Welcome to Arts of Life

Arts of Life advances the creative arts community by providing artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities a collective space to expand their practice and strengthen their leadership.

Meet Our Artists

We were founded with the idea that the studio belongs to its artists. The guiding principle behind our studio is to give people an opportunity to shape and be a member of an artistic community; a community that changes with the growing needs of the artists and one that is a contributing member of the larger society.

Join Our Studio

Arts of Life offers artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities an alternative career path designed to help enrich their lives as working artists. 

Girl-Sleepin-on-the-Job_2006_mixed-media-on-paper_11x17-e1590630088736

Veronica Cuculich

SH_Trees and Flowers and Leaves and Birds_2021_Acrylic on wood panel_20x24

Stefan Harhaj

beach_jazz_

Antonie Smith

Ship at Night

Billy Horrell

KKS.Evolution of Birds-10x8-ac.2014

Kris Schenkel

ep.green_and_blue-9x12-mm.2014

Elisha Preston

Upcoming & Recent Events

Enchanted Garden Benefit Auction *TICKETS ON SALE NOW!*

May 3 @ 6:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Garfield Park Conservatory

EXPO Chicago 2024

April 11 - April 14
Navy Pier

With a Little Help From My Friends

March 15 - May 5
Circle Contemporary Chicago

Outsider Art Fair New York

February 29 - March 3
Metropolitan Pavilion
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News and Announcements

Debbie Vasquez

Remembering Debbie Vasquez

With much sadness, I share that Debbie Vasquez passed away...
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Peer Fundraise and Get a Prize

We are excited to announce our refreshed Peer Fundraiser Prize...
Ngamanga Massaquoi at the opening of Perennial Hug at Circle Contemporary North Shore

Arts of Life Awarded $200,000 Grant from The Smith-Tieken Foundation

Arts of Life is proud to partner with a remarkable...
Dave Krueger at the Saltshed

Celebrating the Extraordinary Achievements of 2023

As we transition into the new year, we want to...

What's Happening on Instagram

Artist Tim Stone hopes to see you at this year’s Enchanted themed Benefit Auction on May 3rd at the Garfield Park Conservatory! 🍃🌿🌴 🧚 🧚‍♀️ 🧚‍♂️ 
Bid on over 40 artists and more, all while celebrating with friends over food, drinks, and live music!

Tickets are now on sale, and may sell out fast! Get yours via the link in our bio. 

Not sure what to wear? Get inspired by our Pinterest board also in the ticket link. 

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#Enchanted #EnchantedForest #EnchantedForestOfLight #EnchantedGardenParty #ArtsOfLife #Benefit #BenefitAuction #IDDsupport #IDDbenefit #IDD #SupportDisabled #SupportDisabledArtists #Disability #DisabilityAwareness #NeuroDiverseArtist #SupportArtists #SupportArt #ChicagoEvents #ChicagoParty #GarfieldParkConservatory #TimStone

Artist Tim Stone hopes to see you at this year’s Enchanted themed Benefit Auction on May 3rd at the Garfield Park Conservatory! 🍃🌿🌴 🧚 🧚‍♀️ 🧚‍♂️
Bid on over 40 artists and more, all while celebrating with friends over food, drinks, and live music!

Tickets are now on sale, and may sell out fast! Get yours via the link in our bio.

Not sure what to wear? Get inspired by our Pinterest board also in the ticket link.

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#Enchanted #EnchantedForest #EnchantedForestOfLight #EnchantedGardenParty #ArtsOfLife #Benefit #BenefitAuction #IDDsupport #IDDbenefit #IDD #SupportDisabled #SupportDisabledArtists #Disability #DisabilityAwareness #NeuroDiverseArtist #SupportArtists #SupportArt #ChicagoEvents #ChicagoParty #GarfieldParkConservatory #TimStone
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We’re super excited to announce that one of our bands, Van Go Go, will be playing Thalia Hall on March 29th with Capital Soirée and Ax and the Hatchetmen!!! Get your tickets via the Thalia Hall Box Office. We hope to see you there! 

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#VanGoGo #Concert #ArtsOfLife #ThaliaHall #CapitalSoiree #AxAndTheHatchetMen #ChicagoConcert #ChicagoMusicScene #ChicagoEvents #NorthShore #ChicagoBand

We’re super excited to announce that one of our bands, Van Go Go, will be playing Thalia Hall on March 29th with Capital Soirée and Ax and the Hatchetmen!!! Get your tickets via the Thalia Hall Box Office. We hope to see you there!

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#VanGoGo #Concert #ArtsOfLife #ThaliaHall #CapitalSoiree #AxAndTheHatchetMen #ChicagoConcert #ChicagoMusicScene #ChicagoEvents #NorthShore #ChicagoBand
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Join us next Friday the 15th at Circle Contemporary Chicago for the opening of With a Little Help From My Friends, guest curated by Megan Foy and Julian Van Der Moere.

Featured Artists:
Marcelo Anon, Renata Berdes, Aki Goto, Stefan Harhaj, Frances Roberts, Michael E. Smith, Vincent Trasov, Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, Noah Wieder, Jean Wilson

About the Curators:
Megan Foy is an arts organizer living in Chicago, IL. She is currently the Institutional Relations and Strategic Partnerships Coordinator at EXPO CHICAGO. Previously, she held positions at Monique Meloche Gallery, Apparatus Projects, and Woman Made Gallery. She received her BA in Art History from DePaul University in 2019.

Julian Van Der Moere lives in Chicago. He is an artist and curator working with a variety of materials and collaborators. Among other interests and goals, he works to articulate the awkwardness of our perceptions. He received his BA in Art History from DePaul University in 2018 and his MFA from University of Illinois at Chicago in 2021. In 2017, he co-founded the non-profit Apparatus Projects.

Special Thanks to @intuitartcenter Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art and @davidsalkin David Salkin for helping make this exhibition happen.

When:
Opening Reception:
March 15th 5-8 pm

Where:
Circle Contemporary Chicago 
2010 W Carroll Ave
Chicago, IL 60612

Image Description:
Flyer with a photograph by
Eugene von Bruenchenhein
Untitled (Marie squatting on stool), n.d.
Gelatin silver print
4 x 2 3/4 in.
Courtesy of Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art, gift of Lewis and Jean Greenblatt

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#WithALittleHelpFromMyFriends #ArtExhibition #GuestCurator #ArtsOfLife #ArtOpening #Art #ChicagoGallery #ChicagoEvents

Join us next Friday the 15th at Circle Contemporary Chicago for the opening of With a Little Help From My Friends, guest curated by Megan Foy and Julian Van Der Moere.

Featured Artists:
Marcelo Anon, Renata Berdes, Aki Goto, Stefan Harhaj, Frances Roberts, Michael E. Smith, Vincent Trasov, Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, Noah Wieder, Jean Wilson

About the Curators:
Megan Foy is an arts organizer living in Chicago, IL. She is currently the Institutional Relations and Strategic Partnerships Coordinator at EXPO CHICAGO. Previously, she held positions at Monique Meloche Gallery, Apparatus Projects, and Woman Made Gallery. She received her BA in Art History from DePaul University in 2019.

Julian Van Der Moere lives in Chicago. He is an artist and curator working with a variety of materials and collaborators. Among other interests and goals, he works to articulate the awkwardness of our perceptions. He received his BA in Art History from DePaul University in 2018 and his MFA from University of Illinois at Chicago in 2021. In 2017, he co-founded the non-profit Apparatus Projects.

Special Thanks to @intuitartcenter Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art and @davidsalkin David Salkin for helping make this exhibition happen.

When:
Opening Reception:
March 15th 5-8 pm

Where:
Circle Contemporary Chicago
2010 W Carroll Ave
Chicago, IL 60612

Image Description:
Flyer with a photograph by
Eugene von Bruenchenhein
Untitled (Marie squatting on stool), n.d.
Gelatin silver print
4 x 2 3/4 in.
Courtesy of Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art, gift of Lewis and Jean Greenblatt

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#WithALittleHelpFromMyFriends #ArtExhibition #GuestCurator #ArtsOfLife #ArtOpening #Art #ChicagoGallery #ChicagoEvents
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