TOP V. WEEKEND PICKS (5/7-5/13)

Key Takeaways

• ‘After We Let Go’ performance runs May 8, 6‑9 pm, Richmond St
• ‘Side by Side: Color and Textiles’ exhibition opens May 7, 4:30‑6:30 pm
• Hidetaka Suzuki’s ‘Breathing’ showcases brushes, May 9, 12‑5 pm
• 50 zines by Pearce & Crowther on display May 9, 4‑10 pm
• ‘Wild Thing’ group show runs May 8‑July 10, curated by Pia Singh

Pulse Analysis

Chicago’s weekend art calendar from May 7‑13 2026 illustrates how the city’s mid‑size venues continue to champion experimental work. Performance art lovers can catch Adehle Daley and Tatiana Sky’s immersive piece “After We Let Go,” staged on a crosswalk at 1856 N Richmond Street, blending choreography with site‑specific storytelling. Meanwhile, CWAC Exhibitions presents “Side by Side: Color and Textiles,” a textile‑focused show that highlights the resurgence of handcrafted patterns and offers a tactile counterpoint to digital media.

The programming also spotlights individual creators pushing medium boundaries. Hidetaka Suzuki’s “Breathing” at Ackerman Clarke transforms a gallery into a studio, displaying rows of brushes and paint tubes that invite contemplation of the artist’s process. At Kimball Arts Center, the joint zine exhibition by Nathan Pearce and Matthew David Crowther provides a grassroots publishing platform, reflecting the DIY ethos that fuels Chicago’s independent press scene. Both events draw collectors and scholars interested in the materiality of art making.

Finally, the “Wild Thing” exhibition at Circle Contemporary Chicago, curated by Pia Singh, aggregates over twenty emerging artists into a vibrant, multi‑artist narrative that runs through July. Its bold color palette and abstract figures resonate with contemporary dialogues around identity and urban experience. Collectively, these events reinforce Chicago’s role as a crucible for emerging talent, offering audiences immersive experiences while supporting local economies through ticket sales, merchandise, and artist commissions.