Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary artist Derrick Adams, who joined global mega-gallery Gagosian’s roster last month, is making his presence known throughout Chicago during Expo Art Week.
In addition to a lovely interactive installation in the Expo Chicago the fair public art programAdams presents a new projection commissioned for Art in the market, which bills itself as the largest permanent digital art program in the world (April 14-July 5). Presented in partnership with Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the installation involves projecting contemporary art onto the 2.5-acre facade of the largest private commercial building in the United States, the sprawling Art Deco Merchandise Mart Plaza along the Chicago River.
Derrick Adams, Funtime Unicorn–Ruby goes through all four seasons2023 Courtesy of ART on THE MART. © ART on THE MART
Along with the new screening, four editions of Adams’s fun unicorn (2022) – interactive sculptures based on spring-loaded children’s play furniture – will be on display (April 13-June 25) near the main entrance to Expo Chicago’s Navy Pier site at Polk Bros Park. Each unicorn sculpture embodies exuberant respite from unencumbered black joy through bold design and playground functionality. “In each of these sculptures, my hope is that young black boys and girls have a chance to laugh and bouncing, climbing and leaning,” Adams said in a statement.
