The Chicago Artists’ Archive is a great way to research well-known Chicago artists as well as those who may not be in books or well-represented on the Internet. Since the early 20th century CPL has kept artist files. These fascinating files include a variety of materials, including but not limited to articles, photographs, slides, gallery invitations, artist statements and posters. The files are in paper form, containing physical ephemera, and are not available digitally at this time. To this day there are over 11,000 artists included in the archive!
The finding aid for the archive allows you to see what types of material we have for each artist, as well as citations to books that contain additional information about him or her. To use the files, please come to the reference counter on the 8th floor of the Harold Washington Library Center. Because the material is unique and archival, you will be asked to sit at a special research desk and leave your library card or an ID with the librarian while you use it.
In addition to files on individual artists, there is also interesting material on art projects, groups and spaces. One fun example includes Flo Tilla, a 1990s project where artists sent floating sculptures down the Chicago River.
The Chicago Artists’ Archive is a living archive that continuously grows. Please email art@chipublib.org if you are interested in creating or updating a file on a Chicago area artist. The types of documentation accepted include resumes, CVs, artist statements, articles, gallery notices, videos and exhibition catalogs. Materials can be emailed or mailed to Visual & Performing Arts, Chicago Public Library, 400 S. State St., Chicago, IL 60605.
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