Hearth: Kai Boone, Carmen Casillas, Fatimah Farooqi, Beck Lech, and Maddalena Piazza

Artist Talk: Saturday, May 16, 2026, 3:00 pm

Exhibition Dates: April 19, 2026 – June 6, 2026

Gallery Hours: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 1:00 – 5:00 pm

The Riverside Arts Center’s FlexSpace is pleased to present Hearth: Kai Boone, Carmen Casillas, Fatimah Farooqi, Beck Lech, and Maddalena Piazza, guest curated by RAC’s Gallery Assistant, Madelyn Roldan. Hearth brings together a group of artists whose works explore the intimate spaces of home, memory, and belonging. Through painting, sculpture, collage, and textile-based practices, the artists investigate the emotional and symbolic dimensions of domestic life. The exhibition centers on the idea of the “Hearth” not only as a physical site of warmth and shelter, but as a metaphor for connection, resilience, and personal history. Join exhibiting artists Kai Boone, Beck Lech, Maddalena Piazza and the curator for an artists talk on Saturday, May 16th at 3pm. The exhibition is on view through June 6, 2026.

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Beck Lech (b. 2004) is a multidisciplinary artist and educator working primarily in painting, drawing, and collage. Born in Wheaton, Illinois, and currently completing her BFAAE at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, her practice is situated within the suburban and urban Midwest that has shaped her lived experience. Lech’s work is a pragmatic study of her own reality, rendered through an absurdist visual language. She is drawn to the mundane–what is overlooked, unspoken and unacknowledged. Lech approaches image‐making as an act of reconstructing fragments of memory and identity into compositions that straddle the line of coherence. Across mediums, Lech’s imagery remains corporeal, uncanny and forthright. Her work is guided by a hyper‐awareness of self and surroundings that becomes both the catalyst and content. Together, her works are an organized chaos, visually acknowledging the facets of pedestrian life, providing an experience of relatable contemplation..
Instagram: @becklech__art

Carmen Casillas is an emerging artist currently studying at the School of The Art Institute of Chicago. Her work is inspired by her Mexican heritage and the influence of family. She explores memories and everyday experiences through a whimsical lens. Carmen enjoys working with acrylic paint and ceramic sculptures, and she is open to commissions. She aspires to one day open her own studio and gallery space that uplifts community and creative voices.
Website:https://carmencasillas.com/
Instagram:@catmensart

Fatimah Farooqi is a Pakistani American artist and graduating senior at Elmhurst University,getting her BFA in studio arts. She was born, raised and currently lives in the Chicago suburbs.Farooqi has taught art workshops at local mosques to increase Muslim women’s interest in the arts. She has amassed a following on social media (Instagram) sharing the process and thoughts behind her work and been featured on the cover of the MiddleWestern Voice magazine (2024).
Instagram: @fatimahfarooqi.art

Kai Boone, also known as Knowledge Art Studios is a creative space built on the belief that art is both expression and awareness. Rooted in intention and individuality, the studio explores visual storytelling through original works that blend emotion, symbolism, and lived experience. Each piece produced under Knowledge Art Studios reflects a deeper narrative capturing moments of introspection, transformation, and truth.Driven by a commitment to growth and authenticity, Knowledge Art Studios is not just about creating art, but about building a body of work that evolves alongside the artist. It stands as a platform where creativity meets discipline, and where vision is shaped into something tangible and lasting.
Website: www.knowledgeartstudios.us
Instagram:@Knowledgeart_studios

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Maddalena Piazza is a multimedia artist based in Chicago, Illinois. Mediums of choice include paint, photography, and fibers with a focus in embroidery and fashion. Growing up in the diaspora as a SWANA (South West Asian and North African) and Sicilian queer woman, her work aims to show the unique and plentiful experiences of her communities. Currently working towards a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, she is experimenting with cross media and large scale pieces through personal and shared narratives. Each piece draws inspiration from her heritages by blending traditional techniques, like Palestinian tatreez and Mediterranean symbology, with contemporary art making. Her work has been featured in exhibitions such as “Dimensions” and “Sewn Threads, Cut Threads’ at the SWANA Rose Culture and Community Center, “Horses Loved” at Goodbye Horses in Portland, Oregon, and “Art Bash” at SAIC. Through her practice, Maddalena explores the many nuances of living in the diaspora and aims to humanize communities pushed to the margin while celebrating the unique beauty of these cultures.
Instagram: @inmygutfeelings

https://www.riversideartscenter.com/flexspace/2026/04/hearth/group/exhibition

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Tags: Beck Lech, Hearth, Kai Boone, Maddalena Piazza, Riverside, Riverside Arts Center