Arc Gallery

Artists, residents of Chicago (A.R.C.) was founded in 1973 as a women-run artists' cooperative dedicated to exhibiting the artwork of any group or individual artist facing significant barriers within the dominant power structures of the art world. A.R.C. Gallery is now an internationally recognized exhibition space run by its artist-members as a non-profit alternative exhibition space. Because of this, we are not beholden to any corporate or institutional pressure; we believe strongly in the artwork we show. We never charge admission for entry. We take no commission on artwork sold at solo shows. A.R.C. relies solely on donations, grants, and membership dues. We view our gallery space as an extension of our origin story—a place of support for artists who struggle to have their artwork seen, and for whom showing work can, at times, be dangerous. These ideals are reflected in the themes we explore and the work we choose to exhibit. We believe that the ideals of true feminism are intersectional and inherently supportive of all those affected by patriarchy, white supremacy, and misogyny.