February 21 to April 12, 2025
Joy is a complex, even elusive emotion. Distinct from happiness and pleasure, joy often emerges as a beam of light following a period of darkness, expanding our power to feel and process experiences good and bad.
In times of deep uncertainty and upheaval, it also becomes an indispensable gateway to hope. Light Preserver presents nine artists who cultivate and ritualize joy through humor, nostalgia, vibrancy, and excitement for new possibilities. Whether reflecting on childhood fun or invoking art’s ability to rescue us from depression, each artist taps into our shared humanity—not to evade difficult realities but to find meaning and purpose amid chaos. In this way, joy becomes an essential antidote to despair and a fundamental lifeline to keep us all afloat.
Light Preserver features work by Moises Salazar Tlatenchi, David Heo, Liz Flores, Peter Frederiksen, Danym Kwon, Lisa Congdon, Michael McGrath, Jeff Rubio, and Abi Castillo.
Exhibition Press
Joy is a complex, even elusive emotion. Distinct from happiness and pleasure, joy often emerges as a beam of light following a period of darkness, expanding our power to feel and process experiences good and bad.
In times of deep uncertainty and upheaval, it also becomes an indispensable gateway to hope. Light Preserver presents nine artists who cultivate and ritualize joy through humor, nostalgia, vibrancy, and excitement for new possibilities. Whether reflecting on childhood fun or invoking art’s ability to rescue us from depression, each artist taps into our shared humanity—not to evade difficult realities but to find meaning and purpose amid chaos. In this way, joy becomes an essential antidote to despair and a fundamental lifeline to keep us all afloat.
Light Preserver features work by Moises Salazar Tlatenchi, David Heo, Liz Flores, Peter Frederiksen, Danym Kwon, Lisa Congdon, Michael McGrath, Jeff Rubio, and Abi Castillo.
Exhibition Press
- Irving Park’s Joy Machine Art Gallery Celebrates ‘The Antidote To Despair’ When We Need It Most (Block Club Chicago)
- Top 5 Weekend Picks (Bad At Sports)
- 21 Things to Do in Chicago this Weekend (Block Club Chicago)
- Colossal Team Launches Joy Machine, a New Contemporary Art Gallery in Chicago (Create Magazine)
