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.

CALL for Sculptural, outdoor works, available to be on exhibit June 1 - August 31 2026 in the Oak Park Art League courtyard garden during the Oak Park River Forest Garden Walk.

Celebrating 105 years of venerable history and generations of Oak Park Art League Artist Members, this biannual exhibition presents a curated showcase of work by OPAL's current membership. This exhibition honors our rich legacy while showcasing the diverse artistic voices that continue to shape OPAL's vibrant community.

Artist Members are invited to exhibit works that best represent their studio practice.

Portals to Knowing
Victoria Pater

In an era of throwaway stuff and fleeting experiences, Form & Funk’s founder Victoria Pater enthusiastically creates with balance and intention. Her values-led studio believes form follows function — and she can’t help but add a groovy twist.

https://formandfunk.studio

@AtomicVictoria

The Oak Park Art League celebrates emerging talent with works created in our historic classroom studio and taught by award winning artist instructors.
Our OPAL Student Showcase, highlights the creativity, vision, and artistic development of student artists of all ages and skill levels creating in our studio class room as well as work by OPAL teaching faculty.

This showcase provides a supportive platform for student artists to share their work, connect with the community, and celebrate the vital role of art education.

Mars Mythos Tripartite

Heather Lowe

This installation of lenticulars and a few sculptures was primarily inspired by re-reading The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury. I was struck by how his messages of colonization, prejudice, peace and harmony still resonate so strongly today.

In an age of digital connection and physical distance, how do we capture and portray what makes us most human? What does it mean to be human in this moment? Through figure and portrait, artists have long explored the complexity of human experience—our vulnerabilities, connections, contradictions, and resilience.

AERIAL - Jacqueline Rueckert Lakely

Feb 12 - March 8

This series of tiny mixed media pieces is called Aerial, evoking a view from a secluded, safe, elevated perspective, suggesting peace, nature, and a sense of freedom.

Art has always been a compass for navigating uncertainty. Help us map the territory between renewal and resolution. As we complete another revolution around the sun, we find ourselves at the threshold of new beginnings while carrying the weight of unfinished business.
This moment—suspended between what was and what could be—invites artistic exploration of transformation, persistence, and purposeful redirection.

Artists and collectors alike can enjoy a vibrant pop-up Holiday Bazaar featuring member artworks and guest vendors who will exhibit and sell original works, all thoughtfully priced to make perfect gifts.

“Unfiltered”

Elaine Luther & Ralph Romero

Photos by Ralph Romero, printed as cyanotypes by Elaine Luther

This open call exhibit asks; what are your best or strongest memories about food, or eating in community? What are your feelings about food and how can they be conveyed in an artwork to continue the long tradition of food as subject? All media welcome.

Whether your art is inspired by the implications of quantum physics, metaphysics, spirituality, formal design or any combination we invite you to submit your abstract explorations of art to this national juried exhibition.

Lynn Harris Micro Solo Show

During OPAL’s Fall Fundraiser, the work by current OPAL members on the gallery walls will create a rich backdrop of creative expression, epitomizing OPAL’s mission and reflecting our unique artistic community. Artists will interpret the multiple meanings of the word ‘fashion’ - the concept of fashion, the verb to fashion, to create in your own unique style an artwork that can only be made by you and is immediately recognizable as your work.

Emerging Curator Exhibition: Stories from the Soul is an innovative art exhibition designed to foster meaningful dialogue between artists of diverse backgrounds. Curated by OPAL Artist Resident alum Shanelle Harrison, this show will feature five invited artists whose works reflect personal narratives, cultural heritage, and unique life experiences.

This open call judged exhibition seeks to showcase innovative “green” eco-art works and aligns with Plastic-free July, seeking to inspire action and social change through the use of found objects, repurposed for art.

OPAL Board & Staff show

Explorations of how fiber can be used to reflect the interweaving of community while still representing artifice, facade, pride, protection or disguise are all welcome interpretations and valid explorations during Pride month. All media welcome, made of or depicting hair.

How small can you work and still maintain your style?  Find out!  This national open call will feature a group of artists, and each artist will have a solo show, but there’s a catch!  The solo show will be in a box gallery that is 12” x 12” x 12”

Bugs, People
Alexandra Blom

This exhibition aligns with the excitement of EXPO in Chicago by featuring the artist members of OPAL in our 104th Anniversary Spring exhibition. What artworks of yours would you want to be shown at EXPO?

This juried exhibition seeks to showcase a diverse spectrum of work based on the human form yet pushing the boundaries of how we depict ourselves and the bodies we inhabit.

Opening Reception and Awards
Saturday, March 15, 1-4pm

Jurors:
Artist Susan Hall & William Ewers, Executive Director of Palette & Chisel

The show is and open call and is not judged. It is structured to provide a safe, anonymous environment to explore “secret paintings” within a supportive and curious community.
The works will be revealed along with an anonymous reading of their stories and hung during a live performance in front of an audience.

SOUVENIRS
Nancy Wisti Grayson

This is an open call for recent artwork inspired by new beginnings with a special emphasis on works in progress. Show your process and share something that may feel risky and unfinished.

FAMILY TIES
Kelley Clink
Jan 4 - Mar 9 2025

Annual Fall Artist Member Exhibition, small works version. This exhibit is open to all current Artist Members. All media welcome. Size is limited to 8” in its largest dimension. Up to 6 submissions per artist

Christina Cornier, THE FIRST YEAR
Nov 30 - Jan 2025

Cartooning and animation are powerful modes for speaking truth to power, when protest is captioned in a word bubble and dry humor delivers the punch. This juried national exhibition comes at a fraught time, an election year, and invites artists working in all forms of cartooning and animation to submit works that speak to this moment in human history.