Ellen Lustig Opening Reception

The Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art is pleased to announce the upcoming, very unique solo exhibition of Chicago-based multimedia artist Ellen Lustig, opening Saturday, November 22, 2025, with a reception from 12–4 pm.

The exhibition showcases Lustig's multifaceted creative force spanning from childhood to the present day. The showcase includes drawing, painting, sculpture, and more. Highlights include her Surreal Tree Paintings, oil works revealing anthropomorphic qualities in nature; Abstract Illusion Paintings, spontaneous landscapes evoking music and motion; and Zofscape, a multimedia installation combining LED light sculptures, animated video, and original music composition.

A graduate of California College of the Arts in Oakland, Lustig has built a remarkable career as a caricature artist, ceramic sculptor, mural painter, and puppet maker. Her work reflects the influence of Bay Area underground comics culture and the Chicago Imagist movement, blending whimsy with deeper commentary on contemporary life. Her signature Pop Surrealism style transforms ordinary subjects into dreamlike scenarios that are simultaneously playful and profound.

The exhibition runs through Sunday, February 1, 2026, with an artist talk, workshop, and musical event planned during the show run. Artist Talk scheduled for Saturday, January 17, 2026, from 1–2 pm, additional dates and details to follow.