Serving as an open participatory research lab, Where the Future Came From focuses on the role of feminist artist-run activities in Chicago from the late 19th century to the present
Self-propelled, artist-run spaces have been the lifeblood of Chicago’s contemporary art scene. In fact, many nationally and internationally recognized artists cut their teeth in such spaces.
Chicago’s deep history of artist-run spaces often lives in the memories of the people who ran and experienced it. These projects often exist as footnotes on a cv, exhibition history, or small publication attached to any given artist’s career. This creates an anti-hierarchical platform which is reflected in Where the Future Came From by employing artists, viewers, and art historians as experts.
