Dear Friends of the Oak Park Art League,

Spring is in full bloom, and so is OPAL! May finds us buzzing with creativity and exciting news to share, so let's dive in!

The red tulips and daffodils are done and our garden is calling for art! In preparation for the annual OPRF Garden Walk on June 28, which OPAL is part of, we're excited to announce a call for garden art to be displayed this summer, June - August. Have a piece that deserves to shine outdoors? We'd love to hear from you.

We're also thrilled to share that as part of our resident artist Elise Holowicki’s project OPAL History, including upcoming workshops and a community mural, we are opening up a call in line.
If you'd like to add your voice to this living record of our history, our oral history call-in line is open, call 708.386.9853 after 6pm.
We are particularly interested in stories about Oak Park’s UFO activity of 1954… Record your recollections, your story matters!

We also have some bittersweet staff news. Michael Cuadrado, our Education Program Coordinator for the past year, is moving on after doing an incredible job, not just keeping classes running, but improving and diversifying our offerings in meaningful ways.
Thank you, Michael! and all the best in your creative pursuits.
We're thrilled to welcome Katrina, who steps into this role with fresh energy and enthusiasm.

Now, for a milestone worth celebrating:
this year marks the Oak Park Art League’s 105th anniversary!
One hundred and five years of creating art and community!
Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our members and friends,
we exceeded our goal and fundraising goal raising $22,877. to close out our fiscal year! You make this all possible, and we are deeply grateful!

Finally, mark your calendars and save the date!
HOUSE of OPAL returns on Saturday, Sept12, 6:30 - 9:00pm.
You won't want to miss it! Details and tickets available below!

Here's to a beautiful May filled with art and creativity!

With Gratitude,
Bryan Northup Grayson
Executive Director

UPCOMING

Take a look at what is happening at OPAL in May

Friday May 1st through Sunday 3rd during gallery hours - Artwork Drop off
May 2nd, 1-3 pm - Closing Reception - OPAL Member Show
Saturday May 9th, 1-3pm - Reception: HOME: Art of Architecture Everywhere Sunday May 17th, 2-4 pm - OH MOTHER Poetry Reading - Celebrating mothers in all forms in seasonal poetry reading. May 24 - Spring 3 session begins - Classes are open for registration.

HOUSE of OPAL 2026

SAVE THE DATE!

Saturday Sept 12, 2026
6-9:30pm
at
The Nineteenth Century
Charitable Association
178 Forest Ave, Oak Park

TICKETS on sale now!

Our Spring 3 Adult Class Session
beginning May 23rd
is open for registration

PERSPECTIVE FOR ARTISTS
with Richard Sheppard Monday 6:30-8:30pm
(This is a 3-WEEK COURSE 4/27, 5/4, & 5/11)

THE ART OF LINE
with Jan Zhou Monday 10-12 pm

THE ART OF FORM
with Jan Zhou Monday 1-3pm

EXPERIMENTAL EPHEMERA: CREATIVE REUSE IN PAINTING COLLAGE, AND MIXED MEDIA
with Brianna Perry Monday 4-6pm

BEGINNING TO INTERMEDIATE DRAWING
with Jesse Howard Tuesday 10-12pm

2D BASICS
with Julie Sulzen Tuesday 4-5:30pm

EXPLORING OIL PAINTING
with Julie Sulzen Tuesday 6:30-8:30pm

WATERCOLOR BASICS
with Tony Armendariz Wednesday 10-12pm

PASTEL PAINTING
with Mike Barret Kolasinski Wednesday 1-3pm

BEGINNING TO ADVANCED DRAWING
with Jesse Howard Wednesday 7-9pm

WATERCOLOR BASICS AND BEYOND
with Richard Sheppard Thursday 4-6pm

UNRAVELING THE COMPLEXITY OF TRAVEL SKETCHING
with Richard Sheppard Thursday 7-9pm

W O R K S H O P S

Create a Sticker Workshop
Friday May 8, 3:30 - 5pm or
Saturday May 9, 10:30am - noon
with Caleb Lee

Join Caleb Lee, graphic designer and cartoonist to create a custom design for very own sticker graphic. Designed for all ages, youth ages 16 +.

Kintsugi for Beginners
Saturday, June 28th, 1:30pm - 4:00pm
with Mami Takahashi

Kintsugi is a traditional Japanese art form in which gold is used to repair broken ceramics. The practice of Kintsugi highlights the break rather than erasing it and emphasizes that the break is what makes the ceramics more valuable and beautiful.

Figure Drawing

Work on your figure drawing skills at your own pace in our three hour, non-instructional sessions.
We offer 3 sessions per week

Thursdays, 9am - noon
Fridays, 6:30 - 9:30pm
Sundays, 10am - 1pm

The first two sessions of each month, models are clothed so younger artists can attend.
See our full figure drawing schedule for May and register here, Pre-registration is required.

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

Elise Holowicki

We are thrilled to have Elise leading a workshop series and mural project with participants as well as filming a piece about Doris Humphrey at OPAL. Learn about her OPAL History project and participate in the project.
Her work will be featured in our May exhibition as well.

OPAL History, Community Workshop Series
Thursdays 6-8pm
May 7th, May 14th, May 21st

OPAL History is an eight-part workshop taking place in the Spring of 2026. Led by OPAL 2026 artist in residence Elise Holowicki with guest instructors and speakers.

Throughout sessions, participants will learn about the events of 1954 in Oak Park involving a burgeoning cult of acolytes, a prophecy predicting the end of the world, and the community response to international attention around these occurrences.

IN THE GALLERY

Closing Reception for OPAL Member Exhibition
Saturday May 2nd from 1-3pm.
We are closing out our Spring Member show with cake and a group portrait. Let’s celebrate 105 years!
Members please plan on attending.

UP NEXT - HOME: Art of Architecture Everywhere
Opening reception Saturday, May 9, 1:00 PM 3:00 PM.

Exhibition Judge: Elyse Agnello

Explore the architecture that surrounds us daily—from grand buildings to humble furniture, from urban landscapes to intimate interior details. This exhibition celebrates design in all its forms: built environments, indoor and outdoor spaces, furniture, and everyday objects that shape our lives. Submission deadline May 3rd

AKG Micro Gallery

Current Micro Show

Portals of Knowing
Victoria Pater

OPAL Satellite Exhibitions

The Oak Park Art League is once again offering artists a chance to display their work outside our main gallery, in local businesses we have partnered with to provide more exposure for artists. Members are eligible to exhibit in these venues, please sign up for this opportunity.

Join OPAL in ITALY, 2027!

The Oak Park Art League has partnered with La Romita School of Art in Umbria Italy to form a group artist retreat in summer 2027. Currently we are sharing this opportunity and gathering interested

Artist Opportunities

This is where you will find all the opportunities we come across or that come in especially to be shared with the OPAL artist community.

MEMBER NEWS

Check here for OPAL Member related exhibition announcements and other news. Current OPAL members, submit your art related news to share.
This feature is a benefit of OPAL membership.

As funding for arts and nonprofits continues to decline, your membership and support is more crucial than ever.
Join us in safeguarding this historic, creative sanctuary—renew your membership today and help ensure OPAL thrives for everyone who needs it. Thank you!

DONATE SPONSORSHIP BECOME A MEMBER

Oak Park Art League

Founded in 1921, OPAL is one of the longest, continually-running nonprofit arts organizations in Illinois, fulfilling its mission by offering high-quality art education, lectures, artist demonstrations, critiques, and monthly exhibitions in our historic gallery.

Our Mission

The Oak Park Art League's mission is to be a welcoming center of artistic inquiry, creative expression and art appreciation in Oak Park and the surrounding communities.

Board of Directors

President: David Baker
Vice President: Mia Garcia Hills
Secretary: Ginger Brent
Treasurer: Shira Slack
Directors:
Margot McMahon Barbara McClure
Dave Palomares Colleen Campbell

Staff
Bryan Northup Grayson, Executive Director
Michael Cuadrado Gonzalez, Programming Coordinator

GALLERY HOURS

Thursday & Friday 1-5 pm
Saturday 10 am-4 pm
Sunday 1-4pm
Monday -Wednesday Closed or by appointment

Land Acknowledgement

Each exhibition, program and class associated with the Oak Park Art League (OPAL) takes place on the traditional homelands of the Council of Three Fires - the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa -
as well as the Menominee, Miami, and Ho-Chunk Nations.
OPAL recognizes that the region we now call Chicago and Oak Park was the traditional homeland of many Indigenous nations,
and remains home to diverse Native people today. The land we walk was, and remains Native land.

Thank you to our generous sponsors

Oak Park Art League is partially funded by the Oak Park Area Arts Council, in partnership with the Village of Oak Park, the Illinois Arts Council Agency and the National Endowment for the Arts.