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The Martin

@themartinchicago

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An artist-first, full service gallery that operated from 2018 - 2023, led by @whitneycurates ☁️🏳️‍🌈♥️

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My vision for opening The Martin in June of 2018 was to solve a problem in the event landscape of Chicago that I was experiencing as a producer. I wanted a safe, flexible and affordable storefront in which artists could thrive, be seen and understood and overall: create.

The deep sense of loss I felt in our sudden closure in March 2020 due to COVID-19 after almost two years of rising to that occasion was immense. To be given the opportunity to reopen in June of 2021, adjoined to Split-Rail which I had called a home away from home for years prior, was a dream I didn’t even know I had. The past two years have provided clarity, direction and inspiration for myself and our growing, changing and thriving community.

Today I announce the official, final close of The Martin - a space that bears my father’s name, has grown up with me and will forever be a pillar in my artistic career and exploration in Chicago. Our final exhibitions will have their final weekend with us December 8th - 10th.

Along with our closure announcement we are announcing the close of Split-Rail. I’ve been on the team at Split-Rail for six years and have been grateful for an endless amount of opportunity, growth and knowledge from the generous minds of so many - but especially Zoe and Michelle.

Our vibrant, queer, events-driven cocktail lounge Dorothy will continue on and I still proudly serve as the Creative Director of the bar - getting to produce events at a rate, impact and variety I could have only dreamed of when I sought out my own business in 2018.

I have found great peace and pleasure in the Curatorial field and will continue to work in many spaces with my focus always being to uplift, encourage and elevate young, queer, hungry, talented artists. You can follow me at @whitneycurates for future calls, shows and more.

Our Hospitality Collective is called Drinking Policy and you can follow us @drinkingpolicy to stay in the know on where you can find us next.

Thank you for believing in me, supporting my dream and loving The Martin right along with me.

🤍Whitney by @themartinchicago

Last event at The Martin tonight. 💔🫶

📸 2018
📍2515 W North Ave by @themartinchicago

Tomorrow night visual artist Cay Mims brings her community focused conversation and art practice event humbleDeity to The Martin, featuring Prints! Prints! Prints! artists Jill Nahrstedt & Jessica Malatia.

Designed to challenge the typical approach of an artist talk, Cay invites the audience to have an open dialogue with artists about their practice, what it means to be an artist, the art community and more.

Rounding out the discussion the artists share a bit of their practice with the audience as well - uniquely transitioning all within the walls of the room to be able to also claim the moniker of artist through their knowledge and creation.

This event is free to attend! Doors at 6:30pm and the event begins at 7. Link in bio to RSVP. by @themartinchicago

We have entered our final week of our gallery & the exhibitions within it. It’s been such a delight to get to sell and share so much work from the Prints! Prints! Prints! show as well as Kyle Richer’s takeover of The Robin.

You can visit us today during staffed gallery hours 4-6:30pm, Wednesday during our artist talk (event dropping today!), and Thursday - Sunday of next week.

Link in bio for gallery hours and to RSVP for our closing weekend. 🤍 by @themartinchicago

We have sold over half of our framed works in the Prints! Prints! Prints! show but have no fear: there are SO many good framed works left to collect ranging from $30 - $2400, great for a wide range of collectors.

We have gallery hours tonight from 6-9pm, Saturday from 4-6pm and Sunday from 4-6:30pm - stop by and collect!

Friendly reminder that ALL of these works and the rest in the show still have unframed prints left to purchase. Some are close to fully selling out so if you have your heart set on a work, now’s the time to get it. ✨

Link in bio to see the full exhibition along with pricing, sizing and materials! by @themartinchicago

Alongside our Prints! Prints! Prints! group exhibition we are featuring very giftable mini pottery by artist Kyle Richer in The Robin.

The Robin is our mini gallery hung in our bathroom - a repurposed vintage jewelry display turned gallery. This will be The Robin’s final exhibition (at least in this space!) and Kyle has created beautiful, charming & delightful pots for you or yours.

Collectors have already claimed a few of them but there’s plenty more to shop from. Stop by the next time you’re in the gallery or visit the links in our bio to see the details around the pots yet to be collected.

DM or email with collection interest today! by @themartinchicago

The Martin’s final exhibition opens TONIGHT.

6-9pm - RSVP for free via the link in our bio or just stop on by.

Can’t make it tonight? Check out our website for all of our upcoming staffed gallery hours through 12/10. by @themartinchicago

29 REASONS TO COME TO OUR OPENING TOMORROW

We’ve already sold three frames prints and four unframed! These works are vibrant, queer, diverse, playful and totally collectible.

Join us tomorrow night for The Martin’s final opening from 6-9pm. Free to attend - RSVP via the link in our bio. ✨ by @themartinchicago

Opening in one week is Prints! Prints! Prints! - a group exhibition celebrating the art of printmaking.

This exhibition featuring 20+ artists from the Chicagoland area and beyond brings a variety of print techniques to our gallery, delightfully ranging in price and scope for all levels of collectors.

Each artist will feature one framed version of their available print along with unframed copies for easy take home and early holiday shopping.

RSVP for our opening next Saturday night from 6-9pm via the link in our bio! ✨ by @themartinchicago

Opening in one week is Prints! Prints! Prints! - a group exhibition celebrating the art of printmaking.

This exhibition featuring 20+ artists from the Chicagoland area and beyond brings a variety of print techniques to our gallery, delightfully ranging in price and scope for all levels of collectors.

Each artist will feature one framed version of their available print along with unframed copies for easy take home and early holiday shopping.

RSVP for our opening next Saturday night from 6-9pm via the link in our bio! ✨ by @themartinchicago

Opening in one week is Prints! Prints! Prints! - a group exhibition celebrating the art of printmaking.

This exhibition featuring 20+ artists from the Chicagoland area and beyond brings a variety of print techniques to our gallery, delightfully ranging in price and scope for all levels of collectors.

Each artist will feature one framed version of their available print along with unframed copies for easy take home and early holiday shopping.

RSVP for our opening next Saturday night from 6-9pm via the link in our bio! ✨ by @themartinchicago

Two more fantastic works hang together in our back room gallery show MUTED & MIGHTY which closes tomorrow night: Heavy is the head by Elise Blair Bagnoli & Family Gathering (2023) by Izzy Cho.

Heavy is the head
• 42” x 54”
• Mixed media (acrylic & oil stick/paint, oil pastel, ribbon, found object)
• $12,000

Family Gathering (2023)
• 24” x 33”
• Laser cut acrylic, hanji, mdf, spray paint
• $4,000

Both works are still available for collection and you can see them tomorrow night during our closing reception from 6-9pm. The gallery is closed tonight for a private event.

RSVP for our closing tomorrow via the link in our bio. DM or email with collection interest! by @themartinchicago