Originating from various corners of the globe and paving different paths along the way, these five Chicago visual artists are all making an impact on the art scene across the city and beyond.
Anai Singer’s work has been shown across the globe, from Italy to the U.K. and beyond.
THE STORY
“I’ve always been an artist; I’m creating something new all the time. Graduating from the prestigious Academy of Fine Arts in Poland was a dream come true. Now, being a mom, artist, fashion designer and photographer gives me complete fulfillment.”
THE STYLE
“My style is diverse. I express myself through monochrome as well as color, texture and form. When I work with black and white, I take a break and escape into the world of color, where I constantly discover something new.”
DREAM PROJECT
“When I [received a commission] for 12 paintings from a [certain] famous person.”
WHAT’S NEXT
“Finalization of a large project I’ve been working on for a long time, which will take place in 2024. After that, more challenges that I can’t wait for.”
“FEROX” is part of BOJITT’s All the Hats we Wear series.
THE STORY
“I was born and raised in Serbia (formerly Yugoslavia), where I achieved a successful career as a fashion designer. My mission is to empower and inspire others to dig deeper into who they really are. My art is a product of this exchange.”
THE STYLE
“Since moving from Serbia to Chicago, my practice has focused on painting canvases, murals and commissions united by gesture and purpose. My abstractions tell stories through mixed media like acrylic and spray paint, and bold colors focused on climax and culmination.”
DREAM PROJECT
“Between these lines lies my dream project. At the end of the day, it is not about us alone—it’s about how many lives we teach with our work and who we are.”
WHAT’S NEXT
“In April, I have a one-month artist residency in France’s Chateau d’Orquevaux. I’ve received an invitation and the Denis Diderot grant, and I’m looking forward to it—quiet time to focus on something completely new.”
Grace Federighi, “Dance For All Seasons” (48 inches by 48 inches, acrylic on linen canvas, diptych)
THE STORY
“As a young girl in Poland, my passion for art began when I painted on the outside walls of our family’s apartment building. Today, I incorporate my photography and charcoal work to create abstract figurative art on canvas.”
THE STYLE
“My work exudes edge, mystery and sophistication. Its timeless elegance of dramatic charcoal strokes, textured or blended layers of acrylic paint and methodical abstract composition merge together like the beautiful complexities of the female soul.”
DREAM PROJECT
“In the near future, I have imagined a collaboration with a fashion house and interior design firm. It would also be exciting to show at a premier world art show and further establish my work in the art world.”
WHAT’S NEXT
“Since my last solo exhibition, I took note of how viewers interacted with my work. Their engagement inspired an idea for a future collection of large-scale pieces. I’m also excited to expand my work in greater Los Angeles.”
Lenzi began her creative career as an art teacher before becoming an an independent studio artist.
THE STORY
“I have always embraced that art has not defined me. I am deeply passionate about my craft and dedicated to my artistic pursuits. My passion led me into a career as an art teacher, and now, an independent studio artist.”
THE STYLE
“Authenticity is a key characteristic of my style and a genuine reflection of myself, my spirit and my experiences. My collection captures the calm and the wild of the world that collectors love— timeless, abstract designs with an edgy and organic flair.”
DREAM PROJECT
“Expand my reach to the lavish living of the West Coast and to be curated in high-end boutiques, galleries and showrooms where my art has a lasting impact on art lovers.”
WHAT’S NEXT
“I am excited to be designing and creating custom mural designs for Starbucks, and I am looking forward to displaying and selling my art in Serena & Lily across the U.S.”
Nguyen refers to himself as a “Pandemic Painter.”
THE STORY
“I’ve been a creative since I was a kid. But it wasn’t until the pandemic that I started painting. Night after night, I was painting pieces in my imagination while trying to sleep. They felt so real that I had to make them.”
THE STYLE
“The process is similar yet different with each piece: always abstract, layered and textural in a way that I believe evokes a sense of nature, which is where I get the most inspiration. It’s the context from which we all come from.”
DREAM PROJECT
“I’d love to make a monumental piece of artwork to be publicly displayed somewhere in the forest or desert. I recently did a shoot in the woods with a large canvas that I made—maybe I was trying to manifest it.”
WHAT’S NEXT
“I have commissions lined up through May, so I’ll be fulfilling those projects. After that, I’m not quite sure. My approach with art has always been fluid, so I take it whichever way the wind blows and do what feels right.”
Photography by: FROM TOP: PHOTO: COURTESY OF ARTIST; PHOTO: BY ARTIST; PHOTO: COURTESY OF ARTIST; PHOTO: BY BRIGIT DEVAE/Y&B INTERIORS; PHOTO: BY ANDREA PABÓN
