In Gallery I and II, Goldfinch proudly presents We Are Our People/Listen to This, a two-part solo exhibition of new mixed-media works from Chicago-based artist Damon Locks. We Are Our People/Listen to This marks Locks' third solo exhibition at Goldfinch.

In Gallery I, We Are Our People showcases a series of mixed-media works where Locks uses a blend of ink, pencil, and collage elements on wood panels to create intricate, layered narratives. Each piece emphasizes the individuality of its subjects, drawing attention to how each portrait interacts within the collective. "The hand remains distinctly present in the gesture of the mark-making," Locks notes, while the dynamic interplay of heavy marks and collaged materials invokes a sense of movement--like a poem that reveals more with each recitation--prompting viewers to consider how connections between forms allow for expression and weight. The exhibition's title derives from a piece of writing (shared below) that Locks began performing during music shows in late 2024, as politics, death, and hatred took on a more tsunami-like presence in the United States.

In Gallery II, Listen to This features hand-drawn collages that emerged from the comic and graphic novel-making classes Locks taught at Stateville Correctional Center. This body of work transcends traditional comic forms, encouraging viewers to explore fractured narratives and abstract expressions. "These pieces became visual analogs to my sonic adventures, hence the title," Locks shares, illustrating how his artistic practice merges visual and auditory elements. The collages are rich with layered meanings, mirroring the complexity of the stories he encountered while teaching. 

A limited edition 7" record featuring two exclusive tracks created for this event will also be available.

Damon Locks: We Are Our People/Listen to This runs March 23 through May 3, 2025. The exhibition's opening reception takes place on Sunday, March 23 from 2-5pm. Stay tuned for information and dates of exhibition related public programs.

Artist's Bio

Damon Locks is a Chicago-based visual artist, educator, and vocalist/musician. He attended the Art Institute of Chicago where he received his BFA in fine arts. Since 2014 he has been working with the Prisons and Neighborhood Arts Project at Stateville Correctional Center teaching art. He is a 2025 recipient of the Creative Capital Award. In 2017 he became a Soros Justice Media Fellow. He received the Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier Achievement Award in the Arts in 2015. In 2019, he became a 3Arts Awardee. Locks spent four years as an artist in residence as a part of the MCA Chicago's SPACE Program, introducing civically engaged art into the curriculum at Sarah E. Goode STEM Academy High School. He teaches Improvisation in the Sound Department at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Damon Locks leads the Black Monument Ensemble, is a member of New Future City Radio, Exploding Star Orchestra and co-founded the band The Eternals.