Artist Kara Cobb Johnson poses in front of her piece, "The Great Chasm is Merely a Stream," during the unveiling of the 55th Street viaduct gallery on May 22, 2025.
Photo by: Marc C. Monaghan .

Artists transform neighborhood's 'viaduct galleries' with 19 new works. The artists were tasked with submitting artworks that created a lighter, more powerful, welcoming viaduct that enhances public safety and showcased local talent,” said Strickland on Thursday. “These new 19 artists are taking their spot among Chicago legends.”

Kara Johnson (Kara Cobb Johnson) The Block Museum at Northwestern University is dedicated to advancing the museum field. Learn more about the people, positions, and departments that contribute to The Block.

A program developed by CSI Membership Chair and board member Kara Cobb Johnson in 2023, CSI’s Inclusion Fellowship is an effort to expand and enrich our community by offering three (3) AALANA or BIPOC fellowships in total. The fellowships will be offered to three (3) new AALANA- or BIPOC-identifying artists of exceptional promise and interest. Fellowships cover the cost of one year's membership dues, a range of perks, and opportunities to exhibit work.

2025-2026 Inclusion Fellowship Recipients:
Lulu Luyao Chang
Nanxi Jin
Stella Moon
Rial Rye
Natia Ser
Jose Trejo-Maya

Past Recipients:
Cherylle Booker (2023-2024)
Hai Wen Lin (2023-2024)
Janhavi Khemka (2023-2024)
Victor Edwards (2023-2024)
Yimei (Emair) Zhu (2023-2024)

The Viaduct Galleries at Downtown Hyde Park highlight the work of 19 local artists from Chicago neighborhoods in a beautiful showcase of community connectedness, artistic culture and shared experience.
Art Unveiling Tour:
May 22, 2025
10:00 am – 10:45 am
Begins at 55th and S Lake Park Ave
(Metra Station viaduct)

Public space viewing.

Mana Contemporary and the Monira Foundation are thrilled to invite you to explore our Spring Open Studios, featuring studio visits, current exhibitions opening throughout the building, and the opening of the Monira Foundation's Purvis Young exhibition. This free event offers a unique opportunity to meet local artists, experience diverse art practices and immerse yourself in the remarkable work of Mana Contemporary artists!

Entrance on East side of the building.

Mana Contemporary and the Monira Foundation are thrilled to invite you to explore our Spring Open Studios, featuring studio visits, current exhibitions opening throughout the building, and the opening of the Monira Foundation’s Purvis Young exhibition. This free event offers a unique opportunity to meet local artists, experience diverse art practices and immerse yourself in the remarkable work of Mana Contemporary artists!

The Material Dictates Itself
September 26 @ 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Where a knot begins and ends exhibition artists, Teresita Carson Valdez, Molly Roth Scranton, Malika Jackson, and Kara Cobb Johnson, explore the ways that material exploration inspires and drives their practice across various media, and the ways in which they intersect and diverge and inform each other through tactility. With an emphasis on techniques derived from ceramics, weaving, and the feminine mystique, the artists will also speak to the complexity of craft practices that have evolved within the contemporary context. With the hand ever present in the work, the artists question how objecthood and abstraction informs the interpretation and transformation of the work from its raw to final state. The conversation will be moderated by Christine Tarkowski, Professor in the Fiber and Material Studies Department at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

This discussion is in conjunction with our New Edition Professional Pathways program, which is offered exclusively for alums of Center Program, one of the Art Center’s capstone development programs for working artists. New Edition challenges a group of ten artists to build on their practice by adding new mediums to their toolbox by enrolling in a course at the Art Center to create new works, and through participation in weekly seminars.

Register to attend www.eventbrite.com/e/the-material-dicta…

About the Artists:

Teresita Carson

Teresita Carson is a Mexican, Chicago-based artist and award-winning filmmaker working across disciplines, including moving image, new media, and installation. Taking an irreverent approach to world and counter-archive building, she explores the abstract intersections between the historical, the speculative, indigenous cosmogonies, and magical peripheries. Her experimental films have screened internationally, including at the Slamdance Film Festival and the Museum of Contemporary Art of San Diego. Most recently, her work was included in the Cleve Carney Museum’s Emerging Artist exhibition and was chosen for the 2024 Ground Floor Biennial. Carson has received grants from DCASE’s Individual Artists Program (IAP) and the Artists Run Chicago Fund. She is currently collaborating on a film project with the Walter H. Dyett High School for the Arts community as part of her residency with CPS Lives.

Molly Roth Scranton

Molly Roth Scranton lives and works in Chicago, Illinois. Her studio practice uses household objects, language, and quotidian aesthetics to create “thing-poems”: sculptures, ceramics, weavings, paintings, installations, and time-based works in video and sound that mimic the objects of everyday life. Her interests lie in collaboration, beauty, longing, escapism, labor, and anxiety. Her work has been included in numerous solo and group exhibitions in the United States and abroad, including the Weisman Art Museum in Minneapolis, MN, the Finnish Academy of Fine Art in Helsinki, Finland, Babelkunst in Trondheim, Norway, Harvestworks in New York, and the Hyde Park Art Center, Elastic Arts, Free Range, Roman Susan, and 6018 North in Chicago.

Malika Jackson

Chicago-based artist and educator, Malika Jackson presents emotional narrative works in painting, drawing and sculpture inspired by her lived experience as well as texts by writers like Langston Hughes and Sonia Sanchez. Jackson is an alumna of the Art Center’s Center Program (class of 2013) and has been making her artwork between the Oakman Clinton Studios at the Art Center and her apartment studio in South Shore for over 20 years.

Her works have been exhibited in galleries, festivals, in group and solo shows. Jackson had a solo exhibition Whispers of a World Without Words at the Hyde Park Art Center in 2022, and an exhibition with Sapphire and Crystals at Bridgeport Art Gallery, and the Addington Gallery. She has also received commissions for the Ronald McDonald Houses’ – the Ryder Cup Tournament; as well as exhibiting at the Howard Brown Center, Black Clay at Chicago State, Fast Forward, Rewind: Play, HPAC,‘From the Earth-Woman Made Gallery, Gallery D’Estees, Noyes Gallery,
Museum of Science and Industry, Artopolis at the Merchandise Mart, Cliff Dwellers, and numerous other venues.Awards include honorable mention, Museum, of Science & Industry, Black Creativity; honored by the Diasporal Rhythms Art Association; art grant from the city of Chicago, design awards-Ann Brooks and Fur International Awards. Commissions for public artwork through the City of Chicago. Curator for Women’s Made Gallery and curator and coordinated ‘Cultural Connections African Art Bazaar for 25 years. Featured in ‘Curators of Dixon’; ‘Producing Local Color’ – Art Network in Ethnic Chicago’, by Diane Grams; ‘South Shore Current’. Jackson has taught in the Chicago Public Schools, Charter School, Community Organizations and at the Hyde Park Art Center. She received an MFA & BFA from the School of the Art Institute, and studied at Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, and participated in an artist tour of France and Italy, where she completed a ceramic workshop in Tuscany.

Kara Cobb Johnson

Kara Cobb Johnson (born 1976) is a visual artist based in Pilsen, Chicago. Cobb Johnson trained as a sculptor, video, and public artist in Minneapolis, MN, and graduated from Northeastern Illinois University in 2000. Her work investigates form, materials, and space while offering immersive installations that present an empowered female hand. She has curated independently as part of her practice and received a Visual Arts Certificate from the University of Chicago, Graham School of Continuing Studies in 2016. Cobb Johnson has been awarded the Individual Artist Project Grants from both The Illinois Arts Council and Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events to create new works in 2019 and 2023. She held panelist and executive board positions for Chicago Sculpture International and Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events in 2023 and 2024.

About the Moderator: Christine Tarkowski

Christine Tarkowski is an artist working in a variety of formats including the making of permanent public sculptures, propositional drawings, cast glass models, and textile yardage. Her current works are in pursuit of the abstract, drawing on history, craft tectonics, and archetypes. She employs methods of dimensional abstraction to evolve narrative elements that refer to dissolution of order through processes of alchemy or heat.

She has been commissioned to create public works by; University of Illinois Chicago, DCASE, Millennium Park, City of Chicago, Socrates Sculpture Park; Manilow Sculpture Park at Governors State University, and private clients. She has exhibited works at; Corning Museum of Glass, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, Cooper-Hewitt National Museum of Design, RISD Museum, The Renaissance Society, Carrie Secrist Gallery, Devening Projects, Priska Juschka Fine Art, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Chicago Cultural Center. Her awards include; Ellen Stone Belic Institute for the Study of Women and Gender in the Arts and Media Columbia College Chicago/3 Arts Fellow, Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Individual Artist Award, Illinois Arts Council Fellowship, Franconia Sculpture Park Grant Jerome Foundation, and Creative Capital Foundation.

Tarkowski is a Professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she’s the Chair of Fiber and Material Studies.

July 13 – October 6, 2024
Hyde Park Art Center
Kanter Family Foundation Gallery

Where a Knot Begins and Ends
curated by Jeff Robinson

FEATURED ARTISTS
Alexandra Antoine, Dawn Brennan, Kittisak (Wa) Chontong, Mary Farmilant, Tanya Gill, Malika Jackson, Kara Cobb Johnson, Caitlin Ryan, Molly Roth Scranton, and Teresita Carson Valdez

Opening with Artists: July 27th 1pm-4pm

Exhibitions:
Presently, 2024
On view through May 27, 2024
Second floor
Group exhibition featuring Alice Hargrave, Amanda Mulcahy, Amay Kataria, Andrew Boynton, Anika Steppe, Ashley January, Carisa Mitchell, Cassidy Skillman, Cydney M. Lewis, Dana Major, Deirdre Fox, Delaina Doshi, Fengzee Yang, Frank Vega, Galina Shevchenko, Hale Ekinci, James Jankowiak, Jenal Dolson, Jingqi Wang Steinhiser, John Caleb Pendleton, Jonathan Michael Castillo, Joseph Josué Mora, Josiah Ellner, Julie Anderson Mathias, Kara Cobb Johnson, Karen Azarnia, Katherine Desjardins, Kathryn Rodrigues, Kelly D. Pelka, Kevin Maginnis, Kim Basile, Krista Anara Cibis Pintuck Studios, Laura Kina, Lisa Jenschke, Marzena Ziejka, MMM (they/them), Monika Niwelinska, Natalie Eva Clark, Natalia Villanueva Linares, Olea Nova, Rory Monaghan, Saúl Aguirre, Sara Selmić, Sarina Shane, Samuel Schwindt, Shaqui Reed, Sona Kim, Squitieri 95, Spiral Body: Mami Takahashi & Adrian McBride, Vida Sacic, Vida Sačić, Violet Luczak, Volodymyr Pydlyak, Xuanlin Ye

Artists’ opening at Madron Gallery of American Art for System and Dialectics of Art on April 4th 5:30-8:30pm. 1000 W. North Avenue 3rd floor, free parking.

Link to Terrain Exhibitions North Side map to my piece “Earth Calling Universe”

COALESCE was an exhibition that I curated and designed. It began with the ideas for new works by 5 Inclusion Fellowship artists at CSI. The artists worked collaboratively to install their work, create workshops and invite the public to enjoy artist talks introducing their practice at CSI Project Space in October 2023. I was honored to realize this exhibition with this talented group.

I am honored to be included in Comfort Station Logan Square Artists to Watch 2023 list. Scroll down on the webpage to see my contribution and work.

I have been creating an avant-garde garment out of every piece of plastic trash that would have gone into our recycling from February up to May 2023. The resultant trashion garment will walk the runway on professional model Colby James on May 20th, 2023 at the Narcissus Room, 7th Floor, Macy's State Street, 111 State Street, Chicago. I am excited to bring awareness to the single use plastic issue that our planet faces. This is a fun and challenging creative way to bring attention and build community. The event also celebrates humanity in all its forms and beauty by representing models of all ages, shapes and diversity, employing mostly trans and BIPOC models along with established artists and designers from international reaches. I would like to thank Jordan Parker, Colby James, Micki LeMieux, and Victoria Fuller for supporting my efforts in this project.

It's A Studio...these are working projects and a glimpse into the first table show for Falcon Gallery. #913 MANA Contemporary 6-9PM April 14, 2023. Open to the public.

Responding to Rhythms
Chicago Sculpture International
Curated by Nathan Peck
Opening November 11th 6-8 PM
Beverly Arts Center
2407 W 111th St, Chicago, IL 60655

Mama's Hand: A Solo Exhibition of Installations by Kara Cobb Johnson at Polsky Exchange North.

Conceptual works in paper, installations, and painted sculpture. Experience creating work to enliven dynamic workspaces, curating contemporary group exhibitions in Chicagoland area for years. Currently, Kara is available for Teaching Artist projects and Artist Interventions for all types of participants at all levels. Experiences include play-doh, wooden objects, and painting on 3D surfaces. Commissions welcomed.

When you take your stuff to the people and throw caution to the wind...

First event of this nature in nature along the trails.

Map and details from the Trailside website.

Third Coast Review: A Surprise in the Process: Exhibition Review March 31, 2016

Opening Night, A Surprise in the Process, Best Bets for your weekend gallery scene

Opening Night, A Surprise in the Process, at Chicago Art Department through March 25th by Appointment

Description and public invitation to attend 11AM Water Jewel Drop of 3000 balls down 2 flights of stairs for off the wall amusement.

Gallery 1, 2 & Cleve E. Carney

Artwork by:

Ali Aschman
Mara Baker
Javier Carmona
Kara Cobb Johnson
Michelle Collazo-Anderson
Lily Dithrich
Christine Forni
Elizabeth Gadelha
Rami George
Samantha Hill
Regin Igloria
Jeremiah Jones
Rita Koehler
Katherine Lampert
Ivan Lozano
Dana Major
Carlos Matallana
Lars Nordby
Connie Noyes
Kunal Sen
Naqeeb Stevens
Tina Tahir
Erin Toale
Julian Williams
Zachary Williams

A cap-stone program for artists who are ready to push their practice to the next level, The Center Program is the Art Center’s answer to traditional professional development offerings for artists. The Center Program offers the unique opportunity to develop new work, receive feedback from professionals in the field, and work towards an exhibition to be held in the Art Center's main gallery. Over the course of six months, a supportive peer network, guest artists, gallerists, critics, and professionals push Center Program artists to answer tough questions, evolve their art, and ultimately produce strong, new work to show.

The 2015 Front & Center exhibition is guest curated by Tricia Van Eck.
Prior to starting 6018North, Van Eck was Associate Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art,Chicago (MCA) where for 13 years she organized more than 70 exhibitions and programs, much of which were experimental, audience engaged, performative, or extended the MCA's reach into the community.

Sunday, June 14th 2015 1PM

Forest Preserves of Cook County
Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington Hills

Want to find out about watercolor with abstraction in computer print? Let Artist Kara Cobb Johnson teach you a new technique in watercolor painting.

For teens and adults. Registration required.
REGISTRATION: Call Crabtree at 847-381-6592. Cost: Free

Ice orbs filled with watercolor pigments melt and create stained pools.

Slow walk on a beach path. Wooden fences create ephemeral optical illunsion. 01/29/2015

DNA info, a local paper, covers the events to take place for Chicago Artists Month Artwalk led by Kara Cobb Johnson

New ideas, paintings

Art Walk Presented by Kara Cobb Johnson

Saturday, September 27, 2014 - 10:00am to 11:00am
Saturday, October 11, 2014 - 7:00pm to 8:00pm
Saturday, October 25, 2014 - 7:00pm to 8:00pm

Potawatomie Indians believed land belonged to all living things and could not be owned. This mural plants their images firmly back into the land they were led to leave forever.

Start at:
Edgebrook Metra Underpass: Western Wall
LeHigh & Hiawatha Western Wall
Chicago, IL

Neighborhood:
Forest Glen

Chicago-based artists include:
Kara Cobb Johnson presents her artwork installed and creatively interpreted by Green Star Movement and After School Matters Teen Apprentices over the summer of 2014

Second Nature Exhibit

September 30 – October 21-27, 2014

Exhibit Locations: The artwork will be exhibited at 2 locations:
o Evanston Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd., Evanston
o Curt’s Café, 2922 Central St, Evanston

As a child, your creativity led you to paint, draw, sing, dance, write, play, and a host of other activities. Then life got busy… Let the Show and Tell for Adults revive your imagination and talents from long ago with a multi-cultural arts festival.

September 26, 2014 to November 28, 2014

Crabtree Nature Center and The Forest Preserve District of Cook County present local nature painted 'en plein air' by six talented Illinois artists.

Kara Cobb Johnson paints in watercolor for the summer of 2013 at Ragdale Artist Colony during a special residency sponsored in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council

New ideas 2013

Join artist Kara Johnson and explore painting with watercolors. Saturday, February 1, 2014. All materials are provided. This free class is a continuation of celebrating “Art in Nature” throughout the year. Time is 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Space is limited, so make your reservations soon by calling Crabtree nature Center 847-381-6592.