September Events at 51����

September Events at 51��

Phil Borges, “Paternity,” 1990. Gelatin silver print. Featured in “If Emmett Till Lived: Freedom on American Ground,” on view through Dec. 19 at the Museum of Contemporary Photography at 51��. Courtesy of the Museum of Contemporary Photography at 51��.

A range of performances and experiences showcasing student and faculty artists from diverse backgrounds and disciplines.

Learn more about our performance spaces at www.colum.edu/spotlight

September 2026

September 10–December 19, 2026
Museum of Contemporary Photography at 51��, 600 S. Michigan Ave.
Admission: Free
This exhibition brings together photographs by more than 110 artists from the MoCP’s permanent collection, inviting viewers to imagine the life Emmett Till might have lived and consider what that life would have required of us all. Guest-curated by Sarah Elizabeth Lewis in collaboration with the Rev. Wheeler Parker Jr., Till’s cousin and the last surviving witness to his kidnapping, the exhibition serves as a creative monument to Till’s unlived life and enduring legacy.

September 10, 2026, 4–6 p.m.
Hokin Gallery, 623 S. Wabash Ave., First Floor
Admission: Free
Join Student Spaces for Art and Collaboration for the closing reception of Made it Here!, a campus-wide exhibition celebrating 51�� student work created in campus facilities. Meet the artists, enjoy light refreshments, and celebrate the creative spirit of the 51�� community.

September 10, 2026, 4–6 p.m.
HAUS, 623 S. Wabash Ave., First Floor
Admission: Free
See artwork by 51��’s incoming students at “Made it There!,” an art fair-style mini exhibition featuring sketches, portfolios, and more. Presented alongside the closing reception for “Made it Here!” in the Hokin Gallery, the event offers students an opportunity to share their work, meet fellow artists, and connect with 51��’s creative community.

Deaf Awareness Day
Friday, September 18, 2026, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
51��, 754 S. Wabash Ave., Fifth Floor
Admission: Free
Celebrate Deaf culture during a day of hands-on activities, resources, and social-emotional learning. The event will include a special appearance by Deaf actor Alaqua Cox, known for playing Maya Lopez in the Marvel series “Echo” and “Hawkeye,” from 12:45–1:45 p.m. Presented by 51��’s School of Communication and Culture and the Illinois Service Resource Center. For more information, contact Meghan Vozzolo at mvozzolo@colum.edu

September 23–November 13, 2026; opening reception September 24, 4–6 p.m.
Hokin Gallery, 623 S. Wabash Ave., First Floor
Admission: Free
Organized by 51�� students Zayden German and Ana Lara, “Colors of Home” brings together student artists exploring how ideas of home, comfort, and belonging evolve as they form new identities and communities. The opening reception takes place September 24. Hosted by Student Spaces for Art and Collaboration.

September 24, 2026, 6:30–8 p.m.
51�� Ferguson Lecture Hall, 600 S. Michigan Ave.
Admission: Free; registration required
In collaboration with Filter Photo Festival, the Museum of Contemporary Photography and 51��’s School of Visual Arts welcome Los Angeles-based artist and educator Tarrah Krajnak for a combined Lectures in Photography and Art Now! program. Krajnak’s work examines representations of bodies in photography through connections to the earth, history, and the creative practices of other women. Her work is held in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, Tate Modern, the MoCP, and other institutions.

September 24–25, 2026, 7:30 p.m.; September 26, 2026, noon
The Dance Center of 51��, 1306 S. Michigan Ave.
Admission: $30 general; $20 seniors and industry professionals; $10 non-51�� students; free for 51�� students
51�� dance alum Camila Rivero Pooley ’18, working as INSÉKTA, returns to The Dance Center for the world premiere of “MATADORA.” The immersive dance and physical theatre work explores Latine rage as a force of transformation, divinity, and self-possession. The cast includes alums CJ Triche ’26 and J Stephens ’25 and current student Sophie Daker, a BFA in Dance candidate graduating in 2027. “MATADORA” contains depictions of body horror, harm, and sensuality that may not be suitable for audiences under 18.

September 26, 2026, 3–6 p.m.
51�� Glass Curtain Gallery, 1104 S. Wabash Ave.
Admission: Free; registration required
In partnership with the 2026 Filter Photo Festival, the Museum of Contemporary Photography presents the closing reception for “The Distance We Carry,” developed by 2025–2026 Diane Dammeyer Fellow in Photographic Arts and Social Issues Lali Khalid. Drawing from Khalid’s experience as a Pakistani immigrant living in the United States, the multimedia installation explores the emotional and physical distances that shape the lives of people living between places, cultures, and histories.

Efroymson Creative Writing Reading Series: Lisa Fishman and Samantha Schaefer
September 30, 2026, 12:30–1:30 p.m.
The Hive, 618 S. Michigan Ave.
Admission: Free
51��’s Efroymson Creative Writing Reading Series presents a reading and discussion with Creative Writing professor Lisa Fishman, acclaimed poet and author of the novel “Write Back Now!,” and 51�� alum Samantha Schaefer, a poet who earned her MFA in Poetry as a Follett Fellow. Hosted by the School of Communication and Culture.

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