FROM HARLEM TO NEW ORLEANS TO VENICE: D. LAMMIE HANSON TO SHOWCASE WORK AT PIGMENTED BLACK FINE ART FAIRE
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Artist D. Lammie Hanson will be among the featured artists at the Pigmented Black Fine Art Faire, October 30 — November 2 at the Zhou B Art Center in Chicago.
Hanson’s artistic journey reflects a remarkable blend of history, place, and innovation. A native of New York City, she developed her artistic foundation through her early association with the Studio Museum in Harlem, an institution known for cultivating generations of Black artists. Later, she relocated to New Orleans, where the city’s vibrancy and cultural depth left a lasting imprint on her practice. Together, these environments shaped an artistic voice rooted in tradition yet forward-looking in vision.
What distinguishes Hanson most is her mastery of metal point drawing, a rare and demanding technique dating back to the 15th century and once used by Leonardo da Vinci. Using metals such as silver and brass on prepared surfaces, Hanson creates images with luminous, almost sculptural qualities. Her work marries the precision and discipline of Renaissance craftsmanship with the narratives and aesthetics of contemporary Black culture. The result is art that is both timeless and innovative, positioning Hanson among the few contemporary artists who have revived and advanced this historic medium.
Pigment International first connected with Hanson three years ago during a visit to her studio at Little Black Pearl in Chicago. She was soon invited to participate in Pigment exhibitions, including one in Martha’s Vineyard, where one of her works was acquired by an official of the Ghanaian government. That same trip introduced her to Knowhere Gallery, which later presented her work at the European Cultural Center (ECC) in Venice in 2024. The exhibition brought her international acclaim and resulted in the sale of her featured piece.
Now returning to Chicago as a featured artist in the Pigmented Black Fine Art Faire, Hanson exemplifies the mission of Pigment International: to elevate Black artists, connect them to audiences worldwide, and celebrate the global influence of the Black art aesthetic.
BUTTER FINE ART FAIR RETURNS LABOR DAY WEEKEND
The BUTTER Fine Art Fair returns for its fifth edition Labor Day Weekend, August 28–31, in Indianapolis. Powered by AES Indiana and produced by GANGGANG, the no-commission fair continues its mission of advancing economic justice in the arts by giving 100% of art sales directly to artists. Since its founding in 2021, BUTTER has generated more than $900,000 in sales for 189 artists, while attracting over 46,000 attendees.
This year’s fair will take place at the historic Stutz factory building in downtown Indianapolis, featuring an expanded exhibition hall, new retail experiences, and immersive family programming. The weekend will also include MELT, an after-hours dance party on Saturday, August 30.
The curatorial team is the largest in BUTTER’s history. It includes Detroit multi-disciplinary artist Samuel Trotter, Chicago Public Art Group’s Janice Bond, and global creative producer Jacqueline Forbes. Together, they are bringing works from more than 30 Black artists across the country and globe, showcasing a diverse spectrum of voices in contemporary art.
Among the artists featured are Blake Lenoir, Kevin West (Indianapolis), Blu Murphy (Washington, D.C.), Clifton Henri (Chicago), Phresh Laundry (St. Louis), Victoria Cassinova (New Orleans), and Kaima Marie Akarue (Houston). Their work spans painting, photography, and multidisciplinary practices, offering a vibrant reflection of remembrance, resiliency, and unity — the central themes of this year’s edition.
Tickets are now available at www.butterartfair.com. General admission is $50, which includes unlimited access from Friday through Sunday. Preview Night tickets are $175 and include early entry on Thursday, August 28, plus weekend return access. Guests under 18 may attend for free, making BUTTER one of the most accessible and family-friendly fine art fairs in the country.
ELIZABETH CATLETT EXHIBITION OPENS AT THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO
The Art Institute of Chicago will open Elizabeth Catlett: “A Black Revolutionary Artist and All That It Implies” on August 30, 2025. It will run through January 4, 2026, offering audiences an expansive view of the artist’s life, work, and enduring influence.
Catlett, one of the defining artists of the 20th century, placed social justice at the heart of her creative practice. Known for her commitment to making art accessible and meaningful to everyday people, she created works that spoke powerfully to themes of labor, dignity, resistance, and Black identity. The exhibition traces her artistic journey from early years in Washington, D.C., Chicago, and New York to the more than 60 years she spent working in Mexico, where she produced much of her most recognized art.
On view will be Catlett’s iconic 1952 linocut Sharecropper, alongside sculptures, prints, and drawings that reflect her insistence on art as a tool for empowerment and change. Together, these works reveal an artist who fused aesthetic innovation with political conviction, remaining true to her vision of art for the people.
The Catlett exhibition is part of a larger slate of presentations the Art Institute is unveiling in the second half of 2025. Visitors can also experience Edvard Munch’s The Scream, as well as new perspectives on architecture in a major retrospective of American architect Bruce Goff.
Through this dedicated exhibition, the Art Institute celebrates Catlett’s role in shaping the narrative of 20th-century art while affirming her place as one of the most vital voices in the history of Black artistic expression.
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