Joy Machine is a contemporary art gallery in Chicago's Irving Park neighborhood that opens February 21. 

Founded in 2025 by Grace Ebert and Christopher Jobson, Joy Machine exhibits works by emerging and established artists. We believe that joy expands our ability to move and be moved and is an essential antidote to despair.

In 2010, Jobson founded the online art magazine Colossal to celebrate contemporary art and visual culture across a wide range of creative disciplines. He has curated exhibitions in galleries and museums nationally and internationally, including the Exploratorium Museum in San Francisco and the Elmhurst Art Museum. Ebert joined Colossal in 2019 and is currently the editorial director.

Together, Ebert and Jobson have curated exhibitions at the Design Museum of Chicago and the Haggerty Museum of Art. They are currently writing a book about community art with a social aim, which is forthcoming from Artisan.

Our Team

Grace Ebert, co-founder
Christopher Jobson, co-founder
Jackie Andres, gallery associate
Alexandra Bishop, gallery associate