Entry No. 99 — the Chicago file — filed under: artist studios
Bridgeport Art Center
A converted industrial warehouse on the Bridgeport waterfront holds three curated galleries, a rooftop Skyline Loft event space, and — most unusually — Project Onward, a studio program for artists with mental illness and developmental disabilities whose work is shown and sold on-site, with open studios letting visitors watch the artists work in real time on the third Friday of every month.
The story
The massive 1911 timber-and-brick complex sitting along Bubbly Creek was originally constructed as the Spiegel Catalog warehouse, where workers processed mail-order orders by the trainload. Today, the multi-story industrial relic has been partitioned into artist studios, ceramics kilns, fashion design spaces, three curated gallery floors, and an outdoor sculpture garden. But the heart of the building is Project Onward on the fourth floor, a non-profit studio program supporting over 60 visual artists living with mental illness and developmental disabilities.
Rather than tucking creators behind closed doors, Project Onward operates as an active communal workroom. Visitors can walk in, observe artists working live across painting, drawing, and sculpture, and purchase original art directly from the easels and display walls, with sales directly benefiting the individual creators and the program.
Getting between floors is half the reason to visit. The building retains its original 1911 industrial freight elevator—an 8,000-pound capacity wooden behemoth that can fit 35 people or an entire automobile, fitted with an unexpected hanging chandelier. On the third Friday of every month, the building hosts its Open Studios night, pulling in neighborhood regulars to explore four floors of active workspaces and ride the city's grandest cargo lift.
What it's like
Expect a raw, unpretentious industrial vibe marked by exposed brick, heavy timber posts, and the smell of paint and damp clay. Enter through the north entrance off Racine Avenue near 34th Place to head straight for the central lift, and skip the stairs to take the chandelier-rigged freight elevator up to the galleries. If you come for the third-Friday Open Studios (7:00 PM to 10:00 PM), expect lively, packed hallways and open studio doors, but get there right at 7:00 PM if you want to land a spot in the free north parking lot before it overflows.
The move: Time a visit to the monthly Open Studios night (confirmed running as recently as March 2026) to walk the galleries and watch Project Onward artists working live in their studios — free, and almost entirely locals-only.
- 📍 Bridgeport
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1200 W. 35th St., Chicago, IL 60609
Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Augustine's Spiritual Goods — Just six blocks south, this neighborhood spiritual apothecary offers a grounding, aromatic contrast of handmade conjure oils and candles after browsing the open galleries.
- Gulliver in Wonderland (Hector Duarte's House) — Head under two miles north into Pilsen to see how a single house matches the Art Center's scale when wrapped in a 3,500-square-foot exterior painting.
- Monument to the Great Northern Migration — Drive east to Bronzeville to see how salvaged materials take form in a 15-foot bronze figure constructed entirely from cast shoe soles.
- Punch House — Cap off a South Side art night by heading to Pilsen for a bowl of punch in a wood-paneled basement bar tucked beneath historic Thalia Hall.
Good to know
When is the best time to visit Bridgeport Art Center?
While the building galleries and Project Onward studio are open during regular daytime hours, the best time to visit is during Open Studios on the third Friday of every month from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, when dozens of private studio doors are unlocked for the public.
What is Project Onward, and when can I visit it?
Project Onward is a non-profit studio and gallery space on the 4th floor supporting visual artists living with mental illness and developmental disabilities. Public studio and gallery hours run Wednesday through Saturday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, as well as during monthly 3rd Friday Open Studios.
Where should I park and enter the building?
Park for free in the off-street lot on the north side of the building off Racine Avenue and 34th Place, and use the Racine entrance to access the main elevator bank and gallery floors.
Is the venue wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The building features accessible ground-level entrances and a giant, fully operational freight elevator that services all gallery floors.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · projectonward.org
last checked: 2026-07-19