EXPO CHICAGO 2017 Palais de Tokyo Off-Site Exhibition Location Revealed, Chicago Architecture Biennial 2017 Participants Announced

EXPO CHICAGO, The International Exposition of Contemporary & Modern Art, with the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, the Institut français and The DuSable Museum of African American History, in partnership with Cultural Services of the French Embassy in the United States, announced today, The Roundhouse at the DuSable Museum as the official location for a large-scale, off-site exhibition project and official program to open in Chicago as the kick-off for the sixth edition of EXPO CHICAGO (Sept. 13-17, 2017). The first U.S. satellite exhibition of Palais de Tokyo, as part of their broader worldwide Hors les Murs initiative, will open during EXPO ART WEEK on September 12 and run concurrently during the 2017 Chicago Architecture Biennial (Sept. 16-January 7, 2018) through October 29, 2017.  

 "As we continue to build support for EXPO CHICAGO’s extraordinary collaboration with the Palais de Tokyo, no venue in Chicago is more appropriate to host the first US-based iteration of the renowned French institution’s Hors Les Murs program than the Roundhouse at the DuSable Museum of African American History," said EXPO CHICAGO President | Director Tony Karman. "The institutional connection and historical relevance of the Roundhouse provides a perfect setting for the local and global art and architecture communities to engage in this landmark exhibition."

Curated by the Palais de Tokyo’s Katell Jaffrès, the group exhibition will present emerging artists from both the French and Chicago art scenes, focusing on the dialogue between architecture and artistic process. Utilizing the raw, historic space of the Roundhouse, a 17,000-sq. ft. building built in 1881 by Burnham and Root, one of Chicago's most famous architectural companies of the nineteenth century, the exhibition will explore the experience of a space and its transformation into an artistic gesture that conducts the viewer’s experience. The Chicago iteration of the Palais de Tokyo’s Hors Les Murs will emphasize the relationship between the space of the Roundhouse, and the selected artists’ site-specific works (to be announced at a later date). Working in collaboration with Andrew Schachman, a Chicago-based Guest Designer nominated by the Graham Foundation, Jaffrès will invite artists with a connection to France and Chicago to conceive newly commissioned installations—both as works of art and spaces able to welcome the work by other artists.

“The singularity of the Roundhouse makes it an ideal space to develop the exhibit outside of Paris,” said Jaffrès. “The structures or ‘stations’ that the artists will create will each act as an architectural intervention within the exhibition, inducting action into the exhibition space, and creating an accommodation and correspondence between the sculptures, installations or video works by the other artists in the show.”

“The simultaneity of EXPO CHICAGO and the Chicago Architecture Biennial provides the opportunity to affirm the vital relationship between the two disciplines of art and architecture,” said Palais de Tokyo President Jean de Loisy. “Just as El Lissitzky did with his Proun Rooms, or Frederick Kiesler for Peggy Guggenheim’s Art of this Century Gallery in 1942, we are devising an imbrication of the constructive activities of artists with the possibility of external interferences on their structures coming from other, complicit artists. Palais de Tokyo is thus bringing together artists from the French and Chicago scenes to produce a show conceived to be something utterly unusual.”

Choosing to stage the event at the DuSable Museum’s Roundhouse will enable the Palais de Tokyo to export its unique approach in a different space. Built in Paris in 1937, the Palais de Tokyo has gone through major iterations and renovations. When transforming the building into an art center dedicated to supporting emerging and mid-career artists, a conscious decision was made to retain the building’s minimalist aesthetic. It became a veritable statement-piece for the architects, Lacaton & Vassal, commissioned to renovate the building based on Palais de Tokyo’s specific artistic focus and direction. In keeping with that same artistic focus, Palais de Tokyo’s exhibition program pushes the envelope in terms of artistic challenges and scope, providing artists with the opportunity to engage in a strong dialogue exploring the notions of volume and space. Situating this reflection within the context of the Chicago Architecture Biennial will offer an exceptional opportunity to widen this focus, exploring the way the artists can incorporate some of architecture’s own processes into their practice. The program uses art to encourage a more introspective exploration of an individual’s relation to architecture and space.

"The DuSable Museum is honored to have been selected as the location for Hors les Murs, a groundbreaking collaboration between EXPO CHICAGO, Palais De Tokyo and the Institut français,” said President & CEO of the DuSable Museum Perri L. Irmer. “I am sure that this first U.S. exhibition for the Palais de Tokyo will be one of many more exciting exhibits to come to the DuSable Museum, and this exhibition will serve as another example of what a world-class city Chicago is and will continue to be in the future."

As previously announced, the project will develop in two parts; the first through a residency partnership with Mana Contemporary Chicago, allowing international and France-based artists to produce new work in Chicago; and the second will be the large-scale public exhibition to take place at the Roundhouse.

The satellite exhibition during EXPO CHICAGO is the first iteration of a new international three year-program developed by Palais de Tokyo and Institut français. The program aims to build special operations to shed light on a new generation of artists and to support their first presence in new territories. Each operation will take place in the context of major international art events, such as a biennial or fair. This new programming initiative is supported by the Institut français and the French Ministry of Culture and Communication. 

“Our collaboration with EXPO CHICAGO has grown enormously since 2013. We have organized exchanges between the new generation of both French and American curators. In a very short time, artists and art professionals from France have come to Chicago, and now, galleries and collectors have followed suit,” said Cultural Counselor of the French Embassy in the United States Bénédicte de Montlaur. “In Chicago, French artists and professionals are discovering a new scene, and finding a new gateway to the United States. The Palais de Tokyo’s Hors les Murs project in partnership with EXPO CHICAGO will take this collaboration even further. Never have Chicago and Paris been so close.”

"Following a meeting with EXPO CHICAGO four years ago, we opened a new cycle of collaborations with Chicago, all of which have strengthened dialogue and boosted exchanges between the two scenes in the visual arts and architecture,” said President of Institut français Bruno Foucher. “For EXPO CHICAGO 2017, we chose to partner with the Palais de Tokyo in order to imagine a project together around the French artists and the local scene. This unique partnership aims to continue in 2018 and 2019, in two other cities in connection with major international events. We are especially pleased and proud that the first step of this collaboration can take place in the highly challenging context of EXPO CHICAGO and of the Chicago Architecture Biennial because it will necessarily bearer for the artists that we will support."

EXPO CHICAGO/2017, The International Exposition of Contemporary and Modern Art, is presented by Art Expositions, LLC at Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, hosting more than 145 leading International exhibitors presented alongside one of the highest quality platforms for global contemporary art and culture. Now in its sixth year as a leading international art fair, EXPO CHICAGO (Sept. 13–17, 2017) offers diverse programming including /Dialogues, IN/SITU, IN/SITU Outside, EXPO VIDEO, the Curatorial Forum, the Art Critics Forum,Special Exhibitions, EXPO Projects and OVERRIDE | A Billboard Project. In addition, EXPO CHICAGO continues to publish THE SEEN, Chicago's International Journal of Contemporary & Modern Art. Under the leadership of President and Director Tony Karman, EXPO CHICAGO draws upon the city’s rich history as a vibrant international cultural destination, while highlighting the region’s contemporary arts community and inspiring its collector base. In 2017, EXPO CHICAGO and the Chicago Architecture Biennial (September 16–December 31) will align, establishing the city as a preeminent destination for global contemporary art and architecture. As part of the 2017 edition, the alignment will intersect across a wide variety of programs, including panels, international residencies, exhibitions and citywide events.

Vernissage, the opening night preview benefiting the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, takes place Wednesday, Sept 13, 6–9 p.m. General Admission to the exposition is Thursday, Sept. 14–Sunday, Sept. 17 (for hours please visit expochicago.com). Tickets to the exposition are $20 for one day, $30 for three days. Northern Trust is the Presenting Sponsor of EXPO CHICAGO. For more information about EXPO CHICAGO and EXPO ART WEEK (Monday Sept. 11–Sunday Sept. 17), visit expochicago.com. 

Established in 2002 and dedicated to contemporary art, Palais de Tokyo welcomes today’s generation of artists and is the largest center for contemporary art in Europe. Palais de Tokyo “Hors les Murs” program offers off-site exhibitions held during major international art events. Previous projects include Zürich, in parallel to Manifesta 11 (June 2016), as well as in Singapore (January 2016), an exhibition co-produced with the ICA Singapore and presented on the occasion of Art Stage Singapore. Palais de Tokyo has also organized two participations at the Lyon Biennale (2013 and 2015) and the traveling exhibition “Inside China” coproduced with the K11 Foundation during Art Basel Hong Kong 2015 and in Shanghai. Projects have also been developed with MoMA PS1 and the Stedelijk Museum in 2014. palaisdetokyo.com

The DuSable Museum of African American History is one of the oldest institutions of its kind in the country. Our mission is to promote understanding and inspire appreciation of the achievements, contributions and experiences of African Americans through exhibits, programs and activities that illustrate African and African American history, culture and art. The DuSable Museum is a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate. The DuSable Museum of African American History gratefully acknowledges the Chicago Park District’s partnership, and also thanks United Airlines, the official airline of the DuSable Museum for its support. dusablemuseum.org

About The Cultural Services of the French Embassy

The Cultural Services of the French Embassy provides a platform for exchange and innovation between French and American artists, intellectuals, educators, students, the tech community, and the general public. Based in New York City, Washington D.C., and eight other cities across the US, the Cultural Services develops the cultural economy by focusing on six principal fields of action: visual and performing arts, literature, cinema, the digital sphere, French language and higher education. frenchculture.org

Under the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development and of the Ministry of Culture and Communication, the Institut français, which serves the reputation of France abroad, promotes artists, ideas and works, the French language, and the creative cultural industries. It helps organize professional communities while encouraging artistic exchanges and dialogues between cultures. The Institut français serves as an implement for influence and cooperation, a source of expertise and advice. The Institut français maintains a presence in 96 countries and is the primary partner in the French cultural network abroad (the Institut français abroad, the cultural services of the embassies, and the Alliances françaises).  institutfrancais.com/en

Founded in 1956, the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts makes project-based grants to individuals and organizations and produces public programs to foster the development and exchange of diverse and challenging ideas about architecture and its role in the arts, culture, and society. grahamfoundation.org

The 2017 Chicago Architecture Biennial will be open to the public and on view from September 16, 2017 through January 7, 2018. Press and professional previews will take place September 14 and 15. The opening of the 2017 Biennial will align with the sixth annual EXPO CHICAGO, the International Exposition of Contemporary and Modern Art, which will run September 13–17 at Navy Pier. The hub of the 2017 Biennial will once again be the Chicago Cultural Center, located in downtown Chicago. 

51N4E (Brussels, Belgium; Tirana, Albania)
6A Architects (London, UK)
Ábalos+Sentkiewicz (Madrid, Spain; Cambridge, USA; Shanghai, China)
Adamo-Faiden (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
AGENdA agencia de arquitectura (Medellin, Colombia)
Aires Mateus (Lisbon, Portugal)
Ana Prvački and SO-IL (Los Angeles, USA; New York, USA)
Andrew Kovacs (Los Angeles, USA)
Angela Deuber Architect (Chur, Switzerland)
Ania Jaworska (Chicago, USA)
Aranda\Lasch and Terrol Dew Johnson (New York, USA; Tucson, USA)
Archi-Union (Shanghai, China)
Architecten de Vylder Vinck Taillieu (Ghent, Belgium)
Arno Brandlhuber and Christopher Roth (Berlin, Germany)
Atelier Manferdini (Venice, USA)
AWP office for territorial reconfiguration (Paris, France; London, UK)
Bak Gordon Arquitectos (Lisbon, Portugal)
Barbas Lopes (Lisbon, Portugal)
Barkow Leibinger (Berlin, Germany)
baukuh (Milan, Italy)
Besler & Sons LLC (Los Angeles, USA)
BLESS (Berlin, Germany)
BUREAU SPECTACULAR (Los Angeles, USA)
Caruso St John (London, UK)
Charlap Hyman & Herrero (Los Angeles, USA; New York, USA)
Charles Waldheim (Cambridge, USA)
Christ & Gantenbein (Basel, Switzerland)
Daniel Everett (Chicago, USA; Salt Lake City, USA)
David Schalliol (Chicago, USA)
Dellekamp Arquitectos (Mexico City, Mexico)
Design With Company (Chicago, USA)
Diego Arraigada Arquitectos (Rosario, Argentina)
DOGMA (Brussels, Belgium)
DRDH (London, UK)
ENSAMBLE STUDIO (Madrid, Spain; Boston, USA)
Éric Lapierre Architecture (Paris, France)
Estudio Barozzi Veiga (Barcelona, Spain)
fala atelier (Porto, Portugal)
Filip Dujardin (Ghent, Belgium)
Fiona Connor and Erin Besler (Los Angeles, USA; Auckland, New Zealand)
First Office (Los Angeles, USA)
formlessfinder (New York, USA)
Frida Escobedo (Mexico City, Mexico)
Gerard and Kelly (Los Angeles, USA; New York, USA)
Go Hasegawa (Tokyo, Japan)
HHF Architects (Basel, Switzerland)
Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle (Chicago, USA)
J. MAYER H. und Partner, Architekten and Philip Ursprung (Berlin, Germany)
James Welling (New York, USA)
Jesús Vassallo (Houston, USA)
Jorge Otero-Pailos (New York, USA)
June14 Meyer-Grohbrügge & Chermayeff (New York, USA; Berlin, Germany)
Karamuk * Kuo Architects (New York, USA; Zurich, Switzerland)
Keith Krumwiede (New York, USA)
Kéré Architecture (Berlin, Germany)
Kuehn Malvezzi (Berlin, Germany)
Luisa Lambri (Milan, Italy)
Lütjens Padmanabhan Architekten (Zurich, Switzerland)
Made In (Geneva, Switzerland; Zurich, Switzerland)
MAIO (Barcelona, Spain)
Marianne Mueller (Zurich, Switzerland)
Marshall Brown (Chicago, USA)
MG&Co. (Houston, USA)
MONADNOCK (Rotterdam, The Netherlands)
MOS (New York, USA)
Norman Kelley (Chicago, USA; New York, USA)
Nuno brandåo costa arquitectos Ida (Porto, Portugal)
OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen (Brussels, Belgium)
PASCAL FLAMMER (Zurich, Switzerland)
Patrick Braouezec (Paris, France)
Paul Andersen and Paul Preissner (Chicago, USA; Denver, USA)
Pezo Von Ellrichshausen (Concepción, Chile)
Philipp Schaerer (Zurich, Switzerland)
PRODUCTORA (Mexico City, Mexico)
REAL Foundation (London, UK)
Robert Somol (Chicago, USA)
SADAR+VUGA (Ljubljana, Slovenia)
Sam Jacob Studio (London, UK)
SAMI-arquitectos (Setubal, Portugal)
SANAA (Tokyo, Japan)
Sauter von Moos (Basel, Switzerland)
Sergison Bates (London, UK; Zurich, Switzerland)
Serie Architects (London, UK; Zurich, Switzerland)
SHINGO MASUDA+KATSUHISA OTSUBO Architects (Tokyo, Japan)
Stan Allen Architect (New York, USA)
Studio Anne Holtrop (Muharraq, Bahrain; Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Studiomumbai (Mumbai, India)
Sylvia Lavin (Los Angeles, USA)
T+E+A+M (Ann Arbor, USA)
Tatiana Bilbao Estudio (Mexico City, Mexico)
Tham & Videgård Arkitekter (Stockholm, Sweden)
The Empire (Verona, Italy)
The Living (New York, USA)
The Los Angeles Design Group (Los Angeles, USA)
Thomas Baecker Bettina Kraus (Berlin, Germany)
Tigerman McCurry Architects (Chicago, USA)
Toshiko Mori Architect (New York, USA)
UrbanLab (Chicago, USA; Los Angeles, USA)
Urbanus (Shenzhen, China; Beijing, China)
Veronika Kellndorfer (Berlin, Germany)
WELCOMEPROJECTS (Los Angeles, USA)
Work Architecture Company (New York, USA)
Zago Architecture (Los Angeles, USA)
ZAO/standardarchitecture (Shanghai, China)

*Listed alphabetically by Firm Name or First Name

A complete list of Biennial programming and special events will be available in the coming months at chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org.