Elephant Room Gallery

10/14/2026

Holding Space: Grounded
Beverly Arts Center (2nd flr)
Closing Reception on Saturday,
October 24th from 5 to 8pm

I'm so grateful to Sal Campbell from the Beverly Area Arts Alliance for reaching out to invite me to curate an exhibition at the Beverly Arts Center that opened during the Beverly Art Walk! I had this idea in mind for a while and with thanks to these 27 incredible Chicago Based artists, it came together beautifully. I hope you can join us for the closing reception where many of the artists will be present. If you'd like to visit another time, the gallery is open Mondays - Thursdays 2-7pm, Fridays 12-5pm and Saturdays 9-5pm.

Works are also available online here (https://www.elephantroomgallery.com/holding-space-grounded) if you'd like to support that way.

Best,
Kim Leja Atwood

Our current exhibition, Urban Grain by CLs (Charles Shriver) is on view through October 31st! Visit the gallery every Saturday from 12 to 5pm and on October 23rd from 10am to 2pm or by appointment. Works are also available here (https://www.elephantroomgallery.com/currentexhibition) .

As we approach our 17 year anniversary, we are celebrating with the Annual Holiday Show - Small Works, featuring over 50 local artists! Save the date of Friday, November 13th from 6 to 10pm for the opening reception. Email [email protected] to sign up for the collector's preview.

More details to come but for now, here is the artist roster:
Abraham, AJ Ainscough, Alice Lam, Andy Bellomo, Anthony Bartley, Beata Chrzanowska, BirdMilk, Braimah Lawal, Cesar Conde, Christie Chew-Wallace, Courtney Collins, Crush Entity, Czr Prz, Danny J Martinez, Darin Latimer, Delisha, Dirty City Pigeon, Dredske, Eric Von Haynes, Ewrks, Fantasia Ariel, Fedz, Fluers de Guerre, Isamar Medina, Ish Muhammad, James Nelson, John N Yaou, Justin Suico, Karl M Jahnke, Keelan McMorrow, KIND, Lynn Tsan, Martha A. Wade, Matoe, Mimi Zaphiratos, Morgan Nicolette, Myron Laban, Natalia Sustaita, Natalia Virafuentes, Norma Ojeda, Oscar Arriola, Penny Pinch, Pugs Atomz, Rae Denise, Reisha Williams, Renee Robbins, Rine Boyer, Roiz, Sally Ko, Sam Kirk, Sentrock, Shanna Zentner, Stef Skills, Tom Cranston, Tubs, Tyler Bernard Anthony, Valeria Terrazas, Vivian Le, Yuqing Zhu, Zeye One, Zor Zor Zor

Thank you for your continued support of our gallery and our artists!

Click here for an update from Elephant Room Gallery!

09/08/2026

September is FULL of Exhibitions!

We have 4 exciting art exhibitions that open this month and I'm very excited to share them with you! Sergio Farfan is popping up this weekend for the last in our Summer Artist Pop Up Series, sculptural street artist CLs is our next solo opening on the 18th, Darin Latimer's home studio tour has been rescheduled for the 27th AND I'm curating my first group exhibition at an arts center opening on the 26th during the Beverly Art Walk. Read on for more details and I hope to see you sometime this month!

With Gratitude,
Kimberly Leja Atwood
Co-Owner/Director of ERG

The last in our Summer Artist Pop Up Series for 2026 is artist Sergio Farfan (https://www.sergiofarfan.com/) with an exhibition titled, 'Move in Silence'. The pop up will be open Saturday, Sept. 12th & Sunday, Sept. 13th from 12 to 5pm only!

'Move in Silence' is a new body of paintings and sculptures centered around the ideas of strategy, patience, and observation.

“Urban Grain” is a solo exhibition by sculptural street artist CLs (https://www.iknowcls.com/) . The exhibition opens on Friday, September 18th with a reception from 5 to 9pm and runs through October 31st. This collection is a series of 17 abstract works constructed from reclaimed wood sourced from the artist’s own installations on the streets of Chicago.

Once existing as a singular intervention within the public realm, CLs dismantles, preserves and reconfigures his public wood installations into a new body of work for this solo exhibition. “Urban Grain” examines material memory, transformation and the passage of time. The wood serves as both medium and archive, carrying the physical traces of its previous life while assuming new forms and meanings. Layers of resin over the wood seal the surfaces, creating a suspended space where history, erosion and renewal coexist. Each piece is paired with a photograph of the original street installation so the viewer can see where the piece was originally installed and how it interacted with the environment over the years.

CLs creates sculptural street art that transforms overlooked urban spaces into evolving, living compositions. His work is rooted in Bauhaus and De Stijl principles, blending structure, abstraction and function into 3-dimensional relief murals. Using logically sourced wood, he constructs layered forms that integrate into the environment, giving discarded materials new life. CLs’ work is most visible in Chicago, Denver and Athens, Greece. Traveling frequently, his work can also be found in Hong Kong, New York, France, Vietnam, Jordan and more. His works have become a part of a global narrative where small interventions invite people to notice their surroundings, engage with their environment and experience unexpected moments of beauty.

‘Holding Space: Grounded’, curated by Kimberly Leja Atwood, opens on September 26th from 11am to 5pm during the 13th Annual Beverly Art Walk (https://beverlyarts.org/) and runs through October 24th.

Simmerling Gallery
Beverly Arts Center
2407 W 111th St. in Chicago

Holding Space: Grounded is a group exhibition that reflects on the ways we navigate both internal and external pressures. To hold space is a reminder to pause, adjust, and connect with others or return to ourselves. Through diverse perspectives, the artists in this exhibition translate a moment of stillness into visual form. The idea of being grounded evokes different things for different people; a place of refuge, a fleeting moment, a remembered presence, a repetitive action, an emotional state. Each artwork created becomes an interpretation of what it means to hold space and be grounded; inhaling, exhaling, being present. The creative process in itself can be an act of grounding - making room for reflection, restoration, and connection. In bringing these works together, Holding Space: Grounded explores both the healing process of making and the object that remains.

Exhibiting artists include Abraham, Andy Bellomo, Braimah Lawal, Brian Dovie Golden, Chantala Kommanivanh, Cujo Dah, Cydney M. Lewis, Czr Prz, Danny J Martinez, Darin Latimer, Delisha, Fantasía Ariel, George Keaton, Ish Muhammad, James Nelson, Jamiah Calvin, Jennifer Cronin, Justin Suico, Keelan McMorrow, Lo Marie, Mimi Zaphiratos, Myron Laban, Rae Denise, Rine Boyer, Shanna Zentner, Tyler Bernard Anthony and Zor Zor Zor.

Contact [email protected] for the collector's preview.

RESCHEDULED:
Wave of Mutilation
by Darin Latimer
Open Studio & Home

Artist Darin Latimer opens up his home & studio for a tour and artist talk! Browse the art, add to your collection & enjoy the conversation.

7 Years After - 10th Solo Show, 346 paintings, 37 Sculptures, 10 Million Drawings, Hundreds of Found Objects - Join us at La Valentina Gallery in North Kenwood, the home and studio of one of our repped artists, Darin Latimer, on Sunday, September 27th from 12 to 6pm. Artist talk will be at 3pm.

Thank you for your continued support of our gallery and our artists! We are getting ready to celebrate 17 years in November in our small storefront gallery - focusing on Chicago Based, new, emerging to mid-career artists and could not do this without YOU - the artists, collectors and community! Feel free to browse works we have available by our incredible artists!

Click here for an update from Elephant Room Gallery!

08/06/2026

Dear Gallery Friends,

This month, we are taking a bit of a breather before entering into what is shaping up to be a very busy September. We are closed this weekend but reopening August 10th exhibiting some of our backroom stock by our repped artists! We will be open mainly by appointment, with the exception of a few dates which will be listed online. Sharing some additional news with you below and in the meantime, feel free to reach out with inquiries or to schedule a viewing appt. Thank you for your continued support of our gallery and artists!

Warmly,
Kimberly Leja Atwood
312-361-0281
[email protected]

"Wave of Mutilation" by Darin Latimer

Open Studio & Home in North Kenwood

Join us with artist Darin Latimer as he opens up his home and studio for a tour and artist talk! Browse the art, add to your collection, and enjoy the space and conversation.

Sunday, August 16th
12 to 6pm
Artist Talk at 3pm

PRINT RELEASE

"The Blast" by Delisha
limited edition print
14 x 17

"Listen, dear hear, through the rattles and screams. There's a spark in the chaos, still fighting for dreams." - Delisha

Click here for an update from Elephant Room Gallery!

07/09/2026

Our 4th Summer Artist Series Pop Up features a Solo Exhibition

by Justin Suico

Opening Reception
Friday, July 10th
6 to 9pm

Open Gallery Hours

Saturday, July 11th & Sunday, July 12th
12 to 5pm

Justin Suico (b. 1985) is a visual artist from Chicago. Immersing himself in the Art of Emotional Intelligence Movement, Suico’s paintings explore human emotion through both figurative and abstract works. Utilizing a variety of mediums, Suico's paintings often evoke a feeling or response through his use of color, gesture and references to wonder, excitement and beauty.

Contact [email protected] with inquiries on available works.

Click here for an update from Elephant Room Gallery!

06/26/2026

Our Summer Artist Pop Up Series continues this weekend with 3 local artists - Natalia Sustaita, Stef Skills and Natalia Virafuentes!

Open Hours:

Saturday, June 27th 12-5pm
Sunday, June 28th 12-5pm

About the Artists

Stef Skills (http://www.stefskills.art/)


Stef Skills is a Chicago artist, educator and activist with a passion public art. In her nearly 30-year career she has established herself as a prominent female voice and leader in the local and international graffiti arts community. Stef’s public art and commissioned works can be found throughout the city as well as in New York, Pittsburgh, London, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Miami, Visalia (CA), Barcelona, Mexico City, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, where she has also held residencies and been a featured artist in gallery shows, panels, exhibitions and festivals. Stef’s artwork and impact have been featured Graffiti Women (Abrams 2006), Heart & Soul (Younity 2008) and the History of American Graffiti (Harper Collins 2011) and as part of The Chicago Reader’s 2014 People Issue. She continues to develop work that combines street art elements with botanical illustration typical of her Costa Rican heritage.

Natalia Virafuentes (https://nataliavirafuentes.com/)


Natalia Virafuentes is a Mexican-American muralist/interdisciplinary artist, born and raised in the city of Chicago. Her passions consist of creating art and transforming spaces. Her philosophy is that art is a form of self-expression that gives you a bigger sense of self.

Natalia Sustaita (https://www.nataliasustaita.com/)susta.art

Natalia Sustaita is an interdisciplinary artist, born and raised in the city of Chicago. Her work consists of many plants, skulls, and mushrooms, to her they symbolize life, death, and rebirth. These themes are influenced by the duality of Mexican culture, and the cycle of life. Using bright neon colors she shows the beauty in each of those steps of our journey.

This is pop up #3 and I am loving the energy all of these artists are bringing to the space! Come out and support this weekend if you have some time. Works will not be available online but I'm happy to share what's available with you if you can't make it. Just reach out via email or phone. [email protected] or 312-361-0281 As always, select works from our past exhibitions and our roster of artists are available via our online store. Thank you for your support of our gallery and artists!

Warmly,
Kim Leja Atwood

Click here for an update from Elephant Room Gallery!

06/20/2026

[Chicago, Nigeria]

solo by Matoe
Saturday, June 20th &
Sunday, June 21st
12 to 5pm



"My solo exhibition explores my journey through my lens, tracing the evolution of my work across the years. This carefully curated selection of pieces offers an intimate look into Matoe’s artistic development—reflecting on identity, experimentation with technique, and the discovery and refinement of my signature style.

Throughout the exhibition, themes of identity, environmental influence, culture, and home are woven together through figurative forms, expressive linework, and experimental techniques, offering viewers an intimate glimpse into the artist’s evolving visual language and reflection on growth and discovery.

Exclusive limited-edition prints, original works, and merchandise will be available for purchase." - Matoe

Click here for an update from Elephant Room Gallery!

06/06/2026

Summer Artist Pop Up Series Launches this June!

I'm excited to announce an Artist Pop Up Series for 4 weekends this summer! Being in the South Loop close to downtown, Grant Park Festivals and museums, summer is a high traffic time for us and I wanted to activate the gallery with something new and exciting for both artists and patrons. Launching with an opening reception on Friday, June 12th, the gallery will be taken over by various Chicago-based artists selling original works and exclusive, limited edition prints, t-shirts, objects and more. Take a look at the schedule below, mark your calendars, and I hope to see you soon!

Much Love,
Kim Leja Atwood

Pop Up Series
Opening Reception Launch
Friday, June 12th
6 to 9pm

Opening night features a pop up by Dredske and Cujo Dah! These 2 Chicago Based artists were last in the gallery together for their collaborative exhibition, "Synthesis" in 2023. Having collaborated on public murals, that exhibition was the first time they worked together on studio pieces that were released to the public. For this pop up, the artists will have various originals, prints, other projects and apparel available. Due to the limited amount of work and short release time, we suggest coming by early. Works will not be available online during the pop up.

Open Daytime Hours
Saturday, June 13th 12-5pm
Sunday, June 14th 12-5pm

Lo Marie's "Windy City Tells" solo debut wrap up!

Thank you to everyone who attended Lo Marie's solo exhibition, "Windy City Tells"! This was Lo's first solo and we are honored to have worked with her. Most of the works have sold but you can find some still available on our website (https://www.elephantroomgallery.com/windycitytells) . Collaborative collage prints are available until June 30th and 100% of the profits will be donated to The Night Ministry (https://thenightministry.org/) . Thank you to Lo for that and also to the workshop participants!

Click here for an update from Elephant Room Gallery!

05/08/2026

Learn more about artist Jennifer Cronin through our Interview Series! Each Friday we’ll release a short interview, fresh studio images and current available works with our repped artists so you can gain more insight into their practice.

Link in our bio 💫



Jennifer Cronin is a Chicago-based visual artist known for her uncanny realistic paintings that explore the mystery and complexity of everyday life. Cronin’s work has evolved many times over, delving into psychology, income inequality, and climate change. Her most recent work celebrates the mundane, infusing quotidian scenes with a sense of magic and mystery. While Cronin has spent over a decade absorbed in the craft of oil painting, in recent years she has branched out, exploring new subjects and approaches. She has oscillated from stark to light-hearted subjects, and delved into screen printing, mural painting, digital illustration, and animation. With each new approach, Cronin continues to find ways to explore our innate emotional connection to one another, tapping into our shared sense of joy, fear, love, and hope.
​
Jennifer’s work has been featured on NPR, Newcity, and Sixty Inches from Center. Her work has been included in exhibitions at the Elmhurst Art Museum, Museo Internazionale Italia Arte, and the Grand Rapids Public Museum as well as galleries at Google and Argonne National Laboratory. Jennifer received her BFA in painting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

📸

05/06/2026

“WCT Mashup II”
by Lo Marie
digital collage on paper
12x12

“Windy City Tells” is a collection of collage works by artist Lo Marie, that examine social issues within Chicago’s communities. Exploring themes of wealth disparity, racism and exploitation, Lo Marie creates visual narratives that are rooted in the lived experiences of Chicago residents and highlights the communities that are impacted by systemic inequalities. The exhibition’s title and concept are an extension of the Windy City Tells (WCT) e-zine series that the artist started in 2024 and distributes online every few months. Much like the e-zine, the works in this exhibition depict scenes in Chicago neighborhoods along with current events and pop culture. Lo Marie’s goal is to shed light on the issues of economic disparity while highlighting the beauty of the people in this city - thus fostering reflection and dialogue among viewers.

05/02/2026

Collaborative Collage Workshop with Lo Marie is tomorrow! Sunday, May 3rd at 1pm. A few spots remain so grab one! Register on our website or find the link in our stories.

This workshop will benefit - The Night Ministry provides human connection, housing support and healthcare to members of our community who are unhoused or experiencing poverty.

Thank you, Lo!

Image:
“First Day Out”
magazine paper, acrylic and plastic on canvas
24x30
available