OPAL Welcomes New Executive Director

OPAL is very excited to welcome our new Executive Director, Bryan Northup (Grayson). Please read Bryan’s letter below, and welcome him in his new role.

Hello Friends, 

I’m honored and excited to be starting 2024 as the Executive Director of the Oak Park Art League.  It’s a new chapter for me and our historic 103-year-old artist community. Some of you know me from years of involvement as one of the staff, from 2009 - 2018, hanging monthly exhibits, answering calls and emails, and greeting you from behind the front desk. After several years away to focus on raising my kids (at least past diapers), I am happy to be able to step into this role at the Oak Park Art League. 

Now more than ever before, we are being told how important self-care and tending to our mental well-being truly is. But I feel that artists already knew this!
That is why OPAL has persevered through tough times and abrupt changes, and why it was a volunteer-run organization until 1998. We recognize the preciousness of a place to make time for art-making and connections with fellow artists.

This year is going to be exciting and challenging. As artists, we are here to help our community, through our art, deal with the ups and downs of life whether it is personal self-care/mental health, local and national issues such as politics and the economy, or global climate change. At OPAL we hope to move forward with renovations and improvements to our 122-year-old, E.E. Roberts carriage house including a second classroom and ADA restroom. Improvements such as these will help us provide for our artist's needs, the community, and beyond. I hope that we will work together to restore and strengthen our ties to this place. 

I encourage you to exhibit your art in the Carriage House Gallery, learn something new in the studio, attend events, volunteer when you can, lend a skill you have, share what OPAL has to offer and invite your friends!

Join us at the reception for NEW YEAR NEW WORK, Friday January 19, 6 - 8:30pm 

I look forward to seeing you soon

Bryan Northup (Grayson)
Executive Director
Oak Park Art League