Gallery 901

Exhibitions at Gallery 901 feature artists and community organizations whose work reflects Open Studio Project’s vision that art is a path to wellbeing. This vision includes artists of all kinds, from professionals whose work has been shown in commercial galleries and museums, to self-taught artists who have never shown their work before. As a community-based gallery, our exhibitions are designed to foster dialogue, reflection, and connection, and we invite all audiences to engage with the diverse perspectives on display.

CURRENT SHOW

Bekah Elsie World

An Intern Art Show Retrospective

Opening Reception
June 6, 2026 | 5 pm - 8 pm
On view for the month of June

Poster for an art show titled "BEKAH ELSIE WORLD" held from June 6th to June 30th with an opening reception on June 6th from 5 pm to 8 pm. The event is at 903 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL. The poster features a dark background with neon pink and teal line art of a woman's profile, a lion, and an abstract star shape.

Bekah (she/her) is a Chicago-based mixed-media artist and art therapist in training who believes that art, in all of its forms, is an invaluable outlet for making sense of our inner worlds and expressing personal and collective rage, whimsy, pain, healing, and everything in between. She often creates intuitively, embodying the chaotic and mundane essence of life in the process. Bekah’s artwork often plays with vivid colors and draws endless inspiration from nature and its many creatures that make way for the emergence of meaningful symbolism. 

Bekah is a current art therapy intern at Open Studio Project and is completing her master's in Art Therapy and Counseling at Adler University. This exhibit is an outpouring of the last two years of her life as she navigated graduate school alongside an incredible support system that kept her inspired and grounded.

Bekah Kaufman

Elsie How

Elsie is an artist and emerging art therapist based in Chicago, primarily working with paint, digital illustration, and stand-up comedy. She produces and hosts "Best Night Ever" at the Lincoln Lodge every other Tuesday at 8 p.m., one of the city's longest-running independent shows. Her visual artwork explores themes of reflection and childhood, often featuring familiar landscapes, objects, and memories. Her autobiographical stand-up comedy combines humor with heartfelt storytelling, focusing on her personal experiences and family. Having recently completed a Master of Fine Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, she aims to incorporate a positive psychology approach—centered on resilience and joy—into her work. When she is not creating, she enjoys leading architectural tours along the Chicago River with Wendella and teaching paint-and-sip classes at Pinot’s Palette in Logan Square.

PAST GALLERY SHOWS @ GALLERY 901

An artistic portrait of a woman with blue hair and blue flowers covering part of her face, against an orange background, with text about an open studio project in Evanston, Illinois.
A pencil sketch of a person shouting or smiling widely. Overlaid text reads "Daisy the HERET" in large outlined letters, with additional details about an opening reception on May 8, 2026, from 6 pm to 8 pm at 901 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL 60202. The event is related to the Open Studio Project Gallery 901.
A poster for an art exhibition titled "Storing: this necessary moment" by Regin Igloria, featuring a bookcase with colorful books and a miniature room setup with a table and chairs. The event is an opening reception on April 4, 2026, from 3-5 pm at Gallery 901, and the exhibit is on view through April 30.
Colorful graphic poster with large overlapping letters spelling essential words and names, including Edwige Massart, Xavier Wytin, and March 7 to March 31, 2023, advertising an art gallery opening reception at Gallery 901 located at 901 Sherman Ave, Evanston, Illinois, 60202.
Flyer for an art exhibition titled 'Hilarity Ensues: Louis DeMarco's Sitcom Universe' with an illustration of people in a cafe setting, including a man with glasses and hands on his cheeks and a woman smiling, and details of the opening reception event scheduled for Saturday, February 7, from 3 to 5 p.m., held at 901 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, Illinois.
Promotional poster for an art event titled 'Free Your Mind: The Art of Margarita Inn' featuring three paintings: a landscape with a tree, water, and a colorful sky; a collection of decorated Easter eggs with words like 'Happiness' and 'Peace'; and an abstract seascape with a tree by the water. The event takes place from November 1 to December 1, 2025, at Gallery 901, 901 Sherman Ave, Evanston, supported by Illinois Arts Council and Connections for the Homeless.
Event poster for a show by Jerri Zbiral at Open Studio Project, featuring an art installation with hands, arms, and a woman walking through a scene of numerous hands reaching out, advertising an opening reception on December 6, 2025, from 3 pm to 6 pm, showing until January 30, 2026.
A promotional poster for the art exhibition titled "Visibility" by Artists of Search Inc. featuring hand-drawn sketches of various characters and creatures, with text providing event details including opening reception on October 4, 2025, from 2-4 pm, at Gallery 901, 901 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL 60202.
Colorful spiral watercolor painting with text overlay promoting the 2025 Facilitator Show at Open Studio Project with opening reception on September 6, 2025, from 5-7 PM at 901 Sherman Ave, Evanston, and on view through September 29. The Open Studio Project logo appears in the top right corner.
An art poster promoting an art exhibition titled 'Night of the Soul' with a face sculpture with gold cracks, surrounded by illustrations of faces and abstract designs, with event details and location.
Promotional poster for an art gallery opening, featuring a photograph of people standing in front of an old neighborhood with boarded-up and weathered houses, under a blue sky.
Event poster with event details and location, featuring a mirrored or symmetrical design with leafy or organic motifs.
Poster for Friedrich Nitsch's art exhibit titled "The Nervous Circus" featuring vintage-style collage imagery of a smiling man and woman hanging in midair, a large skull illustration, and a red backpack, with text about the opening reception details and display dates.
Abstract mixed-media artwork with bold splash of red, blue, and black paint, and scattered text, announcing Matthew Schaefer's art exhibition opening reception on June 7, 2025, at Gallery 901 in Evanston, Illinois.
Colorful mixed media art exhibit poster with a crumpled metallic yellow balloons featuring a smiling face with black eyes, a blue tear, and painted pink cheeks, surrounded by vibrant abstract paint splashes and drawings.
Poster for the 'Come Together' benefit art exhibition featuring 25 artists, organized by Open Studio Project, running from November 2-23, 2024, at Gallery 901 in Evanston, IL. The poster displays a hand sculpture with a spiral design on the palm.
Flyer for Emma Adams' art exhibition titled 'Head in the Clouds' featuring two abstract cloud paintings, with opening reception details and gallery address.
Poster for an art exhibition featuring Patrick M. Palsgrove's show titled 'A/Symmetry' at Gallery 901. The exhibit runs from October 5 to October 27, 2024, with an opening reception on October 5 from 5 to 7 PM. The poster displays abstract collage art with earthy tones and textures and mentions themes such as collage, etching, and relief.
Poster for 'Natura Manufactus,' a multimedia exhibition by Maira Egan, featuring a close-up of a dried or decayed artichoke at the top, with event details including opening reception on December 7th from 6 pm to 9 pm, display until January 25th, 2025, at 901 Sherman, Evanston, IL, and a logo for Open Studio Project.
Poster for an art exhibition titled 'Still At It' at Gallery 901, featuring a central photograph of an elderly man with white hair, glasses, wearing a plaid shirt, smiling and sitting at a table. The poster also includes images of colorful paintings of a man dancing and celebrating. Text on the poster provides details about the exhibition, curated and photographed by Alan Teller, with an opening reception on September 7, 2024, from 3 to 5 pm, running until September 30, 2024, at 901 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL.
A poster promoting an art and wellness event at Gallery 901, running from July 6 to July 31, 2024. The poster features an abstract, colorful ceramic bowl with a fiery orange interior. The event includes an opening reception on July 13, 2024, from 3 to 5 PM at 901 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL. The Open Studio Project logo is at the bottom right.
Poster for RBC Artistry exhibit featuring a colorful, neon-style dinosaur and plants against a sunset background, with event details and gallery information.
Mixed media art poster for 'Half-Mourning' art show by Clare Bollnow, featuring expressive portrait paintings of diverse women with a floral background, opening March 2nd at Open Studio Project, Evanston, Illinois.
Flyer for an art exhibition on Saturday, May 18, 2024, from 10 AM to 3 PM at 727 Main Street, parking lot, sponsored by Open Studio Project. The flyer includes a collage-style artwork featuring a man holding an umbrella, a large moon, buildings, trees, and a bridge, with various logos of sponsors at the bottom.
A collage art piece made of torn patches of a photograph of a yellow house with white trim, surrounded by green leaves with some fall-colored leaves, overlaid with event information for an art exhibit and community meetup.
Colorful illustrated poster for an art exhibition titled 'Mikki Jay: A Retrospective' featuring Miles Burke and Marty Lash, including drawings of a city skyline, a woman with long hair sitting on a bench, a black cat, and various surreal elements, with event details at the bottom.
Poster for an art exhibition titled 'Codartist' by Tim Holliman and Mark Suntres, featuring two artwork images: a colorful portrait of a person with glasses and a beard on the left, and a drawing of a tall building with a green background on the right. The event is at Gallery 901 in Evanston, Illinois, from December 2 to January 30, with an opening reception on December 2, 3-5 PM.
Poster for Uncaged Art exhibition featuring colorful artwork of a bird with a multicolored tail and wings, and text about the event details, including dates, location, and sponsors.
Artistic collage of two human faces made of various objects including shells, glass, electronics, and stones, facing each other, with the title 'HEADS' and event details at the bottom.
Cover of an art exhibit poster for Tiny Eulogies by Carla Bruni, featuring colorful embroidered patches shaped like various objects and characters arranged in a sunburst pattern around a central religious icon, with details about the gallery and event dates.
A black-and-white poster with the title 'Economical Meal' in large, glowing letters. The poster features a robotic hand holding a hamburger, with text explaining that society is changing to AI-powered food and prices as marked. It contains a humorous and dystopian message about technological advances replacing traditional food.
Poster for an OSP Facilitator Exhibition at Gallery 901 from September 2 to September 30, 2023, with an opening reception on September 9, 2023, from 3 to 5 PM, located at 901 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL 60202.
Poster advertising an art exhibition titled 'Harmonic Analysis' by Darin Walsh, featuring paintings on canvas representing mathematical models of reality and thought. The exhibition opens on July 15, 2023, from 3 to 6 pm, at Gallery 901, 901 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL, and is on display from July 1 to July 31, 2023. The poster includes an abstract, colorful painting and the Open Studio Project logo.
A colorful quilt featuring a pattern of yellow sunflowers with brown centers on a blue background, framed with a yellow border. The bottom right corner shows the artist's signature, 'Helianthus.'
Poster for an art exhibition featuring a collage of a woman's face, with overlapping photographic and painted elements, titled 'Barbara Murphy: Characters, Creatures + Wannabe Superheroes'. The exhibition opens on March 17, 2023, at Gallery 901 in Evanston, Illinois, with details on opening hours and show dates.
Poster for an art exhibition featuring a mixed-media artwork composed of yarn, wood, and fabric, with annotations describing weaving, 2D work, sculpture, and community of visually impaired adults. The event is at Gallery 901 from May 6 to May 31, 2023, located at 901 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL, presented by Open Studio Project.
Poster for William Douglas art exhibition titled "Firsts and Lasts" at Gallery 901, opening February 4 from 3 to 5 pm, running until March 5, 2023, located at 901 Sherman Ave, Evanston, Illinois. The poster features a colorful, abstract artwork with symmetrical patterns and vibrant colors.
A poster for an art exhibit titled "Sanctuary Between Worlds" at Gallery 901, 901 Sherman Ave, Evanston. It features colorful artwork: one piece is a portrait of a bearded man with a multicolored background, and the other is a bright, stylized portrait of a woman with two small children. The exhibit is by Dayna Block and Ted Harris, opening on November 12 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM, and running until December 23, 2022.