Opening reception for a new exhibit by illustrator, muralist, and artist-in-residence Cheri Lee Charlton’s that views the truths and horrors of the history of medical care for women through the lens of vintage fairy tale book illustrations. Charlton is a Chicago-based artist and Assistant Professor of Illustration at Columbia College in Chicago. Charlton intends to use the IMSS residency as a chance to explore the history of medicine through the lens of misdiagnosing and failing women. She will use primary sources and collections materials to create a new body of work, culminating in a solo exhibition at the Museum in 2024.

“Woman’s bodies have long been considered alien and other in the history of medicine. Even today, a woman’s ownership over her body and what she can do to it and with it is being threatened. Women’s bodies have long been controlled by outside institutions rooted in unscientific attitudes based in religion and morality.

The denial of scientific facts, racism, classism, sexist attitudes, and the low value society has placed on women’s voices have made for terrifyingly common medical treatments and stories throughout history. Especially the marginalized voices of queer women and women of color.

My intention is to create illustrations that possess both beauty and stark honesty. At first glance, the images may resemble those found in a vintage fairy tale book, but upon closer inspection, they reveal the truths and horrors of the history of medical care for women.”

Accessible accommodations include a ramp entrance and elevator. If you need additional accessibility options or wheelchair seating, please contact us at info@imss.org.

Parking and Directions can be found here: https://imss.org/plan-your-visit/

About the artist:

Cheri Lee Charlton is an illustrator, muralist, and teacher who lives in Chicago, IL. She has an MFA in Painting from Ohio University. She has been a college instructor for 15 years, most recently with the illustration department at Columbia College. Her clients include The Girl Scouts of America, Collectivo Coffee, Chicago Fire Soccer, NEWCITY Shopping Center, BLICK Art Materials, Gino’s Pizza, The Neighborhood Hotel, Rainbow Cone, and The Violet Hour.

In 2021, Cheri was selected by the American Consulate and The Sister Cities of Chicago to design and paint a large-scale mural in Casablanca to celebrate the 200-year anniversary of relations between Morocco and the United States.

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Tags: Cheri Lee Charlton, Cheri Lee Charlton: Unseen & Underserved, Chicago, IMSS, International Museum of Surgical Science, Near North Side