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2025 Old Town Art Fair – Chicago

EXHIBIT

A man holding a ribbon in front of paintings.Considered one of the top Art Fairs in the country, the Old Town Art Fair was voted #1 in America for the fourth year in a row.* It takes place the second weekend of June in the heart of the charming Old Town Triangle Historic District on Chicago’s North Side. There are 220 artists, an estimated 30,000 art lovers, a Garden Walk, Live Music, Food Court and Children’s Corner. Gates open Saturday 10:00 am to 7:00 pm and Sunday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, rain or shine.

Exhibiting Artists often name the Old Town Art Fair as one of their most successful events of the year. The enthusiastic collectors, family-friendly atmosphere, and helpful neighborhood volunteers make it a favorite venue for artists. Hear what they have to say.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING CHANGE:

The Old Town Art Fair organizers would like to alert interested Artists to some upcoming changes in this year’s application process. One of our goals for the coming Fair is to attract a more inclusive roster of Artists and additionally include a new Emerging Artist category to support and develop young artistic talent. To that end, our application window for the coming Fair will be October 1, 2024 – January 15, 2025. This timeframe will allow our team to optimize our offering and provide beneficial impact to the depth of our Fair. We’re excited about these upcoming possibilities and the potential to further strengthen one of the best art fairs in the country. 

Apply here through www.zapplication.org

  Artists set up
FRIDAY 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm

The Old Town Art Fair also offers:

  • Artists’ Breakfast – Continental Breakfast is available Saturday and Sunday morning
  • Artists’ Aid – Girl Scouts distribute refreshments to the Artists during the Fair
  • Booth Sitting – available Saturday and Sunday afternoon

We appreciate your interest in the Old Town Art Fair!

Please note: You can apply for up to three categories per application/profile. A separate application and fee is required if you wish to be considered for additional categories.

Two Dimensional Media:
> 2D Mixed Media
> Digital Art
> Drawing/Pastel
> Painting
> Photography
> Printmaking

Three Dimensional Media:
> 3D Mixed Media
> Ceramics
> Fiber
> Glass
> Jewelry
> Metal
> Sculpture
> Stone
> Wood

The Old Town Art Fair is a Fine Art Fair, exclusively. Artwork must first and foremost be an artistic expression; utilitarian purposes must be secondary. All work must be designed and handmade by the accepted artist and the artist must be present during the Fair. Production studio work is absolutely prohibited. The display and sale of commercial reproductions of any kind are not allowed. See below for a note on reproductions. The following items are not to be exhibited at the Old Town Art Fair:
> Books > Buttons > Calendars > Calligraphy > Cards > Candles > Clocks > Clothing > Desk Accessories > Hair Ornaments > Hats > Lamps > Leather Goods & Bags > Mirrors > Musical Instruments > Pillows > Planters > Posters > Puzzles > Stationery > Toys > Utensils > Wearable Art
NOTE ON REPRODUCTIONS The Old Town Art Fair is committed to being a high-quality fine art show. Therefore, all artwork displayed must be original and produced by the hands of the exhibiting artist(s).  No reproductions are permitted. Any method of making multiple copies of original art using photo, mechanical, digital, or casting technology is considered by the Old Town Art Fair to be a reproduction. This includes Giclees. Reproduction technologies have one or more of the following characteristics:
  • The work is not the product of the artist's own hand.
  • The number of reproducible copies is technically limitless.
  • All copies are identical.
  • The copies are produced by commercial entities, and the artist is not involved in the process.
Reproductions also include postcards, notecards, posters, and books, though the artist may have promotional postcards and business cards on hand to give to prospective customers.  These may not be sold during the Art Fair. Methods of creating multi-copy art in limited runs, such as intaglio, lithography, relief painting, and other traditional printmaking means, are not considered reproductions. Regarding photography and digital art, the Old Town Art Fair recognizes that artwork created utilizing photographs and/or computer technology is inherently reproducible. We also recognize that the use of cropping, enlargement, and darkroom and digital processes can produce different effects even from the same negative/image. All of this is allowed in the Old Town Art Fair. We require that participating fine art photography and digital art artists show only work that they have signed, numbered, and produced in limited editions. Such work is not considered to be reproductions. To prevent the sale of mass-market work at the Old Town Art Fair, the Fair reserves the right to halt sales of such work on-site, and/or to not invite artists who are believed to be selling reproductions to future Fairs.

The Old Town Art Fair is a juried fine art fair. Each year, artists are reviewed and chosen by an independent jury of experienced professionals including gallery owners, artists and museum curators. Jurors are recruited from the Chicago art community and represent a variety of disciplines.

The Jury is convened twice a year, once during the winter and again during the Art Fair. During the winter sessions the jury selects new artists seeking to enter the Fair. Approximately 700 artists apply each year. The Jury meets again during the Art Fair when all of the participating artists are juried on-site. Based on the jury scores, artists are invited back to or juried out of (and eligible to reapply for) the next year’s show.

The following is a list of jurors for the 2024 Old Town Art Fair, provided for reference. The jurors for the 2025 Old Town Art Fair will be announced Spring 2025. Photography, Digital Art, 2D Mixed-Media
Andrea Coleman
Carolyn Potts
Dan Merlo
Glass, Ceramics, Fiber, Stone, Woodworking, 3D Mixed Media, Jewelery, Metal, Sculpture
Morlen Sinoway
Lauren Smith
Helen Tsatsos
Painting, Drawing, Pastel, and Printmaking
Lora Fosberg
Chad Kouri
Ron Kollar

Click here to download a PDF with complete exhibitor information and detailed instructions. Click here to download the Tax Reporting Form.
Saturday, June 14, 2024 – 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Sunday, June 15, 2024 – 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Where: Old Town Triangle Center Building 1763 N. North Park Ave. (corner of North Park and Menomonee)
When: Friday, June 7, 2024 – 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Saturday, June 8, 2024 – 7:00 am to 9:00 am
Friday, June 13, 2023 – 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm (assigned load-in times)
Click here to download a Map of the 2024 Art Fair, including gate, booth, stage and food locations.
Where: Old Town Triangle Center Building 1763 N. North Park Ave. (corner of North Park and Menomonee)
When: Saturday, June 8, 2024 – 7:00 am to 9:00 am
Sunday, June 9, 2024 – 7:00 am to 9:00 am
Girl Scouts will be on duty to distribute refreshments, water, and smiles to artists during the Fair.

Booth Sitting services are provided especially for artists who are exhibiting alone, but is available to all artists. Volunteers will be available 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm for a 20-minute break on both Saturday and Sunday. If you are unable to leave when your volunteer arrives, you can ask the volunteer to return before they finish their shift.

To sign up, email boothsittingotaf@gmail.com prior to the Fair or you can request booth sitting assistance at check-in. You will be asked to sign a Booth Sitting Agreement/Waiver.

You can like us, follow us and post information and samples of your work on: Facebook.com/OldTownArtFair. You’ll find a 2025 OTAF badge here to include on your own page. You can also follow us on Instagram at @oldtownartfair to get OTAF news and live updates during the Fair.
Looking for more ways to let people know you’ll be at the Old Town Art Fair? As we get closer to the fair, you will be able to download a digital version of the Old Town Art Fair post card through this page. You can include the JPEG in an email to use as an invite, reminder, save the date, booth number announcement, thank you card . . .
The following streets will be CLOSED for the Fair starting Friday, June 13, 2025 at 7:00 am. Signs will be posted as NO PARKING – TOW ZONE. Towing will begin Friday morning. Parking in alleys is strictly prohibited.
Lincoln: West side of street from 1900 to 1920
Lincoln Park West: Lincoln to Menomonee
Menomonee: Sedgwick to Crilly Court
North Park: Menomonee to Eugenie
Orleans: Wisconsin to Menomonee
Sedgwick: East side of street from 1849 to 1853
Willow: Sedgwick to Crilly Court
Wisconsin: Lincoln to Sedgwick
The Old Town Art Fair has blocked several locations to provide parking to Exhibitors. For those artists who need to make parking arrangements through the Art Fair, please click here. Click here for a list of parking options in the area.

Chicago has many overnight accommodations including Airbnb, small boutique hotels and large chain hotels. The Old Town Art Fair has no relationship with any provider.

Click here for a list of local hotels and group rates, where available.

*ArtFairCalendar.com

"My work revolves around utilizing found family images, memorabilia, and videos to create a collection of digital paintings. By incorporating expressive mark-making and coloration, I strive to explore themes of nostalgia and a skewed version of memory. Through digital manipulation of photos from old albums or VHS tapes, I aim to question the concept of authenticity and reinterpret the essence of aura and memory. Influenced by personal familial connections and stories passed down orally, my art delves into the intricate relationship between snapshots and portraits, emphasizing intuitive interconnectedness and multidimensional perspectives."

https://www.andreacolemanstudio.com/


With a career spanning 30+ years, Carolyn has landed thousands of assignments for photographers as an artist representative and repped top commercial photographers and illustrators in the U.S. and Europe. Often working with the creative departments at major advertising agencies, design firms, and publishers, she has also created over 10,000 portfolio edits and created marketing plans resulting in professionally significant assignments. Since 2004, Carolyn has been a full-time creative consultant braiding together her interests in professional photography, design, technology, photo editing, and communication as a photography marketing consultant.

Carolyn has guided seasoned pros through the newer economies of digital marketing and assisted them in retooling businesses from film to digital workflow, but she has also worked with emerging photographers who possess deep digital tech and imaging skills, but need assistance in the realms of sales and marketing. In all cases, Carolyn represents creative artists who are interested in capitalizing on today’s communication tools to create meaningful and profitable careers.

https://cpotts.com/

Founded in 2018 after 10 years experience producing photography and photo entertainment for corporate events, Dan Merlo formed his own company, MERLO MEDIA.

The Chicago based company travels frequently within the United States and has already traveled twice internationally. MERLO MEDIA enjoys a long client list of recognizable and beloved brands, including top entertainment companies and major corporations.

"Clients, not jobs" is their favorite saying. As one patron put it “[Merlo Media] treats every client like they were the [$@%] Oscars! That’s why they love you.” It’s true; Merlo Media enjoys partnering with your brand to bring out your best.

Clients love that Merlo Media is a full service solution. Companies large and small hire them for one service, like an awards dinner, and then try them out for corporate headshots. They can simultaneously offer 3 greens screen photo booths and add photo event coverage as well. Merlo Media is able to provide a large team of photo experts for any event, and has never had to turn down a single event. If they don’t know how to immediately implement a new idea, they research and deliver a solution. Merlo Media's willingness to innovate based on client request is one way they regularly add new products to its long list of service offerings.

The pursuit of excellence, style, showmanship, reliability, creativity, tact, technical innovation, and flawless production distinguish MERLO MEDIA as a leading corporate event photography company in Chicago.

www.merlomedia.com

As the owner of Morlen Sinoway Atelier for over 30 years, founder of the Guerrilla Truck show, and early contributor to Round the Coyote, Morlen is also an interior designer, sax player, accomplished ceramicist and one of the most devoted promotors of local design in the city of Chicago. As a pioneer of the Fulton Market District, Sinoway’s Atelier has stood at Fulton and North Aberdeen for over 20 years. Starting as a custom furniture company, Morlen has created a destination for unique and curated design.

Morlen is a graduate of the School of the Art Institute receiving a BFA in Sculpture and Ceramics and a past Adjunct Faculty Member of Harrington College of Design. Sinoway is also a bon vivant who loves art, music, film, books and riding a motorcycle. His libation of choice is Beefeater and tonic with extra-extra lime for a pure, clear, simple, altered state without the pain of a hangover.

https://www.morlensinoway.com/


Lauren is a multidisciplinary artist, with a curiosity for combining botany with decorative forms. She is a BFA graduate of the School of the Art Institute Chicago with an emphasis in Printmedia. Lauren has gained experience as an Assistant Exhibition Preparator for the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), AIC Specialist for Applied Arts of Europe – Painting and Sculpture of Europe and is currently the Senior Project Manager of AllKinds Studio.

When she's not slinging vessels or thinking of art + science, Lauren takes her love of large-scale installations to work at AllKinds Studio. 

Trained as an architect with a Master’s Degree from the University of Illinois Chicago, Helen combines 20+ years in the fields of architecture, interior design and project management with over a decade of experience running her own jewelry design studio. She received a diploma in architectural theory from LoPSiA and conducted post-graduate research in Paris and at the Le Corbusier Unite d'Habitation at Briey-en-Foret, France.

Helen has been working in architecture and architecture-adjacent practices for her entire career. She is proud to have been part of teams that created amazing spaces for live theaters, hotels and restaurants. She has a keen interest in social justice and reducing humans’ carbon footprint, and serves as a board member for both Chicago Creative Reuse Exchange (CCRx) and Territory Chicago. Her hobbies are making jewelry and playing with her dog #mydogdasher.

https://rockcandybyhelen.blogspot.com/

Lora is a Chicago-based artist whose works have been exhibited nationally and internationally. Her focus is painting, printmaking, sculpture and recently ceramics and representing the now in whatever form that takes. She is currently represented by Zolla Lieberman in Chicago and Jack Fischer Gallery in San Francisco. In addition to her art practice, Lora is also a curator and is the past Director of Exhibitions at the Lubeznik Center for the arts in Michigan City, Indiana.

Lora received her BFA from the University of Illinois and MFA from SAIC. As a child, her parents operated a commercial lithographic print company and time spent there set Lora on her artistic path. Fosberg utilizes metaphor, iconography, and narrative in her work to express the complexities as well as the banalities of our existence. Her work succeeds in creating a universal language using symbols, iconography, and text. Appearing repeatedly throughout her practice are isolated, lonesome moments and epic disasters, alternated with quiet instances of bliss, and scenes of collective rebuilding and symbolic growth. She is interested in enlarging emotional possibility.

https://www.lorafosberg.com/

Chad Kouri is a Chicago-based working artist, musician, and cultural worker known for his intuitive, vibrant compositions that utilize the healing powers of improvisation, color, and abstraction. His multidisciplinary studio practice mirrors his mixed-race identity, focusing broadly on visual Art, music performance, and design while considering theories based on minimalism, color theory, semiotics, improvisation, radical joy, and community care. Utilizing a wide range of skills and strategies, Kouri reminds us to stay curious and make time for play, rest, and introspection, enabling us more bandwidth for personal and collective grounding, understanding, and empowerment.

His decade-long curatorial and collaborative efforts as a co-founder of The Post Family have played a significant role in creating a broader national and international dialog around Chicago and its world-class creative community. He previously held the title of Art Director for the award-winning contemporary art magazine Proximity. Notable upcoming and past exhibitions and performances include Subliminal Projects, Los Angeles; Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago; The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago; The Rochester Museum of Fine Arts, New Hampshire; Purdue University; Mission Cultural Center of Latino Arts, San Francisco; Apexart, New York and the International Poster and Graphic Design Festival in Chaumont, France. Notable past appearances include visiting artist engagements at The School of the Art Institute Chicago, Glasgow School of Art, Portland State University, Otis College of Art and Design, Pratt University, and The Bauhaus University in Weimar, Germany. His projects range in diversity from one of a kind and editioned artwork to self-publishing, interactive displays, large-scale installations, design direction and consulting, book design and most recently, an exploration in music performance and composition.

https://chadkouri.com/

Ron was raised in Pittsburgh. As past Chief Design Officer of Tishman Hotels Corporation, Ron is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture and is a Registered Architect. He has over 35 years of experience in architecture and interior design and was directly responsible for ensuring the success of both aesthetic and operation goals.

Prior to joining Tishman, Ron was the Director of Planning for Hyatt Hotels, the Assistant Vice President of Planning and Design for Classic Residence. During his time in Chicago, Ron worked as a docent for the Chicago Architecture Foundation giving tours of architecturally significant buildings in The Loop, as well as Clark and Glessner House. Of all the cities he has lived throughout his career, Chicago has always been his favorite. Recently retired, Ron now splits time between Manhattan and his residence in the Hudson Valley where he is focusing on the renovation of his 1880’s home and converting the former ‘backyard of gravel’ into a lush four-season garden.