Hilton Contemporary (716 N. Wells St.) announced a specially curated exhibition of images from the archives of acclaimed Mexico-born environmental photographer, author, filmmaker and marine biologist Cristina Mittermeier. “HOPE: A PRELUDE” will be the inaugural exhibition for “BEAUTIFUL BRILLIANCE,” an ongoing series of Hilton Contemporary shows spotlighting women who exemplify intelligence, dedication, accomplishment and beauty.
Cristina Mittermeier, Golden Hour, 2018; Cristina Mittermeir, Seed Pods, 2023; Cristina Mittermeier, Wildflowers in My Hair, 2023; Cristina Mittermeier, Lady With the Goose II, 2006
“HOPE: A PRELUDE” will be on-view at Hilton Contemporary through August 30th. In addition to the Hilton Contemporary gallery in River North, the exhibition will also be on view at the Morgan Arts Complex (3622 S. Morgan St.).
Arica Hilton, CEO and founder of Hilton Contemporary, was inspired to develop this exhibition following the discovery of the secret life of glamorous Hollywood legend Hedy Lamarr as a scientific and mathematical genius. Widely considered the most beautiful woman in the world in the 1940s and 50s, Lamarr’s portfolio of patents for a variety of inventions, such as the radio frequency hopping technology, which she played a pivotal role in developing during World War II, was a well-kept secret. This amazing story was the impetus to find other women whose intellect was overshadowed by their physical beauty.
“We did not have to look far to select the first subject of the ‘BEAUTIFUL BRILLIANCE’ series,” states Hilton of artist Cristina Mittermeier. “Cristina’s ability to open a portal that drives awareness of the fragility of our ecosystem through the direct language of photography reminds us that human beings are not isolated creatures, but members of an interconnected society. Using our planet's limited resources wisely is imperative for our future. We need to understand that the health of the oceans has a direct impact on our climate, the air we breathe and the food we eat. Every community on Earth is part of the global ecosystem and the choices we make today can collectively shape the future of our planet.”
Hailed as one of the most influential conservation photographers of our time, Mittermeier has dedicated her life to protecting the world’s oceans, our largest ecosystem – inspiring millions of people to do the same. Mittermeier’s latest book, “HOPE,” with an introduction written by Robert Redford, “is a manifesto of human interrelationship with nature and gives a gentle and optimistic perspective on the environmental issues,” as described by PhotoVogue Magazine.
“Just like Dr. Martin Luther King didn't start his famous civil rights speech by saying, ‘I have a nightmare,’ states Mittermeier, “the only way to tackle the environmental crises is by painting a picture of what our dream should be. Let's dream about a future where our planet is healthy and alive, not apocalyptic and dying. Articulating an idea through nature photography of what the future could look like if we prioritize the protection of nature is the perfect antidote to disillusionment.”
With over 1.6 million followers on Instagram, Mittermeier uses social media to not only present her stories, but to feature works that interpret and translate images aiming to investigate contemporary life. As a biochemical engineer specializing in marine resources, Mittermeier’s technical expertise serves as a foundation for capturing Earth’s beauty in her work and demonstrates the purpose of the “BEAUTIFUL BRILLIANCE” series.
Hilton Contemporary River North is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Bridgeport location is open Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. “HOPE: A PRELUDE” is free and open to the public to view. To learn more about “HOPE: A PRELUDE” or Hilton Contemporary, visit hiltoncontemporary.com.
About Cristina Mittermeier
Mexico City-born Cristina Goettsch Mittermeier, who dedicates her photography towards the conservation movement, is an adventurer, conservationist, writer, photographer and marine biologist. For the past 25 years, Mittermeier has been recognized globally as one of the most influential wildlife writers and conservationists.
As a biochemical engineer specializing in marine resources and as a regular contributor to the scientific dialogue on the conservation of our planet’s biodiversity, Mittermeier’s work uses photographer and visual storytelling on a foundation of science to explain the importance of preserving earth’s ecosystem.
Mittermeier, a Rolex Brand Ambassador, has received accolades of the highest esteem, was named one of the World’s Top 50 Keynote Speaker and one of National Geographic’s 2018 Adventurers of the Year. As a National Geographic Woman of Impact, Mittermeier has worked in more than 100 countries on every continent in the world, reaching an estimated 2.5 billion people and sparking global conversations about climate change.
In 2015, she co-founded the conservation group SeaLegacy, a non-profit dedicated to protecting the ocean with her partner, Paul Nicklen. In 2020, she was honored by Mercedes-Benz’s She’s Mercedes initiative, where she led “Let’s Be Friends,” a mentoring session with five women from around the world to discuss their dreams, shared challenges and self-worth. She is the founder of the International League of Conservation Photographers.
Recognized as one of the World’s Top 40 Most Influential Outdoor Photographers by Outdoor Magazine, Mittermeier’s work has been published in hundreds of respected publications, including National Geographic Magazine and TIME. Most recently, Mittermeier was featured on National Geographic television series, “Photographer,” with her partner, Paul Nicklen.
About Hilton Contemporary
The internationally recognized gallery Hilton Contemporary is owned and run by multi-media artist, gallerist, conservationist, humanitarian and global advocate Arica Hilton. With over 30 years of experience representing artists worldwide, Hilton founded Hilton Contemporary in 2012. In recent years, the gallery has flourished, seeing tremendous growth and recognition for the caliber of art exhibitions Hilton has brought to the public.
Hilton herself has had exhibitions throughout the world to bring awareness to threats that endanger the delicate balance of all living things. Water and the dangers of microplastics figure prominently in Hilton’s paintings and advocacy work. Working with artists like Cristina Mittermeier is a logical step in her mission to use the arts as a platform to record the history of the present and explore the world in search of solutions that will ensure a healthy future for generations to come.
Located in Chicago's River North and Bridgeport Art Districts, the gallery specializes in modern and contemporary paintings, works on paper, mixed media and sculpture with a special focus on photography and, most recently, artificial intelligence (AI) digital works. Featuring internationally known artists from the United States, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean Region, and the Middle East.
Hilton Contemporary has received acclaim for exhibitions of OUCHHH, Paul Nicklen and Cristina Mittermeier, David Yarrow, David Gamble, Terry O’Neill, and Julian Wasser, among others