Arts of Life

Arts of Life A collective space for artists with ID/D to expand their practice & strengthen their leadership. Non-Profit Arts Community

It’s not too late to catch the exhibition NewCity said it would “behoove us to pay attention to!” Stop by Circle Contemp...
06/09/2026

It’s not too late to catch the exhibition NewCity said it would “behoove us to pay attention to!” Stop by Circle Contemporary this Friday from 5-8pm for a walk through of Wild Thing with curator Pia Singh. Not convinced it’s the best thing to do this Friday? Check out the full article -> https://art.newcity.com/2026/05/28/make-my-heart-sing-with-wild-thing-at-circle-contemporary/

Thanks to NewCity for reviewing Wild Thing!

“The work as a whole is open-ended. One is left to ponder humanity’s relationship to the natural world, and the animals that enrich our lives. Like D. Rosen’s ‘Chew Toy (Lana)’ (2025) the touchingly pewter-cast dog toy, which reminded me of my beloved Zoë, the runt of her Yorkie litter who had the worrying habit of fearlessly jumping off of couches approximately five times her size, or Mark Joseph Jeffery’s haunting choreography in the moving image “Milk Line” (2026) or even the hypnotic gazes of the mules, goats and calves which compose Jasmeen Patheja’s verdant ‘Every Body’ photographs, there’s worlds to explore within each and every piece.” - Annette LePique

When:
Friday, June 12th
5:00 – 8:00 pm.

Where:
Circle Contemporary - West Town
2010 W Carroll Ave
Chicago, IL

06/08/2026

Robotics to expand Art Practice for individuals with limited mobility.

Recently, we were privileged to work with a group of UIC engineering students on a school project to help expand accessibility for some of our artists’ art practices.

The joystick they created allows a person with limited to no mobility in their arms to manipulate the joystick with their hands or mouth to draw.

Thank you so much for spending time with our artists and helping us come up with solutions to improve accessibility in our studios!

UIC Engineering Team:
Carlos Carrasco
Moulay Saadi
Ahmed Elashmawi
Amir Muhammad
Ayse Unlu
Beyinah Alrashdan

Image Description:
Image 1 - a video of Cole Fox enjoying a Test run of a new joystick controlled robotic arm for drawing made by students at UIC engineering school. At the end of the video Danny Frownfelter poses with a group of UIC Engineers.

Jean Wilson said she would want to be a spider on a web like this.Arabella, 2026 - Jacqueline SurdellCotton cord, nylon ...
06/05/2026

Jean Wilson said she would want to be a spider on a web like this.

Arabella, 2026 - Jacqueline Surdell
Cotton cord, nylon cord, survival cord, meat hooks,, steel chain, steel armatures, and coated wire.

“Surdell approaches her studio practice with the meticulous precision of craft and the unbridled spontaneity of contemporary painting. She reimagines the woven canvas as a space of undulation and growth. As the expanded histories of painting materialize in her work as content, simultaneously, swollen tendrils and textures of bound rope deny illusions of the classically painted picture plane. The works actively work to bridge the division between painting and sculpture. In this way, her work calls into association other binary categorizations such as rigid and collapsed, construction techniques coded as masculine or feminine, and ontological spaces between body and sculpture. Her energetic and materially grounded practice brings to attention the tools, environments, and actions that contain and display performances of labor, history, and power. “ -JacquelineSurdell(dot)com

Check out Jacqueline’s work in Wild Thing through July 10th.

Where:
Circle Contemporary- West Town
2010 W. Carroll Ave
Chicago, IL 60612

Image ID:
Image 1 - Jean Wilson standing in front of Jacqueline Surdell‘s mixed media cord and wire sculpture titled Arabella.

Image 2 - Medium shot of colorful mixed media cord and wire sculpture next to art in gallery.

Image 3 - Close up of sculpture showing intricately weaved cords and wire in circular patterns with strands anchored to gallery wall.

06/02/2026

WE’RE ON THREADLESS!!

We are thrilled to share our NEW line of merch on Threadless! Now you can shop for your favorite Arts of Life designs on apparel, accessories, and home goods! No more running out of sizes. No more over-production. Each high-quality item will be produced and shipped directly to you! 

Check back often for new designs! 
Our shop currently features art by: Ariée Carter, Carol Pyes, Chris Austin, Elise Hylton, Emory Jones, Isamu Guy Conners, Jean Wilson, Katrina Jackson, Laura Greenberg, Marcelo Añón, Noel Herrera, Omar Abulsheikh, Rocco DiCaro, Tim Stone, and Veronica Ronnie Cuculich

T-shirts!
Hoodies!
Tote Bags!
Zip Pouches!
Pillows!
Mugs!
Puzzles!
Phone Cases!
Notebooks!
Rugs!
AND MORE!

We had so much at Warm Love Cool Dreams festival. Huge thanks to the Salt Shed for hosting our annual Studio Sale this y...
06/02/2026

We had so much at Warm Love Cool Dreams festival. Huge thanks to the Salt Shed for hosting our annual Studio Sale this year and thank you to everyone that stopped by! If you missed out on any cool art pieces, our extended virtual Studio Sale is live through June 2nd!
Link here https://www.circlecontemporary.org/store/

THIS OPEN CALL IS A CALL TO ACTION!Arts of Life’s Self-Advocacy group is working on their 3rd edition of their Zine “Bus...
05/29/2026

THIS OPEN CALL IS A CALL TO ACTION!

Arts of Life’s Self-Advocacy group is working on their 3rd edition of their Zine “Bus of Doom.” They are looking for people to express their feelings about things going on in the world and how crazy America still is after 250 years.

We encourage submissions from people with disabilities / neurodiversities, but all are welcome to submit.

Submissions will be juried by our panel of disabled Self Advocates.

Both written and visual art will be accepted, with a maximum of two (2) pages per submission and three (3) pieces per submitting artist. Free to submit. Please use the Google Form link here -> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdWn__WByWsI9qdIGWlwQskATENwmMTW0zPDE-oOUx5Bc2u2Q/viewform?usp=header to submit.

Find our self advocacy group on instagram

Staff Spotlight: Maggie Kamphausen“A big draw for me at the end of the day is the relationships with the artists, and I’...
05/28/2026

Staff Spotlight: Maggie Kamphausen

“A big draw for me at the end of the day is the relationships with the artists, and I’ve really enjoyed getting to expand my idea of what meaningful art-making can look like through supporting them.” – Maggie Kamphausen, Studio Facilitator

Read more about how Maggie builds bridges at Arts of Life
here --> https://artsoflife.org/staff-spotlight-maggie-kamphausen/

Image Descriptions:

- Maggie Kamphausen painting

-Maggie Kamphausen. taking up space, 2024. oil on cold press paper. 18 x 24 in.

-Maggie Kamphausen with artist Danny Frownfelter

-Maggie Kamphausen. pink crucifixion, 2025. oil on raw canvas. 2 x 4 ft

Check out this stunning installation of Tim Stone’s work made possible through our partnership with ArtLifting and their...
05/27/2026

Check out this stunning installation of Tim Stone’s work made possible through our partnership with ArtLifting and their corporate clients.

Arts of Life is pleased to partner with Artlifting, a social enterprise and benefit corporation that supports artists with disabilities by showcasing and selling their original works and high-quality prints to corporations nationwide. To date, six Arts of Life artists have been selected for this opportunity: Ted Gram-Boarini, Marcus Imani Kennedy, Susan Pasowicz, Alex Scott, Tim Stone, and Chris Viau.
 

Thank you to everyone that made our Annual Studio Sale and Chili Cook-Off a huge success!! We had so much fun and Can’t ...
05/27/2026

Thank you to everyone that made our Annual Studio Sale and Chili Cook-Off a huge success!! We had so much fun and Can’t wait to do it all again next year. In case you missed it, we will be having a virtual sale until June 2nd. Don’t miss out on these last chance deals! Extended Sale Link https://artsoflife.org/event/2026-studio-sale/

Address

2010 W Carroll Avenue
Chicago, IL
60612

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+13128292787

Website

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