Alison Ruttan: The Paradox of Inaction
April 4, 2026 – July 12, 2026
Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S. Cornell St, Chicago, IL 60615
Hyde Park Art Center , the renowned non-profit hub for contemporary art located on Chicago’s vibrant South Side, is proud to announce a major solo exhibition by interdisciplinary artist Alison Ruttan. Visualizing the catastrophic impact of global warming on coastal communities, the immersive installation places visitors at the center of a submerged suburban neighborhood to invite reflections on the climate crisis. On view from April 4-July 12, 2026 , the expansive exhibition takes up 2300 sq. ft. gallery space with over 160 cast ceramic forms. A free public opening reception with the artist will take place on Saturday, April 4, 2026 from 1-4 p.m. Throughout her career, Ruttan has created many visual representations of massive traumatic events, such as the Gombe Chimpanzee War, the Israeli bombardment of Lebanon, the “Highway of Death” in Kuwait, and the Syrian Civil War. For Ruttan, the labor involved in rendering these events visible is an attempt to emphasize their urgency for herself and viewers.