As we enter the dog days of summer, take the opportunity to sit in an air-conditioned room full of art. Here are 11 Chicago art exhibitions to help you cool off this July.
She Soars: Join the Pilsen Art House for a night of art, music and performance all by women. BYOB. The Pilsen Art House, 1756 W 19th St. July 3, 7-11:30pm. Free.
Necrocolor: In this new collection of work, Chicago-based artist Matt Greer returns to his horror roots with gusto, depicting rotting flesh in bright colorscope in an attempt to expose the decay of consumer culture and the death of capitalism. Pilsen Outpost, 1958 W 21st St. July 3, 6-10pm. Free.
Galerie F 3rd Anniversary: Celebrate Galerie F’s third anniversary and its third exhibition with the “You are Beautiful” project in Logan Square. Galerie F, 2381 N Milwaukee Ave. July 10, 6-10pm. Free.
Radiance and Aesthetics of Wellness: “Radiance” investigates the contemporary use of light to explore physical properties and to emotionally engage. “Aesthetics of Wellness” addresses the racial bias, income disparity and social inequality found in stereotypical images used by mass media to portray good health, exploring the healing practices taking place in Chicago’s diverse, multiethnic communities. Woman Made Gallery, 685 N Milwaukee Ave. July 10, 6-8pm. Free.
WHEREVER: LVL3 and CHGO DSGN present this group exhibition celebrating contemporary Chicago designers and their expansive influence. LVL3, 1542 N Milwaukee Ave. July 11, 6-10pm. Free.
PRO BIAS (probing bias): Selected from the ACRE Residency Program for this show, artists Cudelice Brazelton, Zoe Berg, Tal Nisim and Sanaz Sohrabi seek to examine the role and relevance of identity within the global art landscape. The Bike Room, 1109 W North Shore Ave. July 11, 5-8pm. Free.
Eleven Eleven: Presented in tandem with a series of site-specific sculptures created in collaboration with teens from the Logan Square Neighborhood Association, this installation-based exhibition features Victoria Martinez’s work. Characterized by amalgamations of vivid colors and patterns, Martinez's work uses sources ranging from salvaged textiles to bargain piñata materials. She often inserts these assemblages into the public as a way of dialoguing with abandoned spaces and the shifting social patterns they suggest. Comfort Station, 2579 N Milwaukee Ave. July 11, 6-10pm. Free.
Versus: Chicago’s "The Lie" (Jay Turner) brings to life his story of 4D vs. Doom in his largest solo exhibition to date. Mixing traditional painting techniques with spray paint, "The Lie" has manifested a unique style that crosses contemporary art with street art. Vertical Gallery, 1016 N Western Ave. July 11, 6-10pm. Free.
Hoodsy: Prolific South Side artists The Chup, Jasso and Naco will exhibit artwork using narratives, symbols and memories in relation to their communities. Cultura in Pilsen, 1900 S Carpenter St. July 18, 6-10pm. Free.
North Korean Perspectives: Organized by guest curator Marc Prüst, this exhibition juxtaposes the official government-approved images of North Korea with an uncontrolled stream of information from international photojournalists and artists, offering alternative views of the country. Museum of Contemporary Photography, 600 S Michigan Ave. July 23, 5-7pm. Free.
Slanted Canvas: In this social experiment, skaters will build ramps out of found objects and artists will use the ramps as canvases, covering them with any medium they please, from graffiti to video projection. Genesis Art Supply, 2525 N Elston Ave. July 31, 7pm-2am. Free.