Cover Art: Ruby T, “Idle Mind is a Playground for the Devil,” 2019, ink on hand-marbled paper, 11h x 17w inches, courtesy of the artist and Western Exhibitions. Ruby T was a Newcity Breakout Artist 2018.
Now in its sixteenth year, Newcity’s list of Breakout Artists is here again, proffering a brief respite from these days of uncertainty and stress. By no means an exhaustive list of Chicago’s rising art stars, this year’s image makers instead offer a snapshot of what makes our art community great. From the quiet moments of motherhood that Gwendolyn Zabicki depicts in her paintings to the way Selva Aparicio’s sculptures and installations honor the connections between life and death, these artists are not only creating beautiful work, they are also reminding us to notice and appreciate each passing minute.
In this moment, it is worth remembering how crucial artists are to a healthy society. Creative thinkers are the best at offering visions of a brighter future, of ways to work toward the kind of world we want to live in. A world like the work of Tamara Becerra Valdez, who spins detritus into gold, or Yvette Mayorga, who shrinks down border patrol agents and embeds them forever into confectionary bas-reliefs. So here’s to Chicago’s artists, who are an essential component of what keeps our city vibrant and visionary. (Kerry Cardoza)
Newcity’s Breakout Artists 2020 was written by Aniko Berman, Kerry Cardoza, Ryan Filchak,Stephanie Nicole Koch, Nicole Mauser, Ciera McKissick, Christina Nafziger, Chris Reeves, Anastasia Karpova Tinari and Holly Warren.
Art 50 2023: Chicago’s Artists' Artists Every single artist seems to know and care about every single other artist. This is a signature element of art in Chicago—a powerful sense of community that transcends the competitiveness and careerism that undermines other places.
