Schoolhouse Studio Project
In August 2024, myself and 5 other Chicago artists found original schoolhouse building in my neighborhood — a three-story celadon gem, in total disarray — up for rent. I was struck by the stained glass windows and wooden latticework, which overshadowed reality. The house had become a poorly managed squat. But, I saw potential. That night, I pitched five friends on a joint studio endeavor, and though a 6 bedroom home’s rent and a lease were uncharted territory for a 22-year-old, inspiration outweighed doubt. We called every artist we wanted to work with in Chicago, cobbled together enough interest to keep the idea afloat, and convinced took a leap: we had nothing to lose.
With no way to raise the rent before the first of the month, we struck a deal with the landlord, a two-month in exchange for managing the necessary renovations ourselves. As six young women with a potent vision, we won him over, drafted our own contract, and signed the lease days later. Over the following two weeks, we wrote a studio manifesto, built an organizational structure, and selected the artists we wanted to join us. By mid-September 2024, we had 12 artists move in and were planning our first fundraiser.
Over the course of two years, we hosted a number of fundraisers to get projects off the ground. Tapping into our network in Chicago, we received donations from established artists, art supporters, professors, and SAIC's grant money to kickstart our ideas. We were able to open a DIY gallery space, host SAIC student exhibitions, and run an artist-in-residence program, selecting emerging Chicago artists we wanted to showcase, and growing traction in the Chicago gallery scene. Alongside this, we built a performance stage in the backyard, a community woodshop, a working darkroom, extra rooms for private studio space, and hosted monthly art, music, and performance events.
In January of 2026, with many of us taking leave from Chicago, we passed the project into new loving hands. The home and studio continues to thrive and engage with the community to this day.
These photos and hand-drawn posters represent a few key events in our evolution, from our first and second fundraiser to an important night of storytelling.
