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Project Onward Events

  • Oddball Market
    Oddball Market
    Sat, Jan 31
    Oddball Market takes over The Empty Bottle for two nights of art, oddities, and handmade goods from an incredible lineup of vendors. Come shop, wander, and hang with us in a cozy late-night bar setting.
  • Hilarity Ensues: An Immersive Toasters Experience
    Hilarity Ensues: An Immersive Toasters Experience
    Sat, Feb 07
    Rakish doppelgangers. Misbehaving mascots. Spontaneous combustion. Enter Louis DeMarco’s sitcom universe in Hilarity Ensues, opening February 7.
  • Valentine's Portrait Slam at Off Hours
    Valentine's Portrait Slam at Off Hours
    Wed, Feb 11
    Come support artists with mental and developmental disabilities, enjoy great drinks, and leave with an original portrait perfect to keep, gift, or share with someone special.
  • Reclaimed: Works In Clay
    Reclaimed: Works In Clay
    Fri, Feb 20
    From text-covered totems to glistening fairy masks, RECLAIM showcases the vibrant range of ceramic work emerging from Project Onward’s studio.
Past Events
Project Onward Origins show card
Origins Fall Fundraiser

Project Onward has been a place for Chicagoland artists to advance their careers since its founding in 2004 as a Gallery 37 initiative. Origins, hosted by Project Onward's Junior Board, features and celebrates the organization's founding artists and how their talent and passion inspired Project Onward to become a fully independent nonprofit organization.

 

The evening will feature new work from Project Onward pioneers, including: John Behnke, Ruby Bradford, Jacqueline Cousins, Louis DeMarco, David Hence, David A. Holt, Blake Lenoir, Molly McGrath, Michael Smith, Shiela Smith, Fernando Ramirez, and George Zuniga.

Painting of crowd of 12 people dressed in colourful Venetian carnival costume and masks
Venetian Carnevale Spring Gala

Honoring Jan Feldman, Executive Director of Lawyers for the Creative Arts

Project Onward artists created stunning works of art, masks and sculpture depicting Carnevale in Venice. Music by Project Onward's own DHF Express.

Side by side comparison of photo of Basquiat next to abstracted colorful painting of same photo
Honoring Legendary African American Artists: Distinct Portraits by disAbled Artists

Project Onward artists will honor African American painters, sculptors and installation artists by creating portraits of them during Black History Month.

Please join us for this distinct portraiture exhibit honoring such artists as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Horace Pippin, and Wangenchi Mutu to name a few.

 

Special Guests include Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Commissioner John P. Daley, Alderman Patrick D. Thompson and Artist Faheem Majeed. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be served. This event is wheelchair accessible. Free parking available Northside of Building. Project Onward gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Chicago Community Trust.

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Project Onward is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that seeks to promote art as a powerful tool for understanding and valuing the real and potential contributions of our national population with disabilities.

Project Onward provides equitable access along with diversity to create a more inclusive environment for its employees, board, volunteers, and artists accessibility to thrive in a space that promotes creativity and growth.

©2025 by Project Onward

Become an Artist

Bridgeport Art Center

1200 W. 35th St., 4th Floor

Chicago, IL 60609

(773) 940-2992

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