The Peninsula Chicago is proud to present Seeing the World, a compelling contemporary art exhibition featuring a curated selection of 46 works of art by 36 artists from the Bill and Christy Gautreaux Collection. Curated by Erin Dziedzic, this exhibition showcases a diverse range of works by artists from around the globe, offering an inspiring exploration of contemporary perspectives.

Seeing the World will be displayed throughout the hotel’s public spaces from early April 2025—coinciding with the city’s premier art fair, EXPO CHICAGO (April 24 to 27)—through early June 2025, continuing The Peninsula Chicago’s long-standing tradition of engaging the community through exceptional art partnerships. This installation is the latest iteration of Art in Resonance, The Peninsula Hotels’ global contemporary art program dedicated to being an originator of culture through its engagement with artists who push the boundaries of their mediums, in works that engage the senses.   

The exhibition offers a deeper look into the Gautreauxes’ commitment to collecting works by women, artists of color, and those historically underrepresented in the art world. Their forward-thinking approach is evident in their early acquisitions of pieces by Cuban artist Belkis Ayón, whose distinctive collographic prints have experienced a resurgence since the 1990s. The collection has long engaged with themes of the Black diaspora—its legacy and its future—through works by artists such as Nick Cave, Sam Gilliam, Tau Lewis, Steve Locke, Shinique Smith, and Reginald Sylvester II. Additionally, the Gautreauxes have been dedicated to supporting artists like Denzil Forrester, a Grenadian-British painter whose decades-long practice gained new recognition with his first institutional survey in 2023. “The artists help me understand how complex the world is,” says Bill Gautreaux. “Art has helped me navigate, change the way I think, shift the lens and focus, and put things in perspective. If you change the way you think, you can change your world.”

Featured Artists: 

Tunji Adeniyi-Jones, Belkis Ayón, Firelei Báez, Diedrick Brackens, Nick Cave, Monir Farmanfarmaian, Derek Fordjour, Denzil Forrester, Vibha Galhotra, Chitra Ganesh, Jeffrey Gibson, Sam Gilliam, Todd Gray, Matthew Angelo Harrison, Donte Hayes, LaToya Hobbs, Caroline Kent, Nate Lewis, Tau Lewis, Laura Lima, Steve Locke, Pepe Mar, Joiri Minaya, Ken Gun Min, Tomokazu Matsuyama, Raul de Nieves, Zohra Opoku, Esteban Ramón Pérez, Cheryl Pope, Wendy Red Star, David Shrobe, Rose B. Simpson, Shinique Smith, Chris Soal, Reginald Sylvester II, Summer Wheat

Art Brochure:

View a digital brochure with information on each work of art here: Seeing the World Brochure