POSTED BY THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO:

Epic and intricate, monumental and meticulous—the paintings of Kashmir-raised, London-based artist Raqib Shaw offer fantastical meditations on identity, transformation, and the redemptive power of beauty.

Born in Calcutta and raised in the verdant Himalayan mountains of Kashmir, Shaw draws deeply on the landscapes and memories of his early life, many of which were fractured by political upheaval. Forced to leave Kashmir as a teenager, he relocated first to New Delhi and later to London, where he studied at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design.

His work is influenced by a broad range of sources—Mughal and Persian miniatures, Renaissance altarpieces, Old Masters paintings, Japanese arts of the Momoyama period, Kashmiri and Urdu poetry, and Hindu and Western mythology—and yet his visual vocabulary and technique are all his own.

His signature method involves applying an acrylic liner on gesso to create a golden line almost like the leading of a stained glass window. He then applies automobile enamel paints with needle-fine syringes and manipulates those with a porcupine quill, often adding glittering inset stones and baubles that further enhance the magical and dreamlike quality of the depicted scenes. 

At the Art Institute, Shaw debuts his more-than 100-feet-wide, 21-panel Paradise Lost (2009–25), the artist’s most ambitious and personal project to date. This magnificent allegorical painting takes viewers on a spellbinding journey, from the nocturnal solitude of the artist’s childhood in Kashmir to the frenzied daylight of the art world and the West to finally a fragile, renewed dawn. Each panel is dense with symbolism: mythical beasts, anthropomorphic hybrids, collapsing kingdoms, and natural beauty in various states of transformation. Throughout, the work is dotted with images of the artist, sometimes as a humanoid creature with different animal heads, at another time as a monkey looking with awe at the gleaming edifices and the wealth of the West, and sometimes unambiguously in full human form seated on a bed of saffron under a blossoming cherry tree, lost deep in his thoughts. 

The work is not a direct retelling of Milton’s 17th-century poem Paradise Lost, but rather a reflection on the many paradises lost across a lifetime: childhood innocence, creative freedom, mental tranquility, cultural belonging. “This is not just my story,” Shaw explained. “It is the story of each of us, and the story of our times.”

While Shaw has previously shown the first chapter of Paradise Lost, this exhibition marks the first time all four chapters will be displayed, showcasing the fullest extent yet of this epic masterpiece. “This painting was made not only to document a life,” Shaw shared, “but to offer something to those who come after, to offer a space of reflection for emotional recognition and perhaps for quiet rebellion against forgetfulness. I do hope that this work invites the viewer to slow down and to look carefully and to feel without haste.”

Raqib Shaw: Paradise Lost is curated by Madhuvanti Ghose, Alsdorf Associate Curator of Indian, Southeast Asian, and Himalayan Art, Arts of Asia.

FOR MORE INFO & TO PURCHASE TICKETS, VISIT THE WEBSITE.

POSTED BY THE NATIONAL PUERTO RICAN MUSEUM:

Abuela’s House transcends the traditional notion of an exhibition; it is a love letter to identity, cultural inheritance, craftsmanship, and home. Each of the seventeen scenes realized by Destyni “Desi” Swoope’s own hands are a true mix of paint, found objects, and an eclectic collection of fabric. This exhibition is an intimate exploration of the enduring creative and personal influence of the artist’s maternal great-grandmother, and a celebration of the magic of time, wisdom, and love channeled by a single person. The exhibition and its accompanying text are curated by Zee Lopez Del Carmen.

A force in Caribbean culture, abuela isn’t simply the person to guide us or make us feel at home in moments when we don’t even know what home looks like. She’s the personification of our history, the rich soil from which we sprout and bloom into our fullest, truest selves. For families that have experienced immigration, abuela is the bridge to everything that affects our past, present, and future. Abuela’s House encourages us to understand that the colors of our lives come directly from the seeds our ancestors sowed for us, and we now have the opportunity to bloom freely, wildly, and on our own terms.

Desi has loved on each piece from conception to the final stitch. Layers of found fabrics and secondhand clothes are expertly hand-sewn into the artist’s uniquely electric and playful color palette. Yellows, blues, purples, and pinks, breathe life into scenes of a game of dominó (Heirloom, 2023), colorful neighborhoods made of stacked buildings (Boriken, 2023), cafecito cups from Abuela’s Kitchen (2023), and even Papi and Abuela’s Anniversary (2024). The colors and textures found in her work are the manifestations of her grandmother’s grace and prayers.

Ultimately, Desi patchworks the spirit of the Puerto Rican/Caribbean women who have carried on for generations, whose traditions and beliefs inspired her to dream for them and for herself. “Our stories and lives should not succumb to extinction amidst the rapid evolution of the world,” Swoope says. “Through Abuela’s House, I assert the great significance in cultural preservation, despite the complexities of identity and societal expectations.” This exhibition prompts us to reclaim the power of our memories. The artwork made for this debut museum exhibition paints the tapestry of her Abuela’s legacy as the vibrant, living foundation of her family.

FOR MORE INFO, VISIT THE WEBSITE.

POSTED BY BUSH THEATRE:

‘The horse in Arabic is a symbol of freedom. But to us, this horse is much more. This horse is us.’

Built from the debris of a major invasion, the Horse of Jenin sculpture became a constant presence in Alaa’s life growing up in Occupied Palestine. It stood proudly in the centre of the city for twenty years, symbolising hope and resistance.

Then, on 29 October 2023, an Israeli bulldozer entered the city, ripping the sculpture from its place — and from its people.

Now, Alaa is left wondering… What happened to the horse?

Constructed from the fragments of Palestinian actor and comedian Alaa Shehada’s own memories, The Horse of Jenin is an ode to the power of imagination and the resilience it brings.

FOR MORE INFO & TO PURCHASE TICKETS, VISIT THE WEBSITE.

POSTED BY RESIDENT ADVISOR:

OPENING PORTAL 01.17.26

<3 CALLING ALL REAL & PASSIONATE DANCERS <3

A NIGHT OF AFRO-LATIN-INDIGENOUS DIASPORIC RHYTHMS AND ECLECTIC EXPERIMENTS FROM UNDERGROUND CLUB CULTURES ACROSS THE WORLD.

SOUNDS BY:

WILHELMINA

SPEED.FM

OBREEZY

BEATS

RESONATE.JPEG

A PARTY BY THE DIASPORA CENTERED AROUND DANCING AND OPENING A PORTAL TO THE LINEAGE OF ANCESTRAL SOUNDS:

BATIDA, BUDOTS, DETROIT TECHNO, EAST-COAST CLUB, RAPTOR HOUSE, UK FUNKY, LATINCORE, BREAKS, BASS, GHETTO TECH, KUDURO, ELECTRO, HARD DRUM, DEMBOW, SENSUAL 100BPM CHUGGERS.

PORTAL IS A CONSCIOUS PARTY FORGED FROM THE NEED AND CURIOSITY TO CHALLENGE COMMUNITY THROUGH DECONSTRUCTING AND RESHAPING OUR SPACES, SOUNDS, AND IDENTITY TOGETHER. PASSING THE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT THESE SPACES AND SOUNDS ARE... DANCE IS NOT JUST A SINGLE RELEASE OR MOMENT OF JOY BUT A FORM OF RESISTANCE — A WEAPON IF YOU WILL.

HOUSE RULES:

1). THIS IS A PLACE FOR EVERYONE — THERE ARE NO HIERARCHIES. AT THE SAME TIME, BE MINDFUL OF THE SPACE YOU TAKE — SHARING IS CARING. PLEASE LOOK OUT FOR YOUR FELLOW DANCERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

2). NO CONVERSATIONS NOR USE OF CELLPHONES WHILE ON THE DANCE FLOOR; THE FLOOR IS A SACRED PORTAL THAT WE ENTER TO DANCE!!! YOUR GOSSIP IS DISTRACTING — TAKE IT TO THE BAR.

3). THIS IS A PLACE WITH ZERO TOLERANCE FOR HATE, VIOLENCE, HARASSMENT, RACISM, GAWKING, TRANSPHOBIA, NOR NONCONSENSUAL. NO MISCONDUCT WILL GO UNNOTICED. YOU WILL BE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED.

xoxoxo, PORTAL

FOR MORE INFO & TO PURCHASE TICKETS, VISIT THE WEBSITE.

POSTED BY SUNDANCE INSTITUTE:

As a champion and curator of independent stories, the nonprofit Sundance Institute provides and preserves the space for artists in film and episodic storytelling to create and thrive.

Robert Redford founded the Institute in 1981 to foster independence, risk-taking, and new voices in American film. That year, 10 emerging filmmakers were invited to the Sundance Resort in the mountains of Utah, where they worked with leading writers, directors, and actors to develop their original independent projects.

Today, our team of 165 employees works year-round to offer 12 labs and intensives, grants exceeding $3 million, and ongoing mentorships that support more than 1000 artists each year. Each January, the Sundance Film Festival introduces a global audience to groundbreaking work and emerging talent in independent film.

In addition to the Festival, the Sundance Institute hosts many public programs in the U.S. and around the world to connect artists with audiences to present original voices, inspire new ideas, and create community around independent storytelling.

FOR MORE INFO & TO PURCHASE TICKETS, VISIT THE WEBSITE.

POSTED BY BUSH THEATRE:

‘She scrubs desperately. Fervently. Furiously. The filth is in the walls and she can feel it in her bones and under her skin.’

As the stench in their building intensifies and infestations spread, a lonely group of tenants starts to ask questions.

But when the housing association barely lifts a finger in support and pest control “don’t deal with maggots”, the neighbours are left to grapple with their suspicions and fears alone – blurring the boundaries of their usually private lives in the process.

An exploration of the importance of human connection, Maggots questions what it really takes to build community. Written by Tony Craze Award winner Farah Najib and directed by Jess Barton, and produced by Jessie Anand Productions (This Might Not Be It).

Cast includes Sam Baker Jones, who plays Jack Grealish in the BBC’s upcoming Dear England, Safiyya Ingar who is known for appearing in two seasons of Netflix’s The Witcher, and Marcia Lecky, whose illustrious career includes the West End plays and feature films, alongside TV appearances in EastEnders, Ted Lasso and Doctor Who.

FOR MORE INFO & TO PURCHASE TICKETS, VISIT THE WEBSITE.