May 19th 2017

The Petty Biennial

@ Arts and Public Life

301 E Garfield Blvd, Chicago, IL 60637

Opening Friday, May 19th, from 6PM - 8PM

On view through Friday, June 23rd

Join us at the Arts Incubator for the Opening Reception for the exhibition, “The Petty Biennial” curated by La Keisha Leek and Sadie Woods, APL’s inaugural Curatorial Collective. Enjoy live DJ sets by Cqqchifruit and La Spacer of Trqpiteca.

“The Petty Biennial” is an exhibition project that complicates dominant narratives of contemporary cultural, social, political norms. It is a response to classist views towards communities of color and marginalized art practices. At the intersection of race, gender and sexuality, featured artists showcase a range of regional and national perspectives unique to North and Central Americas, and the Caribbean. “The Petty Biennial” is not a biennial itself, but a curatorial investigation towards queering the canon of traditional biennials. The project selected seventeen artists for its exhibition and an additional nine artists for ancillary programming. Works include video, painting, installation, performance and photography engaging in critical forms of authorship through hypervisibility and self-representation.

Exhibiting and Programmed Artists include: Indira Allegra, Ester Alegria, Elizabeth Axtman, Bella Bahhs, Rashayla Marie Brown, Aymar Jean Christian Sofía Córdova, Danielle Dean, Kevin Demery, Alicia Everett, Ricardo Gamboa, Stephanie Graham, Kai M. Green, Brandon Markell Holmes, NIC Kay, Maya Mackrandilal, Yvette Mayorga, Nikki Patin, Oli Rodriguez, Arif Smith, Cauleen Smith, twinskin, Darryl Terrell, Marcela Torres, Anna Martine Whitehead, Brittney Leeanne Williams, Derrick Woods-Morrow, and Suné Woods.

A special thanks to “The Petty Biennial” Advisory Committee: Dana Bassett, Development Director, ACRE and Contributor, Bad at Sports; Aymar Jean Christian, Assistant Professor of Communications, Northwestern University and Founder, OPEN TV; Erin Christovale, Co-Curator, Black Radical Imagination and Co-Curator for Made in L.A. 2018, Hammer Museum; James T. Green, Podcast Producer, MTV; Sabrina Greig, Independent Curator and Writer, External Affairs Manager, Chicago Urban League; Danielle Andrea Jackson, Mellon Interdisciplinary Fellow in Performing Arts, Walker Art Center; JGV/WAR, Independent Curatorial Collective; Ross Jordan, Curatorial Manager, Jane Addams Hull-House Museum; Kristen Kaza, Principal and Creative Director, No Small Plans Productions; Ciera McKissick, Founder, AMFM; Coya Paz, Artistic Director of Free Street Theater; Fabiola Ramirez, Independent Event and Project Management Consultant. Additional thanks to: Israel Pate, Curatorial Assistant; Tyran Freeman and Omari Ferrell, Gallery Assistants.

Logo conceptualized by James T. Green and Ciera McKissick


This exhibition is wheelchair accessible. Persons with disabilities who need an accommodation in order to participate in these events should contact Arts + Public Life for assistance at 773.702.9724 or artsandpubliclife@uchicago.edu.

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