Tamara de Lempicka (1894-1980), Adam and Eve, serigraph, limited ed. of 195, 45½ x 28¾ in. Courtesy DK Modern Art, West Hollywood, CA.

The Chicago Art Fair and Spectrum Chicago will both take place at THE MART, the city’s iconic hub of technology and design, from October 7 to 10, and a single ticket provides access to the two events.

Eric Alfaro, Light and Love, 2026, acrylic on linen, 78 x 78 in. Courtesy Carousel Fine Art with locations in Chicago, Miami, Atlanta and West Palm Beach, FL.

Spectrum Chicago is a platform for emerging and independent artists, while the Chicago Art Fair is a showcase reserved solely for an elite roster of galleries from around the world. The inaugural event will bring together 62 local, national and international galleries presenting museum-quality modern and contemporary paintings, sculpture, photography, mixed media and more across more than 70,000 square feet of exhibition space. With participation limited strictly to vetted galleries specializing in fine art, the event has been curated with a focus on quality, collector engagement and business development opportunities.

Jennybird Alcantara, The Darling of Slumber, oil on wood, 34 x 48 in. Courtesy Haven Gallery, Northport, NY.

“There are many reasons we chose to create the Chicago Art Fair, including accessibility to the Midwest market and collectors,” explains Smith. “The timing in the fall season is great, and our partnership with THE MART offers very affordable booth spaces for the galleries. With all those factors aligned, we hired [gallery owner] George Billis as exhibition manager, and we look forward to a fantastic event.”

Roger Brown (1941-1997), Blue Flag And Gold Sky, ca. 1981, oil on canvas, 48 x 72 in., titled verso. Courtesy Vallarino Fine Art, New York, NY.

At the Chicago Art Fair you’ll find works by innovative sculptor Alexander Calder (1898-1976) and modernist painter Milton Avery (1885-1965), as well as stunning pieces by established contemporary artists such as Eric Alfaro, Jennybird Alcantara, Cristina Mittermeier and Don Eddy, offering visitors the opportunity to discover a diverse range of artwork across a variety of styles, media and price points.

Chicago Art Fair and Spectrum Chicago will take place on the seventh floor of THE MART, a sprawling business and event space in the heart of downtown Chicago.

“Chicago has long been home to an extraordinary community of artists, galleries, collectors and cultural institutions,” says Billis. “The Chicago Art Fair is designed to build on that foundation by creating an accessible, welcoming environment where meaningful connections can happen between galleries, collectors and the broader creative community. We’re proud to introduce this new annual destination celebrating incredible talent and bringing the world to Chicago.”

Cristina Mittermeier, Girl with Blue Eyes and Dragonflies, collage. Courtesy Hilton Contemporary, Chicago, IL. 

Chicago Art Fair