Zhou B Center to Host ‘Pigmented: Black Fine Art Faire’ in October 2025

By the time the leaves turn in Chicago this fall, a different kind of transformation will be underway on the South Side.

From October 31 through November 2, the Zhou B Art Center in Bridgeport will host the inaugural Pigmented: Black Fine Art Faire, a new cultural anchor curated by Pigment International, a Black woman-led media collective.

Held during Black Fine Art Month, the fair is already being viewed as more than just a showcase.

“This fair is more than an exhibition,” said Patricia Andrews-Keenan, founder of Pigment International. “It’s a declaration of legacy, community, and cultural sovereignty.”

A New Cultural Fixture on the South Side

Located at 1029 W. 35th Street, the Zhou B Center is no stranger to art-world activity. But Pigmented will be the first Black Fine Art fair of its kind to occupy this space, and the energy around it is unmistakable.

What sets it apart? Let’s start with the architecture.

Sharon Samuels, a Chicago-based artist, architect, and designer, has helped design and arrange the fair’s facilities. The final result: a mix of beauty and narration that flows smoothly.

The event will focus on Artist Alley, a spotlight featuring 10 Black artists who are working independently. However, it’s only one of many initiatives.

Pigmented will also feature the DREAM Student Exhibition, a space for emerging young talent to gain exposure and experience. There’s also the Pigmented Store, where limited-edition merchandise created by artists will be available. Making art more accessible while recirculating dollars back into Black creative communities.

Making History by Honoring It

This year marks the 80th Anniversary of the American Negro Exposition, and Pigmented is taking the opportunity to commemorate that milestone. Expect dedicated programming that reflects on Chicago’s legacy of Black-owned galleries and the trailblazers who carved out space for Black Fine Art enthusiasts before there was a market for them.

There’s a sense that Pigmented is not just documenting history, it’s actively shaping it.

That ethos is embedded in every aspect of the fair, including its partnerships. Faie Fine Art, a Bronzeville staple and the first gallery confirmed as an exhibitor, brings an intergenerational perspective to the showcase. More galleries will be announced soon as applications remain open until July 1, with limited spaces still available.

From Culture to Commerce

Pigmented: Black Fine Art Faire is designed as both an artistic and economic engine. It’s about self-reliance and infrastructure. It’s about who owns the means and who tells the story.

Programming will include national and international art exhibitions, panel discussions, youth showcases, and networking events. The fair has confirmed Dometi Pongo, a journalist and media personality known for elevating Black culture, as the host of its public programs.

In his hands, expect dialogue that’s deep, sharp, and always rooted in the moment.

The list of collaborators reads like a who’s who of Black cultural and philanthropic leadership: DuSable Museum, Congresswoman Robin Kelly, 100 Black Men of Chicago, Diasporal Rhythms, and GangGang Culture are just a few of the names backing the initiative.

With support from Art Money, Chicago State University, and the Blessman Family Foundation, Pigmented isn’t just building an event, it’s building an ecosystem.

Why It Matters Now

Black artists have always been at the forefront of cultural innovation. What they have lacked is access to infrastructure, and most importantly, capital.

Pigmented aims to change that, not by asking for permission but by building its own table.

It’s happening in a city with one of the richest Black Fine Art legacies in the country, and it’s doing so at a time when institutions are finally being asked to reckon with whose stories they have long ignored.

That reckoning can’t just live in panel discussions. It needs physical, sustained investment in platforms like this one.

More Than a Weekend Event

Pigmented: Black Fine Art Faire isn’t designed to disappear when the booths come down. It’s a node in a growing network of culturally grounded, financially independent Black Fine Art initiatives. 

For those looking to collect, connect, or contribute, this isn’t just another fair. It’s an inflection point offering rare access to ideas, innovation, and a deliberate moment.

One that’s rooted in legacy. One that’s determined to own the future.