Media Contact:
Natasha Ritsma
Director, Schingoethe Center
Aurora University
nritsma@aurora.edu
630-844-6157
Exhibition shares Illinois history through contemporary art and diverse perspectives on place, memory and identity
AURORA, Ill. (September 1, 2026) – The Schingoethe Center of Aurora University presents Here, There: New Perspectives from the Illinois State Museum Collection, an exhibition bringing together acclaimed and emerging artists whose work explores the connections between place, memory and identity, from Tuesday, Sept. 8, through Friday, Dec. 11, 2026.
Here, There examines how movement, culture and lived experience shape our sense of belonging and the stories we share. Bringing together works from the Illinois State Museum Collection, the exhibition considers “here” and “there” as relational spaces where personal and collective histories intersect.
The exhibition developed through the Illinois State Museum’s participation in the Terra Foundation for American Art’s Re-envisioning Permanent Collections initiative. As part of the program, guest curators Mariela Acuña, Sheridan Tucker Anderson and Alison Lacher were invited to select works from the museum’s collection of more than 6,000 artworks. Moving between well-known and lesser-seen works, the curators chose pieces that revisited underrepresented stories of community, gradually shaping the foundation of Here, There.
As they worked with the collection, a guiding question emerged: Whose stories are most visible in the history of Illinois art, and which voices have been less often represented? Rather than presenting a single narrative of Illinois history, the curators shaped the exhibition as a conversation among works from across the collection.
The exhibition features artists including Eldzier Cortor, Theaster Gates, Miyoko Ito, Marion Perkins, Jin Lee and Joseph Yoakum, among many others. Spanning different time periods and artistic movements, the works return to shared themes of struggle, exploration, perseverance and empathy while reflecting the diversity of life and experience in Illinois.
From Miyoko Ito’s evocative explorations of place to the work of artists whose practices engage directly with communities and lived experience, Here, There demonstrates the breadth of stories contained within a major state collection.
The Schingoethe Center will host an opening reception for Here, There on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, from 5-7p.m., featuring micro talks by exhibiting artists and curators as well as refreshments.
On Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, the Schingoethe Center will host Family Day from 10a.m.-1 p.m. Make lasting memories while enjoying crafts for all ages, live music, games, raffle prizes and snacks. Family Day is located in the Hill Welcome Center.
Here, There: New Perspectives from the Illinois State Museum Collection is on view at the Schingoethe Center of Aurora University, located within the Hill Welcome Center at 1315 Prairie St. in Aurora. The exhibition is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Tuesday from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.
Artists included in Here, There: Alberto Aguilar, Frey Austin, Rodney Baker, Kathleen Blackshear, Eldzier Cortor, Katherine Dudley, Michele Feder-Nadoff, Theaster Gates, Azadeh Gholizadeh, Doug Ischar, Michiko Itatani, Miyoko Ito, Raeleen Kao, Zehra Khan, Linda Lewis Kramer, N. Masani Landfair, Lester Lashley, Jin Lee, Robert Middaugh, Joseph Josué Mora, Clifton Pearson, Marion Perkins, David Philpot, Jason Reblando, John Schacht, Rosalyn Schwartz, Charles Sebree, Daniel Smajo-Ramirez, Rafael E. Vera, Clarence Williams, Derrick Woods-Morrow and Joseph Yoakum.
Please visit aurora.edu/museum for information about public programs, exhibition updates and visitor information.
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About the Schingoethe Center
The Schingoethe Center at Aurora University presents exhibitions and programs that connect audiences with art, culture and history. Through exhibitions drawn from its collections and collaborations with artists, museums and cultural organizations, the Center provides opportunities to explore diverse perspectives and engage with the stories that shape our communities.
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