36 South Wabash Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60603
United States
Each semester, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) hosts talks, conversations, and screenings by world-renowned artists, designers, scholars, and filmmakers that are open to the public. This fall, these events will be virtual, allowing audiences from around the world to tune in. We hope you join us.
Visiting Artists Program
Formalized in 1951 with the establishment of an endowed fund by Flora Mayer Witkowsky, the Visiting Artists Program has featured over 1,000 international artists, designers, and scholars representing more than 70 countries through a diverse mix of lectures, screenings, conversations, and readings. All events are free, non-ticked, and open to the public. Click each event for information on how to watch. Learn more.
Fred Wilson
September 22, 6:30–8pm CT
A virtual lecture by the artist followed by an audience Q&A.
Presented in partnership with the Society for Contemporary Art.
Ocean Vuong
October 6, 6:30–7:30pm CT
A virtual book reading by the writer followed by an audience Q&A.
Presented in partnership with SAIC’s Writing Program.
Irma Boom
October 13, 6:30–7:30pm CT
A virtual studio visit with the graphic designer in conversation with Alison Fisher, associate curator of Architecture and Design at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Presented in partnership with the Art Institute of Chicago.
Ebony G. Patterson: Bill and Stephanie Sick Distinguished Visiting Professor
October 27, 6:30–7:30pm CT
A virtual lecture by the artist followed by an audience Q&A.
Established in 2006 by a generous gift from Bill and Stephanie Sick, this distinguished visiting professorship enables internationally renowned artists and designers to visit and teach at SAIC.
Nyugen E. Smith: Distinguished Alumni Lecture Series
November 10, 6:30–7:30pm CT
A virtual presentation by the artist followed by an audience Q&A.
Presented in partnership with SAIC Alumni Relations.
Raqs Media Collective
Kinetic Contemplations: Conversations with the Raqs Media Collective
November 17, 6:30–7:30pm CT
A virtual presentation by the artists followed by a Q&A with Srimoyee Mitra, director of the Stamps Gallery at Stamps School of Art and Design.
Co-produced with the Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series and the Stamps Gallery at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Conversations at the Edge
Organized by the Department of Film, Video, New Media, and Animation in collaboration with SAIC’s Gene Siskel Film Center and Video Data Bank, Conversations at the Edge is a weekly series of screenings, performances, and talks by groundbreaking media artists. All fall 2020 programs are virtual, free, and open to the public. Events will take place on the Gene Siskel Film Center’s virtual cinema platform. Click each event for information on how to watch. Learn more.
Alison O’Daniel
October 1, 7–8:15pm CT
Related: The Tuba Thieves
Streaming September 27–October 3
Presented in partnership with the Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago.
American Artist
October 8, 7pm CT
Related: Blue Life Seminar
Streaming October 4–10
Delinda Collier
October 15, 7pm CT
Ursula Biemann
October 22, 2pm CT
Related: From the Amazon to the Arctic
Streaming October 18–24
Presented in partnership with SAIC’s Video Data Bank.
Auria Harvey and Michaël Samyn
October 29, time TBD
Presented in partnership with the University of Chicago’s Weston Game Lab and Hacker Space.
More events will be added. Check saic.edu for updates. Persons with disabilities requesting accommodations should visit saic.edu/access.
About the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world’s most influential artists, designers and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program consistently ranking among the top programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago museum, on-campus galleries and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC’s undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world—as seen through notable alumni and faculty such as Michelle Grabner, David Sedaris, Elizabeth Murray, Richard Hunt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Cynthia Rowley, Nick Cave, Jeff Koons, and LeRoy Neiman.
