Lost in Art, Found in Chicago: A Community for Adventurous Artists
THE ART COLONY OFFERS BOTH ART STUDIOS & OFFICE SPACES FOR MONTHLY RENT
We understand that every artist has unique requirements. Our art studio spaces come in various sizes to suit your needs. Whether you're a painter, sculptor, musician, or performance artist, we have the perfect space for you to unleash your artistic expression. Each studio is a blank canvas, ready for you to transform into your personal sanctuary.
CONVENIENT LOCATION
Our studio and office spaces are conveniently located at 2620 W. Fletcher in Avondale. Time-out Magazine described it as “The 16th coolest neighborhood in the world.”
The building is 1/2 block away from the Rockwell on the River project, including Metropolitan Brewing, Soul Smoke and the marina. It’s a convenient location for relaxing and enjoying the neighborhood.
There are dozens of restaurants within 10 or 12 minutes from the building, including everything from Burger King to a Michelin-star restaurant. One of Mark’s favorites is the Latino grocery store located a block away that has a hot table. Mark says “They have the best tacos in the whole city, and at a very affordable price.”
AFFORDABLE PRICING
We understand the financial challenges artists often face. That's why we offer competitive and affordable rental rates for our studio spaces. Everyone should have access to a high-quality studio environment without breaking the bank.
SECURITY
Security is a top priority for our tenants. As such, we have chosen, for almost 40 years, NOT to do hourly, daily or short-term rentals. It puts the building at risk to have outsiders who are not an invested part of our creative community.
Among our other services, we have a nightwatchman who walks around seven days a week and ensures that when the building is lightly occupied, it is used appropriately. Additionally, the owners of the building, Mark and Adrian, live half a block away and run their businesses out of the building. They are onsite 5-7 days a week.
COMMUNITY & COLLABORATION
A COMMUNITY OF MISFITS
Join a vibrant community where individuality and self-expression are embraced. Connect with fellow artists, musicians, and creative minds who understand your unique perspective and share your passion for pushing boundaries. Collaborate, inspire, and be inspired as you forge artistic alliances that will set the world on fire.
CHECK OUT OUR ARTISTS
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Artist / Musician
Chicago-based artist and Storyteller. With a passion for visual narrative, Courtney's artistic journey was shaped by her eccentric family and playful upbringing. Drawing inspiration from fables, folklore, and cinema, she employs both illustration and sculpture to bring her imaginative tales to life. As a graphic designer, sculptor, and illustrator, Courtney's art speaks volumes, weaving stories that captivate and enchant audiences through creative and diverse mediums.
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Artist / Oil Painter
I paint things that move me, the grandeur of the mountains, autumnal bursts of color, verdant forests and the provocative hues of spring.
I don't see through the impersonal lens of a camera. I see with my eyes, my emotions and my own personal aesthetic. When I paint, I continually, edit. I change what is there before me. I alter composition, color, shape, size, perspective and focus. I add what should be there and eliminate those elements which are distracting.
Perhaps, if you visited those places that I have painted, you would not see what I see. An observer watching the great James Whistler paint a landscape once remarked, “I don't see those colors.” The artist answered, “Don't you wish you did?”
I paint to create that which is ideal. I want you to see what I see. This is what drives me.
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Abstract Painter & Printmaker
I have over thirty years experience in the arts, primarily as a graphic designer and art director. Recently, my interest has been focused on developing skills as an abstract painter and printmaker. The influence of graphic design can be seen in the work, but my intent is to negate the precision of digital execution with “human” expressive, hand-done visuals. Exploring the Relationships of shape and color, behaviors of paints and other materials, layering, juxtaposing, removing, replacing... are all part of my process.
Humans have always been compelled to leave their unique marks in the world as a way to communicate, educate, delight or inspire.
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Musician/ Artist
Jon Langford, born in 1957 in Newport, Monmouthshire, is a Welsh-born musician and artist currently based in Chicago. He initially gained fame as the drummer for the punk band The Mekons but later switched to guitar as the band evolved. Since the mid-1980s, Langford has been blending folk and country music with punk rock. He has released solo albums and has been part of other bands, notably the Waco Brothers, which he co-founded in the early 1990s after moving to Chicago.
AsidE from music, Langford is a respected visual artist known for his portraits of country music icons like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Elvis Presley. He has also created multimedia performances and illustrated the comic strip Great Pop Things. Since 2005, he has co-hosted the radio program “The Eclectic Company” on WXRT 93.1 FM in Chicago and has contributed to This American Life.
Langford has been involved in various musical projects, including the Three Johns, the Waco Brothers, the Pine Valley Cosmonauts, and Ship and Pilot. He has supported and mentored many musicians on the Bloodshot Records label and has released several solo albums, such as "Skull Orchard" (1998), "All the Fame of Lofty Deeds" (2004), "Gold Brick" (2006), and "Old Devils" (2010).
As an artist, Langford is known for his multi-layered paintings of country music figures, with a collection of his work published in "Nashville Radio" (2006). His art has also inspired stage adaptations, including the premieres of "Goldbrick" and "All the Fame of Lofty Deeds" in 2009.
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Artist
Walter Fydryck is an American artist whose paintings and drawings investigate the media of mass communication and popular visual techniques used in the Twentieth Century American culture and art. His style had an interesting evolution – in the sixties, he began experimenting with the controlled chaos and his pieces were mostly abstract, while nowadays he’s concentrating on the human form and his works are predominantly figurative. Fydryck creates both small and large-scale works and he often combines painting and drawing, creating pieces of a unique appeal, which became his trademark style.
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Photographer | Metalsmith | Artist
Freddie Collier is a metalsmith born and raised in the greatest city in the world, Chicago!
As an avid fan of classical music and couture fashion, he is deeply inspired by the abundant drama and creativity constantly on display. He marries fashion and metalsmithing by using traditional sculpting techniques to create his signature pieces, a range of wearable sterling silver, copper, and/or enameled bow ties.
When not in his studio, you can find Freddie playing video games on the couch, attending an opera, or getting the most out of his Global Entry membership!