THE COLLECTION: Where Art Meets Fashion, the multifaceted contemporary art program located within Fashion Outlets of Chicago, today announced it will present a special talk at the Opening Night of this year’s edition of EXPO CHICAGO featuring celebrated contemporary artists Hebru Brantley and Derrick Adams and moderated by Michael Darling, Chief Growth Officer and Co-Founder at Museum Exchange.
Titled Creative Voices: Fashion, Art, and Cultural Impact, the conversation will bring together the two artists, both of whom have site-specific works featured in THE COLLECTION, to discuss the dynamic intersections of art, fashion and culture, exploring how creative practices shape public spaces and trends in the industry. With Darling’s moderation, the discussion will highlight the ways in which art and fashion transform our understanding of community, commerce and creative expression. Creative Voices: Fashion, Art, and Cultural Impact will take place on Thursday, April 24 at 6:30 p.m. on the /Dialogues Stage at EXPO CHICAGO.
Photo Credit: Kyle Flubacker (Left) and Daniel Boczarski (Right)
"Both Derrick and Hebru have proven themselves to be nimble and flexible artists who can adapt to different exhibition contexts, paving new pathways for sustainable studio practices that others can learn from," said Darling.
“These are two visionary artists whose work perfectly embodies the intersection of art, fashion, and culture in ways that inspire and engage audiences from traditional institutions to public spaces like ours,” said Katie Walsh, Senior Marketing Manager at Fashion Outlets of Chicago. “Their unique perspectives are sure to spark insightful conversation around the dynamic relationship between these mediums and its impact on community.”
Both artists have contributed unique, site-specific works for THE COLLECTION: Where Art Meets Fashion at Fashion Outlets of Chicago. In 2018, the center welcomed Derrick Adams’ Fashion Show, a seven-story, 4,082 square-foot mural and his largest work to date, in addition to Fashion Accessories, an accompanying lighting installation, both at the center’s main entrance.
In 2024, THE COLLECTION unveiled Midnight Blue by Hebru Brantley, featuring his iconic Flyboy character and a two-story mural encompassing Fashion Outlets’ central escalator – his first piece to include both mural and sculpture work.
Taking place April 24-27 at Navy Pier’s iconic Festival Hall, EXPO CHICAGO showcases leading contemporary and modern art galleries, alongside a diverse and inventive program of talks, on-site installations and public art initiatives. Inaugurated in 2012, EXPO CHICAGO draws upon the city’s robust history as a vibrant international cultural destination, while highlighting the region’s contemporary arts community.
For more information on THE COLLECTION and Fashion Outlets of Chicago please visit www.fashionoutletsofchicago.com/thecollection.
About THE COLLECTION: Where Art Meets Fashion
THE COLLECTION: Where Art Meets Fashion is a multifaceted contemporary art program located within Macerich’s Fashion Outlets of Chicago, with support from the Village of Rosemont. Components of THE COLLECTION include 25 permanent commissions, and a rotating exhibition series located throughout the common area of the shopping center. The public art program has invested in works by Daniel Arsham, Derrick Adams, Hebru Brantley, Carlos Rolón Dzine, Jen Stark, Matthew Hoffman, and many more. THE COLLECTION’s rotating exhibitions feature work by a variety of artists displayed in glass cases located throughout Level Two of the shopping center. For more information, visit www.fashionoutletsofchicago.com/TheCollection.
About Fashion Outlets of Chicago
Fashion Outlets of Chicago is an award-winning 530,000 square-foot, two-level indoor shopping center that is home to more than 130 designer outlets, an impressive contemporary art collection known as THE COLLECTION and high-end amenities. The one-of-a-kind upscale outlet property that redefines and elevates the outlet shopping experience, is located at 5220 Fashion Outlets Way in Rosemont –minutes from O’Hare International Airport and Chicagoland’s major highways. For more information, visit www.fashionoutletsofchicago.com.