Art Institute of Chicago to Present First Major Museum Solo Exhibition by Jill Mulleady
The Art Institute of Chicago will present The Passenger, Jill Mulleady’s first solo exhibition at a major museum, from September 19, 2026 to January 18, 2027. The exhibition brings together approximately 20 paintings. Mulleady employs staining and materials such as copper on supports including glass and velvet to produce luminous surfaces that balance transparency and opacity. Her works depict enigmatic scenes of figures under threat, drawing from art-historical, cinematic, and literary sources while engaging with allegory, the Baroque, and the grotesque.
The Signal
The presentation marks a key institutional milestone for Mulleady and positions her practice within the Art Institute’s collection, where her tableaux resonate with existing holdings. For collectors and curators, it signals growing recognition of artists who prioritize instinct and historical layering over 20th-century modernist restraint. The exhibition underscores how such approaches can reframe canonical genres for contemporary audiences.
- Artists: Jill Mulleady
- Galleries: Gladstone Gallery
- Museums: Art Institute of Chicago
- Locations: Chicago
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