Flowers aren’t the only things you can look forward to seeing in May. Art is in bloom all over the city, and here are nine shows worth checking out.
"Earth Spirit" This is 23-year-old Chinese artist Hua Tunan’s first ever solo exhibition. Currently visiting the U.S. for the first time, Hua has been spending the past couple weeks painting murals in Chinatown and Logan Square, as well as finishing an all-new body of work based on different animal forms in nature. Galerie F, 2381 N Milwaukee Ave. May 1, 6-10pm. Free.
"Refractions" Creative duo Luftwerk transforms Silent Funny’s 5,000-square-foot warehouse with "Refractions," a presentation of two immersive installations exploring how light travels through water to create connections that envelop the viewer. Silent Funny, 4106 W Chicago Ave. May 1, 6-10pm. Free.
"Mirrored Infinity" and Case Study Residency launch View two exhibitions in Chicago Urban Art Society’s new space. Inspired by popular graphic culture and today’s overabundance of media stimuli, in "Mirrored Infinity" John Whitlock attempts to evoke familiarity through abstraction. In the launch of the Case Study Residency program, Taehoon Kim reveals reflections on the essence of the subconscious. Chicago Urban Art Society, 3636 S Iron St. May 1, 6:30-11:30pm. Free.
"Kissing in Heaven" Focusing on the tension between desire for the ideal and the material limitations that obstruct it, this three-person show features new digital media by Snow Yunxue Fu, performance and documentation by Hideous Beast and video and light boxes by Andy Roche. Chicago Artists Coalition, 217 N Carpenter St. May 1, 6-9pm. Free.
"Art in the Room" Join Elephant Room Gallery for a fundraiser and celebration of visual art. The evening will include live painting, a silent auction featuring emerging artists, music, complimentary drinks and more. Lacuna Artist Lofts, 2150 S Canalport Ave. May 2, 7-10pm. $50 single entry, $90 two entries.
Dean Zeus Colman Vertical Gallery presents the debut U.S. solo show of London artist Dean Zeus Colman. Zeus draws inspiration from urban culture to create dynamic and experimental compositions redefining graffiti art. His latest work represents an innovative fusion of graffiti techniques and typography, fine art and sculpture. Vertical Gallery, 1016 N Western Ave. May 2, 6-10pm. Free.
"Cosmosis" Co-presented by the Hyde Park Art Center and Contemporary Arts Council, this exhibition brings together a group of artists whose interest in the cosmos intersects with aesthetics, anthropology, and philosophy. "Cosmosis" investigates how the fields of physics and cosmology inspire artistic production, exerting great influence on our understanding of and place within the universe. Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S Cornell Ave. May 3, 2-5pm. Free.
"The Last Supper" The Block Museum welcomes artist Julie Green, who will present "The Last Supper: 600 Plates Illustrating Final Meals of U.S. Death Row Inmates." The program begins at Fisk Hall, with conversations on issues of representation, the criminal justice system, and social justice, followed by a reception at Northwestern's Block Museum. Fisk Hall, 1845 Sheridan Rd, and Block Museum of Art, 40 Arts Circle Dr, Evanston. May 9, 2-5pm. Free.
ACTIVATE ACTIVATE, the Chicago Loop Alliance series that transforms downtown alleys into pop-up art and music spaces, returns this month. Get ready for interactive exhibitions taking place over the course of six nights from May through October. Loop alley TBA. May 15, 5-10pm. Free with RSVP.