School of the Art Institute of Chicago Student Art Sale

I love the SAIC Student Art Sale: they are 2x a year (spring and winter); watch the web site carefully as sometimes we have missed the posting of the dates until it’s too late!
The event is held in a beautiful ballroom, across the street from the Art Institute, and it’s free to get in. It’s really inspiring to see all the creative work that the students produce… and to know that you can take some home with you! I have bought assorted different pieces over the years and still enjoy them in my home.
I’m currently looking forward to the spring sale, coming up in April. Take a day to fill your life with art and support the budding artists who create it!

SAIC holds a student art sale twice a year, spring and winter, in the ballroom of its Michigan Avenue building. What a great chance to view the work of the Picasso’s of tomorrow! There’s plenty to look at, arranged on two floors. Every medium is represented, from oil on canvas to photography and sculpture, and not surprisingly, there’s quite a bit of crafts, such as jewelry, ceramics, pottery, and textiles. Hang it on your wall or give it as a gift. The quality runs the gamut, which is true of any art show, and these are students, after all, many quite accomplished. Prices run from $ 1 to about $ 1,000. From what I understand, the students keep 80% and the Art Institute gets 20% – I’m not too sure I agree with that split.
Still the best thing about the show is access to the students. It’s a great bunch of talented people. They all want to talk about their work, and they literally stand (or sit) behind their work at the show and love to chat. I know serious collectors who go to these shows (probably the preview event) and really try to scope out the stars of tomorrow. But frankly that’s hardly the point. Come out, take a look, and bring some disposable cash. These students – who have decided to make art their profession (OMG) – deserve our support.