Darger as Reader, Writer and Bookmaker

The first of three exhibitions in the series Henry Darger: The Room Revealed opens this Friday, June 11. The series focuses on the Henry Darger Room and its forthcoming temporary de-installation and explores Chicago's world-renowned outsider artist in collaboration with audiences and advisors.

Darger as Reader, Writer and Bookmaker highlights the author and artist's literary influences, writing techniques and bookmaking practices, notably his scrapbooks. Evident by his possessions, Darger was a collector of children's literature, coloring books, National Geographic magazines, Chicago newspapers and Catholic paraphernalia, which influenced his writing and art making. His writings were of critical importance to his later artistic output, and this exhibition focuses on the media he consumed and their influences on what, when and how he wrote. Featured in the exhibition are books and materials from Darger's collection, as well as a timeline of his writings and access to a recently digitized microfilm copy of his works. The exhibition draws on the Henry Darger Room Collection and Archive to feature source materials that informed his presentation of the Vivian girls—protagonists from his epic novel—and portraits of the sisters.

Join Intuit for the opening weekend of Darger as Reader, Writer and Bookmaker!

The museum is open from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults and free for guests under the age of 18 and members. Reserve your tickets through Tock or contact (312) 624-9487 or intuit@art.org, and an Intuit staff member will assist you.

Before you go to the museum, please read the Plan Your Visit web page to learn about our most up-to-date health and safety procedures.

Chief Curator Alison Amick with guest curators Michael Bonesteel, Leisa Rundquist and Mary Trent

Image: Henry Darger (American, 1892–1973). Angeline Celistine Vivian, c. 1940s. Mixed media on paper, 17 ¼ x 15 ¼ in. Collection of Robert A. Roth. © 2021 Kiyoko Lerner / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo © John Faier