Style is the Body Thinking
@ School of the Art Institute of Chicago Galleries
33 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60603
Opening Wednesday, September 9th, from 5PM - 7PM
On view through Saturday, December 5th
Style is the Body Thinking
August 31–December 5, 2026
Public Reception: Wednesday, September 9, 5:00–7:00 p.m.
Style is the Body Thinking is a group exhibition of international artists curated by SAIC Crown Family Professor in Painting and Drawing Michelle Grabner that explores iterations of style, portraiture, and figuration in contemporary art. It examines the social and aesthetic affordances of style and figuration from the 1960s to the present, addressing style’s relationship to identity, power, labor, resistance, taste, the body, technology, and affect.
Style is the Body Thinking features the work of more than 50 artists across disciplines: Benny Andrews (BFA 1958), Diane Arbus, Vanessa Beecroft, Kelly Beeman, Dawoud Bey, Amoako Boafo, Elijah Burgher (Post-Bacc 2002, MFA 2004), Bill and Stephanie Sick Professor of Fashion, Body and Garment Nick Cave, Nik Cho (MFA 2024), Paul D’Amato, Angela Dufresne, Jeanne Dunning (MFA 1985), Mari Eastman (MFA 1996), Hossein Fatemi, Nan Goldin, Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, Rodney Graham, Maïmouna Guerresi, Sheila Held, Sky Hopinka, Peter Hujar, Michelle Im, Ayana V. Jackson, Brad Kahlhamer, Deborah Kass, Jose Lerma, Yvette Mayorga (MFA 2016), Patric McCoy, Shimon Minamikawa, Marilyn Minter, LeRoy Neiman (SAIC 1947–50, HON 2006), Aliza Nisenbaum (BFA 2001, MFA 2005), Lorraine O’Grady, Julian Opie, Tony Oursler, Martin Parr, Ed Paschke (BFA 1961, MFA 1970, HON 1990), Ebony G. Patterson, Brianna Perry (MFA 2024), Professor, Adj. Cheryl Pope (BFA 2003, MDes 2010), Robert Pruitt, Christina Ramberg (BFA 1968, MFA 1973), Collier Schorr, Chloe Seibert (BFA 2011), Tschabalala Self, Paul Mpagi Sepuya, Cindy Sherman, Cauleen Smith, Dylan Spaysky, Tony Tasset (MFA 1985), Jake Troyli, Tristan Unrau, Gillian Wearing, Karl Wirsum (BFA 1961, HON 2016), and Saya Woolfalk (MFA 2004).
Related Programs:
Wednesday September 9, 12:00 p.m. | Public Tour of Exhibition with Curator Michelle Grabner
Monday, September 22, 4:00–6:00 p.m. | Leopold Procession, Starts at MCA Plaza, 220 E. Chicago, Ends at SAIC Galleries, 33 E. Washington St.
Thursday, October 8, 12:00 p.m. | Public Tour of Exhibition with Curator Michelle Grabner
Wednesday November 18, 4:00 p.m. | Public Tour of Exhibition with Curator Michelle Grabner
Monday, August 31 – Saturday, December 05
11:00 a.m. CDT – 6:00 p.m. CST
SAIC Galleries Lower Level 2, 33 E. Washington St
Official Website
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Tags: Aliza Nisenbaum, Amoako Boafo, Angela Dufresne, Ayana V. Jackson, Benny Andrews, Brad Kahlhamer, Brianna Perry, Cauleen Smith, Cheryl Pope, Chicago, Chloe Seibert, Christina Ramberg, Cindy Sherman, Collier Schorr, Dawoud Bey, Deborah Kass, Diane Arbus, Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, Dylan Spaysky, Ebony G. Patterson, Ed Paschke, Elijah Burgher, Gillian Wearing, Hossein Fatemi, Jake Troyli, Jeanne Dunning, Jose Lerma, Julian Opie, Karl Wirsum, Kelly Beeman, LeRoy Neiman, Lorraine O'Grady, Maïmouna Guerresi, Mari Eastman, Marilyn Minter, Martin Parr, Michelle Grabner, Michelle Im, Nan Goldin, Nick Cave, Nik Cho, Patric McCoy, Paul D’Amato, Paul Mpagi Sepuya, Peter Hujar, Robert Pruitt, Rodney Graham, Saya Woolfalk, School of the Art Institute of Chicago Galleries, Sheila Held, Shimon Minamikawa, Sky Hopinka, Tony Oursler, Tony Tasset, Tristan Unrau, Tschabalala Self, Vanessa Beecroft, Yvette Mayorga
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