Visual Arts
From the pioneering work of the South Side Community Art Center—the nation's first Black arts museum founded in 1940—to today's dynamic galleries in Bronzeville and beyond, Chicago's Black visual arts community has shaped American culture for generations. That legacy thrives through galleries, collectives, and cultural institutions across the city that showcase African diasporic art, nurture emerging artists, and make creative expression accessible to all communities. These spaces continue the tradition of using visual art as a powerful tool for cultural preservation, social dialogue, and Black self-determination.
345 Art Gallery
Garfield Park gallery showcasing local artists and Chicago Public School students.
Faie Afrikan Art
Gallery featuring African art from across the continent, including works by local Diaspora artists.
Little Black Pearl
Bronzeville arts organization offering art, culinary, and gardening workshops; mission to uplift the community through creativity.
South Side Community Art Center (SSCAC)
Nation’s first Black arts museum; founded in 1940; Chicago Landmark; located at 3831 S. Michigan Avenue.
Threewalls
Contemporary arts nonprofit founded in 2003; Black-led since 2016 under Jeffreen Hayes; supports artist-centered initiatives.
Artists on the 9
Chatham-based collection of galleries, studios, and artist shops along 79th Street.
Gallery Guichard
Bronzeville art gallery co-owned by Andre & Frances Guichard and Stephen Mitchell; features art of the African diaspora and Great Migration sculpture garden.
Mariane Ibrahim Gallery
West Town gallery representing international artists of African descent; artists across U.S., Africa, Europe, and Latin America; second location in Paris.
Stony Island Arts Bank - Rebuild Foundation
South Shore arts, archival, and cultural space by Rebuild Foundation; houses Johnson Publishing archives and Frankie Knuckles vinyl collection.
Blanc Gallery
Bronzeville gallery founded by Cliff Rome & Eileen Rhodes; focuses on spiritual, political, and social dialogue; makes art accessible to Black communities.
Hyde Park Art Center
Major Chicago hub for emerging and established visual artists; workshops, residencies, and public art programs.
Pigment International
South Side multimedia collective founded in 2018 by Patricia Andrews-Keenan; promotes Black art, curation, innovation; publishes Pigment Magazine.
The Wood Shop
Art gallery and frame shop featuring paintings, African art, and photography.