CHICAGO (July 15, 2025) — The city of Chicago would not exist as it does today without two things: immigration and self-taught art. Catalyst shines a spotlight on the intersection between artistic production and human geography, revealing that the forces pushing communities to relocate to Chicago and pursue creative practices are closely intertwined. An abundance of playful, energetic, and deeply personal works contextualized by the biographies of the artists who created them provides a diverse cross-section of the cultural influences shaping the city. A perfect example: North Korean-born artist and community member Thomas Kong owned and operated Kim’s Corner Foods in Rogers Park every day for 17 years, developing a collage practice using spare cardboard and wrappers from the store’s wares.
Intuit champions the diverse voices of self-taught art, welcoming both new and familiar audiences. Intuit presents the work of self-taught artists—also known as outsider art. These artists typically work outside the mainstream and may have faced societal, economic or geographic barriers to a traditional path of art making. By presenting a diversity of artistic voices, Intuit builds a bridge from art to audiences.
