Lillstreet Art Center (4401 N. Ravenswood Avenue, Chicago) proudly celebrates its 50th year as a creative workspace for artists of all levels – from first-timer to professionals – with a 50th Anniversary Holiday Party on Friday, December 5, 2025 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. with complimentary food and drinks, live music, open studios on the second floor, workshops, a free art demo, and a gallery show of functional ceramics for the dining table. Guests are invited to enjoy a screening of the new documentary, “Dream a Lill: 50 Years of Molding Makers” by Chicago filmmaker Gabriel Cuillier of MXXD Media, providing a fascinating look back at Lillstreet’s origin story. This festive, family-friendly event is open to the public; no reservations necessary. More information at lillstreet.com.
This holiday party will kick off the Lillstreet Gallery holiday show entitled, The Holiday Table, on view until December 31. This gallery will feature ceramic kitchen and tableware, jewelry, textiles and other holiday gift items, featuring over 50 craft artists from the Lillstreet community and around the U.S.
Continuing the Anniversary programming and holiday fun, Lillstreet will hold Jewelry Trunk Shows on Saturdays throughout December from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Artists include Lisa Slodki (December 6), Stephanie Brohman (December 13), and an additional artist to be announced (December 20).
Lillstreet will also offer Early Winter & Holiday Workshops for both kids and adults throughout December, including holiday-themed projects including holiday refrigerator magnets, holiday cookie plates, Elf on the Shelf creations, clay gingerbread houses, pet stockings, snowman plushies, holiday cards and gifts, and embroidered ornaments, incorporating Lillstreet ceramics, jewelry, printmaking, metalsmithing and textiles departments. Check out the workshop options HERE.
“When I started Lillstreet back in 1975, my intention was to teach art, provide a space for working artists, and be a center of art education for a diverse group of communities. And while we’ve grown from 8,000 square feet on Lill Street to 40,000 on Ravenswood Avenue, and from six classrooms to 27, we are still as much about building communities as about making art; that has never changed. We are a serious art center, but we are also a relaxed, non-competitive, and friendly community center. This combination is what I believe makes Lillstreet a unique place to learn and grow,” said Bruce Robbins, Lillstreet Art Center Founder, CEO, and on-site presence for five decades.
Lillstreet Art Center came from humble beginnings; starting in the early 1970s as the Robbins Clay company, selling materials for ceramics artists. With the business partnership of Martin Cohen, Robbins sold Robbins Clay in 1975 and bought a former horse stable at 1021 W. Lill Street in Lincoln Park. Named after the street, Lill Street Studios became a respected destination for clay artists from throughout the U.S. and continued to expand its offerings to include a small variety of ceramics classes and workshops. This programming eventually outgrew the space, and in 2003, Lillstreet relocated to a place in which it could truly grow—a former gear factory at 4401 N. Ravenswood Avenue which it has now called home over two decades. Lillstreet has continued to add high quality programs while maintaining its approachable, community atmosphere. The Center has developed a substantial children's program, for youth ages 2 to 17, including ten-week classes, workshops, and holiday and summer camps. The adult program has expanded beyond Ceramics to include Metalsmithing & Jewelry, Textiles, Printmaking & Book Arts, Drawing & Painting, and Digital – all led by high quality working artists using state-of-the-art equipment and facilities.
For more information on Lillstreet Art Center and its year-round class and workshop sessions, Gallery offerings and more, visit www.lillstreet.com