amfm, Great Lakes, IL (2025)

04/25/2025

EXPO weekend is here! Head to the Navy Pier to view art from all over the world right here in Chicago and support local galleries exhibiting art including Richard Gray, Tala, cam.contemporarie, and more! Stop by Mana Contemporary for open studios all weekend and view new Blanc Gallery exhibition “litany” to live music. Shake off the winter blues and step into spring at Dutty House for a special DJ set with Duane Powell, Gene Hunt, and more, and make sure to check out live performance by Chicago darlings and vocal powerhouses Eva Supreme and Melvin Knight.

Swipe for this weekend’s top picks and enjoy!

04/24/2025

Check out this monogrammed scarf by Mbari (), a classic unisex scarf with versatility and style. This scarf is inspired by the various ideographic symbols (Adinkra, Nsibidi, Veve, graffiti) present in West Africa and other destinations (Cuba, Haiti, Americas etc) via the Transatlantic slave trade.

Mbari, founded by Arinze Umenyiora and Kevin Coleman, came together when they realized their mutual appreciation for each others cultures could be a bridging point for their communities and others. “Mbari”, comes from a West African practice that forged community through artistic practices and shared experiences.

Follow the tag to follow Mbari and to keep up with their collection!

04/23/2025

AMFM L!ve Season 2 Episode 1 is going off live tonight at Working From Fulton Market () at the Hoxton Hotel! We kick off the evening with one of our favorite St. Louis born, Chicago-based DJ’s, ShamPain Wishes ().

Known to some as Mars, some as Police State, and most as a beloved friend, ShamPain Wishes is an Artist, DJ and man-about-town who wears many hats. Though you may never know what exactly he’ll play during a set, he has a particular ear for eclectic, soulful, and/or warm grooves; rest assured that you’ll travel a sonic journey touching cities from Chicago to London, Detroit to Rio de Janeiro and more. Whether breaking new records or paying homage to classics and deep cuts, you know it will be thoughtful, groovy, and energetic.

📍RSVPS are currently SOLD OUT, but you can tune in to the episode live on YouTube Channel. Watch at the link in bio.

04/22/2025

Our Bronzeville Winery featured artist, bARBER, employs collage, often whimsical and surrealist in style. Incorporating pastel colors over textured, print, the combination often results in dreamlike landscapes that feel quite intentional in it’s placement, shape and size, and hints at themes of community, care, and utopia.

The Chicago-based artist’s recent works are exhibited on a billboard as a part of OVERRIDE | A Billboard Project! The digital series features select artists in honor of EXPO weekend in Chicago. So if you’ve taken a ride through the city this past week, you may have noticed it, or make sure you look up! You also check out this work at the Winery through June. Learn more about Barber below!

A newly selected cohort member of the 2024-25 Ignite Fund, bARBER has an impressive track record in the arts. He has participated in prominent events such as the MdW Art Fair, The Other Art Fair (2023, 2024), EXPO CHICAGO (2023), the Chicago Artists Coalition’s 2023-24 HATCH program, and residencies across the country and globe.

bARBER is a resident of the School of Art Institute’s 2024 Tower A-I-R program. His work has garnered recognition throughout the Midwest, with notable collectors like Dan Gilbert’s Family of Companies in Detroit acquiring his pieces in 2023. Among his accolades are the 2020 Biennial Artist Research Fellowship at Sam Fox Island Press, University of Washington in St. Louis, and a feature in New American Paintings, Issue #150.

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04/18/2025

April showers brings May flowers…and Chicago’s biggest art fair! Stop by EXPO to view inventive, creative, and thought provoking art from all over the world, visit new exhibitions at Blanc Gallery, the undercommons, and Fourtune House, and of course join us at the Hoxton for our very own AMFM L!ve show featuring Lindsay Adams, Sheila Rashid, and FINGY (with sounds by ShamPain Wishes)!

Mix up your Saturday night with a special edition of “Chess, not Checkers,” at the California Clipper, remix your old t-shirts with Nolia James, and explore collage making at Miyagi Records. Swipe through to explore this weekend’s activities!

04/17/2025

By now y’all know we love Sheila Rashid since we have featured her and her work multiple times. We are so excited to welcome to AMFM L!ve to chat about all things fashion, hoodies, hearts, Chicago, and their new collection.

AMFM L!ve Season 2 Episode 1 kicks off next week, April 23, at Working From Fulton Market () at the Hoxton Hotel! Hit the RSVP at the link in bio for free tickets, and read below to learn more about the designer.

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Sheila Rashid, Chicago’s bespoken designer, has shown remarkable talent in her journey to create pieces that confront and curtail gender identity. This unisex brand takes a new approach to creativity, simplicity, and persistency. Sheila’s goal has been to design with a unique perspective and an acute attentiveness to detail. Her brand’s individuality has attracted iconic figures Zendaya, Lena Waithe, Bella Hadid and Chance The Rapper, and more. Each of her pieces are made-to-order and reflect her own sense of style, combining both tomboy and feminine qualities.

04/15/2025

We are so excited to welcome artist Lindsay Adams () to AMFM L!ve next week to chat all things art and their new exhibition “All water has a perfect memory,” now on view at Patron Gallery. Titled in reference to Toni Morrison’s “The Site of Memory,” Adams’ presentation of new paintings and drawings on both paper and mirror tile metaphorizes the fluid nature of water as a means to extend her own exploration of memory, emotional truth, and place. Swipe to check out some of Lindsay’s work, and make sure to hit the RSVP at the link in bio. AMFM L!ve Season 2 Episode 1 kicks off April 23 at Working From Fulton Market () at the Hoxton Hotel!

Read below to learn more about our art guest, Lindsay Adams!

Image 2: If it’s greener, it’s because I watered it, 2024
Oil on canvas

Image 3: Peace Be Still, 2023
Oil on canvas

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Lindsay Adams, Chicago-based artist from Washington, D.C., is a writer and painter working across traditional mediums. Employing her educational foundation as a social scientist, with a background in foreign relations, sociology, and cultural anthropology, she systematically engages in her work with precise critical analysis and a perceptive understanding of the complex fabric of social dynamics. Embracing her intersectional identity, Adam’’s work serves as a reflection of self, exploring personal and collective histories and the role imagination plays in mining the complexities and nuances of life.

04/11/2025

If this weekend is any indication of what to expect this summer, then we’re ready! This weekend brings plenty of creative and diverse programming, from Schubas Vintage Garage Sale to Jupiter Magazine’s writing workshop, to vintage sales at Schubas. Enjoy late night art therapy with Dope After Dark, curated matchmaking with yente page, and shop for new Sheila Rashid gear with your favorite cup of coffee from Monday Coffee Co.

Swipe for this week’s picks and enjoy!

04/10/2025

Sharpen your style with Rhyan & Rhyse’s () Venus & Serena Williams Button down tuxedo shirt, a creative embellishment on the traditional tuxedo shirt and sure to turn heads at any function. Featured in NYFW, London Fashion Week, Essence, Elle, this style is a nod to two of tennis’ most iconic tennis stars of our time and the brand’s signature take on popular culture and history through illustration.

Lighten the mood with their Five Fifths Jersey or make a statement in their matching striped suit featuring bold vertical stripes in muted red, the structured long-sleeve top and pant combo blends vintage and contemporary fashion, making it versatile for both casual and statement moments. Follow the tag to view the collection and more from Rhyan & Rhyse!

04/08/2025

New month, new opportunities! April comes with opportunities to exhibit, curate, and create in the US and abroad, along with some fast approaching deadlines! Keep a lookout for upcoming deadlines for Orein Art’s Summer Residency, Oh Art Foundation’s Open Call, and The Bottom’s “Back to Our Roots” exhibition call. Apply for Field Project’s solo residency and exhibition in Chelsea, NY, explore the interconnectedness of art, life, and environment in the California high desert, or spend a summer in the heart of Barcelona.

Swipe for this month’s round up of opportunities and good luck!

04/07/2025

AMFM L!ve Season 2 Episode 1 kicks off in a few weeks at Working From Fulton Market () at the Hoxton Hotel! We are so excited to welcome FINGY () to the show to chat about their new album, “forgive Me, indefinitely,” and learn a thing or two about music production during their live demo powered by Red Bull.

Hit the RSVP at the link in bio, and read below to learn more about FINGY.

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FINGY is a Producer, DJ, and Vocalist who gets people out of their heads and on their feet. Raised in Los Angeles but trained in Chicago, FINGY’s DJ sets bounce from deep wax cuts to SoundCloud sonics, encouraging full body movement through infectious melody. Blending world elements of electronic, funk, hip-hop, punk, pop and more, the diverse sound of their production defies easy categorization. FINGY’s latest ep, “forgive Me, indefinitely” has left a profound mark on Chicago’s music scene and the concept of club culture as a whole. Their newest unreleased mixtape, “CLUB ETiQUETTE” is anticipated to push that envelope forward.

Since 2019, FINGY has played Chicago’s most acclaimed venues: Smartbar, Metro, Thalia Hall, Lincoln Hall, Sleeping Village, Schubas Tavern, Empty Bottle, SOHO House, Blind Barber, Easy Does It and more. Partnered with their venue rounds, FINGY also has festival experience under their belt, headlining sets at Wicker Park Fest, West Fest, and DJing alongside Nina Tech at Summer Smash Festival. FINGY has recorded sessions with Elevator Music, Le Bump, Audiotree, and notably aired on Diplo’s Revolution. Making their EU/UK/AS DJ debut this past Summer, they additionally have recorded sets with Lusophonica (Lisbon), The Brewcast (Tokyo), and Matter of Time (London).

03/31/2025

That’s a wrap on another year at The Other Art Fair!
It’s always a pleasure to share the work of emerging artists and chat with art lovers!

Big thanks to the artists for showcasing work with us, Benji Hart and Sam Thousand for performing, the patrons who stopped by to chat (and support our artists by acquiring work!), The Other Art Fair for this amazing partnership and platform, and to our AMFM staff and fam for holding us down at the fair!

Until next time!

📸: / / .gold

03/29/2025

The Other Art Fair is in full effect and we’re here all weekend!

Come check out some amazing art at our booth from , , , .do.bu, , and !

The fair runs through Sunday at Artifact Events! Check 👉🏽 for more highlights and the link on our bio for tickets! Use the code AMFM20 for discounted tickets.

See you at the fair!

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03/28/2025

It’s Friday! End the month of March with a bang at Easy Does it with Bonita Appleblunt, join other Black women collectors at the Southside Community Arts Center and learn more about practices to preserving history and culture, and pick up some goodies at the grand opening of the L1 shop on the Arts Block. Join Expat and Calco at Rockwell on the River for Brazilian Bossa, and head to The Other Art Fair to experience art from all over the world - including the AMFM booth!

Swipe for this weekend’s picks and enjoy!

03/27/2025

The Other Art Fair kicks off today! We are excited to join the fair at Artifact Events March 27-30 and look forward to meeting you there!! Join us tonight for opening celebrations from 6-10pm and catch a performance at 8pm as a part of AMFM Presents from Benji Hart!

Benji Hart () is an interdisciplinary artist, author, and educator whose work centers Black radicalism, q***r liberation, and prison abolition. Their words have appeared or are forthcoming in anthologies from Oxford University Press, Beacon Press, Haymarket Books, Pluto Press, and have been published at Time, Teen Vogue, The Advocate, The Funambulist Magazine, and have led popular education and arts-based workshops for organizations internationally, including Dissenters, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Arts + Public Life, and Interrupting Criminalization. They have been interviewed in Public Books, Sixty Inches From Center, Lambda Literary, and on Notes from America with Kai Wright, and presented at the American Repertory Theater, the Race & Performance Lab at the University of Virginia, the Barnard Center for Research on Women, and the National Museum of African American History & Culture. Their performances have been featured at OUTsider Fest, Steppenwolf Theater, La Goyco, and Den Frie, and is a recipient of fellowships from Yaddo, MacDowell, Chicago Dancemakers Forum, and the Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography. They were born and raised in Massachusetts, and live and work in Chicago.

Use the code AMFM20 when you buy your tickets to get 20% off! Get your tickets and learn more at the link in bio!

03/25/2025

Landscape architect and artist Udochukwu Anidobu’s (.do.bu) “landscape memory” is a surrealist dream - a nostalgic recollection of a recent trip to Nigeria through collage and muted tones that evoke memory and emotion. Exhibiting at Breathing Room Space, Anidobuwill join them for an artist conversation tonight and joins us as one of AMFM’s exhibiting artists at The Other Art Fair!

While studying architecture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Anidobu began experimenting with alternative forms of representation, primarily collage art. Pursuing a Master of Landscape Architecture, their artistic practice evolved, deepening their interest in designing sustainable spaces that not only reflect the people they serve, but also foster meaningful experiences.
Their work explores how humans relate to landscapes, particularly through pre-colonial processes of artistry and production. Their recent work examines textile production in Nigeria and wine production in Spain, incorporating archival images, plant prints, and found objects to trace the journey from seed to final product. As they continue growing, they hope to explore new countries, landscapes, and artistic mediums — pushing the boundaries of collage, printmaking, and material experimentation.

03/21/2025

Happy Spring and Happy Friday! Spring into the new season at Elastic Arts with an all vinyl DJ set, underground house and dance music at Bridgeport Sessions, and a “Tiny Shelf” soundbath and performance by Shawnee Dez. Co-work with like-minded peers in an unconventional space and head to cam.contemporarie for Erol Scott Harris’ solo exhibition Harlequin Choreographies. Swipe for this week’s picks and enjoy!

03/20/2025

Fashion, but with a purpose! Sound artist Riobamba (.today / ) has teamed with fashion brand Feliz Bamba () to release Pa’l Carajo ICE, a limited edition tee to raise funds and awareness for immigrant defense organizations. The bold lettering feels as courageous and creative as the endeavor, utilizing style and fashion to make a statement, and put plans into action by donating all proceeds from sales to frontline organizations dedicated to protecting immigrant rights: The Immigrant Defense Project, Detention Watch Network, and United We Dream. Follow the tag to find out how to you can support this initiative!

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