Welcome to Arts of Life

Arts of Life advances the creative arts community by providing artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities a collective space to expand their practice and strengthen their leadership.

Meet Our Artists

We were founded with the idea that the studio belongs to its artists. The guiding principle behind our studio is to give people an opportunity to shape and be a member of an artistic community; a community that changes with the growing needs of the artists and one that is a contributing member of the larger society.

Join Our Studio

Arts of Life offers artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities an alternative career path designed to help enrich their lives as working artists. 

RK_SpyInMyHouseInMyBedroom_2019_markerPaper_11x8

Rebecca Kubica

HLP_Sunset_2019_ColoredPencilPaper_12x20

Kai Pratt

Date:2012
Meduim: Acylic
Size: 12x12

Charlie Miller

TH Sad Butlet Nose 28x32

Ted Hamel

JC_Guitar_2021_Graphite and colored pencil on paper_18 x 24

Joey Center

JAW.Angel-24X18.2013

Joshua Wykes

Upcoming & Recent Events

Enchanted Garden Benefit Auction *TICKETS ON SALE NOW!*

May 3 @ 6:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Garfield Park Conservatory

EXPO Chicago 2024

April 11 - April 14
Navy Pier

With a Little Help From My Friends

March 15 - May 5
Circle Contemporary Chicago

Outsider Art Fair New York

February 29 - March 3
Metropolitan Pavilion
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News and Announcements

A black and white photo of a young man wearing a dark winter coat with chainlink fence and a telephone pole behind him

The Remarkable Story of Kelly Stone

Before Kelly Stone came to Arts of Life, his home...
Debbie Vasquez

Remembering Debbie Vasquez

With much sadness, I share that Debbie Vasquez passed away...
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Peer Fundraise and Get a Prize

We are excited to announce our refreshed Peer Fundraiser Prize...
Ngamanga Massaquoi at the opening of Perennial Hug at Circle Contemporary North Shore

Arts of Life Awarded $200,000 Grant from The Smith-Tieken Foundation

Arts of Life is proud to partner with a remarkable...

What's Happening on Instagram

Before Kelly Stone came to Arts of Life, his home reported no artmaking, no verbal language other than “yes” and “no”, and certainly no experience in a rock band. All that changed when he joined the Chicago Studio in 2003. 

Co-Founder Denise Fisher recalls, “What’s great about Kelly is he’s really curious. He would say yes to everything.” His growing creativity prompted a new opportunity and another “yes” - Kelly joined the Arts of Life Band in the late 2000s. After showing increased confidence in the band, Kelly wrote lyrics for the hit song, Puppies and Babies, which he went on to perform live at venues across Chicago. Here he is singing it at our recent karaoke party!

After these experiences, Kelly’s self-advocacy increased remarkably. He regularly told staff things he wanted in his life, both inside and outside the studio. As we close Developmental Disability Awareness Month, join Kelly and our community in saying yes to more careers for artists with disabilities. 

Thanks to two donors, all gifts for today’s Giving Day are being matched up to $2,000 and all donors today will be entered in a raffle for two tickets to our May 3rd Auction! Donate here or through our website, and share with your community!

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#ArtsOfLife #KellySlone #GivingDay #DisabilityAdvocate

Before Kelly Stone came to Arts of Life, his home reported no artmaking, no verbal language other than “yes” and “no”, and certainly no experience in a rock band. All that changed when he joined the Chicago Studio in 2003.

Co-Founder Denise Fisher recalls, “What’s great about Kelly is he’s really curious. He would say yes to everything.” His growing creativity prompted a new opportunity and another “yes” - Kelly joined the Arts of Life Band in the late 2000s. After showing increased confidence in the band, Kelly wrote lyrics for the hit song, Puppies and Babies, which he went on to perform live at venues across Chicago. Here he is singing it at our recent karaoke party!

After these experiences, Kelly’s self-advocacy increased remarkably. He regularly told staff things he wanted in his life, both inside and outside the studio. As we close Developmental Disability Awareness Month, join Kelly and our community in saying yes to more careers for artists with disabilities.

Thanks to two donors, all gifts for today’s Giving Day are being matched up to $2,000 and all donors today will be entered in a raffle for two tickets to our May 3rd Auction! Donate here or through our website, and share with your community!

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#ArtsOfLife #KellySlone #GivingDay #DisabilityAdvocate
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Don’t miss your chance to roam the Garfield Park Conservatory after-hours while adding to your art collection! Tickets to our Enchanted Garden Benefit Auction are ON SALE NOW! (Ticket link in bio)

✨We are honored to have Molly Morse Limmer of Freeman | Hindman’s conducting our live auction! @hindmanauctions

✨ DJ sets by Audio Support Department! @audiosupportdepartment

✨ Host Committee: Julia Kriegel, Noel Mercado, Elizabeth O’Brien, Katy O’Malley, and Cody Tumblin @_j_joe_  @noel.walletchain @neptuneraindance @codytumblin

✨ Drinks provided by Summer Water Rose, Off Color and Revolution @summerwater @offcolorbrewing @revbrewchicago

Thank you to our sponsors!
Freeman | Hindman’s, CapGrow Partners, Pettinelli Foundation, Napa Valley Community Foundation, Gray Gallery, Printworks, Tandem Thinking, Fealy Family Gift Fund, Oppenheimer Gallery, the Prinz Law Firm, Rakuten, Huntington @richardgraygallery @chicagoprintworks @tandemthinking @joeloppenheimergallery @rakuten @huntingtonbank

Participating Artists: 
Marcelo Aguilar , Milena Arango , Chris Austin, Chase Barney , Ruby Bradford , Raina Carter , Caroline Chun , Guy Conners  Maeve Coughlin , Rocco DiCaro , Liza Eilers, Madeline Gallucci , Mike Gamboa , Amanda Gantner,  Ted Gram-Boarini , Jamie Gray , Laura Greenberg, Noel Herrera , Em Holzinger , Cody Hudson Leo Kaplan , Marcus Kennedy , Kg , Aaron Kleeblatt, Bill Lilly , Christianne Msall , Vontrell Nun Sue Pasowicz , Siena Peterson , Jason Pickleman, Pooja Pittie , Mike Rea , Nick Schutzenhofer Alex Scott , CJ Shaw , Andrew Sloan , Tim Stone, Maria Vanik , Chris Viau , Payton Harris Woodard

WHERE:
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N. Central Park Ave
Chicago, IL 60624

WHEN:
Fri, May 03, 2024
6:30 PM

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#ArtAuction #EnchantedForest #ArtsOfLife #ArtistBenefit #IDD #DisabledArtist #ArtistsWithDisabilities #ChicagoEvents #GarfieldParkConservatory #AndrewSloan #TimStone #MariaVanik #ChrisViau #AaronKleeblatt #BillLilly #ChristianneMsall #VontrellNun #SuePasowicz #MarcusKennedy #NoelHerrera #AmandaGantner #TedGram-Boarini #RoccoDicaro #RainaCarter #CarolineChun #GuyConners #ChrisAustin #MarceloAguilar #party #partytime

Don’t miss your chance to roam the Garfield Park Conservatory after-hours while adding to your art collection! Tickets to our Enchanted Garden Benefit Auction are ON SALE NOW! (Ticket link in bio)

✨We are honored to have Molly Morse Limmer of Freeman | Hindman’s conducting our live auction! @hindmanauctions

✨ DJ sets by Audio Support Department! @audiosupportdepartment

✨ Host Committee: Julia Kriegel, Noel Mercado, Elizabeth O’Brien, Katy O’Malley, and Cody Tumblin @_j_joe_ @noel.walletchain @neptuneraindance @codytumblin

✨ Drinks provided by Summer Water Rose, Off Color and Revolution @summerwater @offcolorbrewing @revbrewchicago

Thank you to our sponsors!
Freeman | Hindman’s, CapGrow Partners, Pettinelli Foundation, Napa Valley Community Foundation, Gray Gallery, Printworks, Tandem Thinking, Fealy Family Gift Fund, Oppenheimer Gallery, the Prinz Law Firm, Rakuten, Huntington @richardgraygallery @chicagoprintworks @tandemthinking @joeloppenheimergallery @rakuten @huntingtonbank

Participating Artists:
Marcelo Aguilar , Milena Arango , Chris Austin, Chase Barney , Ruby Bradford , Raina Carter , Caroline Chun , Guy Conners Maeve Coughlin , Rocco DiCaro , Liza Eilers, Madeline Gallucci , Mike Gamboa , Amanda Gantner, Ted Gram-Boarini , Jamie Gray , Laura Greenberg, Noel Herrera , Em Holzinger , Cody Hudson Leo Kaplan , Marcus Kennedy , Kg , Aaron Kleeblatt, Bill Lilly , Christianne Msall , Vontrell Nun Sue Pasowicz , Siena Peterson , Jason Pickleman, Pooja Pittie , Mike Rea , Nick Schutzenhofer Alex Scott , CJ Shaw , Andrew Sloan , Tim Stone, Maria Vanik , Chris Viau , Payton Harris Woodard

WHERE:
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N. Central Park Ave
Chicago, IL 60624

WHEN:
Fri, May 03, 2024
6:30 PM

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#ArtAuction #EnchantedForest #ArtsOfLife #ArtistBenefit #IDD #DisabledArtist #ArtistsWithDisabilities #ChicagoEvents #GarfieldParkConservatory #AndrewSloan #TimStone #MariaVanik #ChrisViau #AaronKleeblatt #BillLilly #ChristianneMsall #VontrellNun #SuePasowicz #MarcusKennedy #NoelHerrera #AmandaGantner #TedGram-Boarini #RoccoDicaro #RainaCarter #CarolineChun #GuyConners #ChrisAustin #MarceloAguilar #party #partytime
...

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