57th Street Art Fair | 2024

Celebrating a whopping 77 years in Hyde Park, the 57th Street Art Fair is the Midwest’s longest running juried art fair and a favorite for collectors, artists, art lovers, and kids of all ages. The Fair returns June 1-2 along the historic streets of Hyde Park and is the inaugural event to kick off Chicago’s summer festival season with 15,000-20,000 attendees expected. The expansive Fair with nearly 200 artists will be easy to navigate with these TOP things to see and do!

1. Meet The Artists and Shop Till You Drop

Calling all art lovers, the 57th St Art Fair is THE place to buy art and start a collection, whether you’re a seasoned collector or new to the art scene. All artists exhibiting at the Fair are stationed in their booths throughout the weekend to discuss their work. This year, nearly 200 artists will exhibit, allowing visitors to meet the artists, discuss their inspiration, and see how pieces could fit into a collection. Fair explorers will find spectacular works in wood, textiles, ceramics, glass, or studio jewelry and much more. And admission is FREE! The Fair is open 11am-6pm on Saturday and 10am-5pm on Sunday.

2. Live Music with Buddy Guy’s Legends

Talented musicians from Buddy Guy’s Legends will provide entertainment and ambiance among the artists of the 57th Street Art Fair both Saturday and Sunday.  Picnic table seating available for enjoying music, socializing and dining. Visit 57thstreetartfair.org for a full music schedule 

3. NEW Food Truck Social 

Calling all foodies, new this year The Fair will feature a mix of Food Trucks serving their delectable bites so you won’t go hungry while shopping and exploring art. Don’t miss Da Local Boy, Happy Lobster, El Buen Taco, Royal Ice Cream, Robinsons and Reggie’s onsite!

4. Fan Favorites

The Fair receives many returning artists each year who have developed a loyal following! The Fair is not only a place to show and sell their work, but also a place for artists to connect with old and new friends.  Long standing artists include: Taylor Mazer, David Lory, Connie Verrusio, Martha Haden and Malen Pierson. 

5. Partake in Children’s Activities

Even the youngest fairgoers will have a dedicated area for fun and engaging activities including a Lego Table, take apart activities and a salad spinner wearable art project (make your own pin). Kids area closes at 5pm on Saturday and 3:30pm on Sunday. And don’t miss the playground next to the kid’s activity area and large space for budding artists to do their own chalk art.

6. Newcomer Award Winners

The 57th Street Art Fair committee is pleased to award their coveted 2024 “Newcomer Award” to two artists husband and wife duo Bashar and Roula Jarjour of Jarjour Pottery and William Kwamena-Poh, a celebrated goauche artist. 

Bashar and Roula Jarjour, founders and potters of Jarjour Pottery specialize in porcelain and raku pieces. Influenced by their Middle Eastern background and living close to the Mediterranean Sea for 30 years, their love of porcelain takes an organic approach and focuses on nature: tiny sea creatures, as well as life on land.

Born in Ghana, Kwamena-Poh moved to the United States when his father came to teach history at Talladega College in Alabama as a Fulbright Scholar. He was introduced to the work of James Huff, an artist teaching at the college that painted huge, detailed portraits of African American. Huff’s work served as an inspiration for Kwamena-Poh who has since learned how much dedication, determination, and skill it takes to capture the essence of his subjects. 

7.  New Kids on the Block

The 57th St Art Fair welcomes new artists each year and this year a record 60 new artists will be part of the 77th annual edition! Select new artists include Chicago-based jewelry artist, Lisa Slodki, leather artists, Menxi and Jordan Li-Reznicek of Dream Creeks, New Orleans Mixed Media Artist, Rachaela DiRosario of Feral Femme Art,  Painter, Veronica Grankina, Metal Sculptor, Boris Kramer, plus many more.

8.  Hometown Art Heroes

Chicago has a burgeoning art scene and is home to hugely talented artists. This year, the Fair will feature 30+ artists that hail from Illinois from downtown Chicago, Bolingbrook, Crystal Lake, Deerfield, Geneva, Glenview, Homer Glen, Olympia Fields, Orland Park, Park Ridge, Villa Park, Western Springs, Westmont, and Woodridge.

9. Collector’s Item

Every year the Fair selects a poster artist from their roster of participating artists to create the official 57th St Art Fair Poster. This year, Chris Leung who is known for his handmade pottery inspired by Asian heritage and the natural beauty of the Kettle Moraine in Wisconsin, designed the 2024 Poster. Purchase this collectible June 1-2.

10. Explore Chicago’s Hyde Park Neighborhood

Hyde Park is a bustling neighborhood with incredible public art, restaurants, coffee shops, cultural institutions and so much more. Hyde Park is home to the world-famous Museum of Science and Industry, future site of the Obama Presidential Center, the Frank Lloyd Wright Robie House, Jackson Park/Wooded Isle with the Japanese Garden and more. The University of Chicago is located in Hyde Park and features a mix of campus buildings dating from the 1890’s to present day.

ABOUT 57TH STREET ART FAIR

The 57th Street Art Fair is a two-day outdoor celebration of the visual arts held in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, adjacent to the University of Chicago campus. Considered the oldest juried art fair in the Midwest, the fair typically features the work of nearly 200 exhibitors. Most are returning artists, but each year between 50 and 75 new exhibitors are invited to participate by a jury made up of collectors, critics, curators and artists. The goal of the 57th Street Art Fair is to provide a venue for creators of quality fine art and fine craft to meet with the art-buying public. The 57th Street Art Fair is an Illinois not for profit corporation organization and all proceeds are used to produce it.