Colossal Team Launches Joy Machine, a New Contemporary Art Gallery in Chicago
Danym Kwon
Colossal Art Magazine Team Debuts Joy Machine: A Fresh Contemporary Art Space in Chicago
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2025
Media Contact:
Grace Ebert at Joy Machine
E: grace@joymachine.art
P: 920-242-5331
Introducing Joy Machine: A New Contemporary Art Gallery in Chicago’s Irving Park Neighborhood
The much-anticipated February 21 grand opening will launch with Light Preserver, an electrifying group exhibition featuring works by Moises Salazar, Michael McGrath, David Heo, and more.
Michael McGrath
CHICAGO (February 12, 2025) — The visionary team behind the award-winning Colossal art magazine is expanding into the physical realm with the debut of Joy Machine, a contemporary art gallery in Chicago’s Irving Park neighborhood. Founders Grace Ebert (Colossal Editorial Director) and Christopher Jobson (Colossal Founder and Publisher) believe in the transformative power of joy—an essential element in shaping a more connected and inspired world.
Rooted in Chicago’s thriving creative scene, Colossal has operated as a premier online platform for nearly 15 years. Recognizing the need for more spaces to engage artists and audiences alike, Ebert and Jobson felt compelled to create a dynamic, in-person hub to facilitate conversations and exhibitions that reflect today’s cultural climate.
Inaugural Exhibition: Light Preserver
Opening alongside the gallery launch, Light Preserver explores how joy serves as a crucial anchor amid societal uncertainty. Featuring a striking mix of painting, ceramics, textiles, collage, and embroidery, the works in this show encapsulate themes of humor, nostalgia, color, and an energized embrace of what’s to come. Through these artistic expressions, joy is positioned not just as an emotion, but as a radical and necessary force.
Artists featured in Light Preserver include Moises Salazar, David Heo, Liz Flores, Peter Frederiksen, Danym Kwon, Lisa Congdon, Michael McGrath, Jeff Rubio, and Abi Castillo.
A New Platform for Artists in Chicago
“Through our conversations with artists over the years, we kept hearing the same thing—Chicago needs more spaces for artists to exhibit and connect,” says Jobson. “We’ve long admired the city’s creative talent and felt it was time to build something rooted in the curatorial voice Colossal has cultivated online.”
Ebert adds, “There’s a fundamental difference between hope and optimism, especially in today’s complex world. When we ask ourselves, ‘If we can’t find joy, what are we fighting for?’ we land on a clear answer: we need to create space for it. Joy is something worth taking seriously.”
Join Us at the Grand Opening
The grand opening of Joy Machine takes place February 21, 2025, from 6 to 9 p.m. at 4148 N. Elston Ave., Chicago, IL. Attendees will experience the vibrant Light Preserver exhibition, meet the founders, and connect with fellow art lovers in this exciting new space.
For more details about upcoming exhibitions and events, visit www.joymachine.art.
About Joy Machine
Founded in 2025 by Grace Ebert and Christopher Jobson, Joy Machine is an independent contemporary art gallery dedicated to fostering meaningful artistic conversations and celebrating the power of joy. Located at 4148 N. Elston Ave., Chicago, IL, the gallery presents a rotating schedule of exhibitions featuring emerging and established artists. Learn more at www.joymachine.art.
