simple. Some are dramatic and profound. Latin Expressions presents paintings capturing subjects mostly from Armendariz’ travels to countries, including Cuba and Nicaragua. Closes November 1, 2024
October Sharify | AUTOMATA
AUTOMATA is a body of work that explores the mind, body, and soul as it relates to the impending technological future, and what that means for human spirituality. How does spirituality move through a future where the human body is more machine than flesh? The goal in making and observing these works is that we can begin to discuss and process a future both incredibly near, and beyond our time - as theoretical anthropology. The word automata means self-willed, self-driven or motivated - usually relating to machines, and it encapsulates the marching of time, the rate of technological advancement, and the indomitable human spirit as it adapts to its environment; on and on and on and on. Closes November 1, 2024
Conde Art Project, Epiphany Center for the Arts, Likhaya, & Sinag Chicago Arts | Unwrapping Lumpia: Deconstructing the Filipino American Identity
Unwrapping Lumpia: Deconstructing the Filipino American Identity is presented in true “Bayanihan Spirit” by Conde Art Project, Epiphany Center for the Arts, Likhaya, and Sinag Chicago Arts. Unwrapping Lumpia features the work of thirty-eight Filipino American artists in an exhibit that delves into the complexities of Filipino American identity and the experiences of individuals within this community. In celebration of Filipino American Heritage Month in October, the exhibit provides a platform for Filipino American artists to explore and express their personal journeys and reflections on identity. Through artistic expression, participants share their perspectives on what it means to be Filipino American, how their cultural heritage influences their lives, and how they navigate their identities in the diverse socio-political landscape of America. Closes November 8, 2024
-%5BBlack%5D.png){kind=logo}
