Fall visual arts guide 2022: Art Institute showcasing the arts of Africa in major exhibit

“The Rookery” by Patrick Dougherty, is among the works commissioned by the Chicago Botanic Garden for “Flourish: The Garden at 50.”

When people think of the Art Institute of Chicago, African art is likely not the first thing that comes to mind, according to one museum curator. 

“That’s one of our big challenges or initiatives or ambitions — to make it better-known,” said Constantine Petridis, the museum’s chair and curator of Arts of Africa. “It’s always been a little bit in the shadow of so many of our other great collections.”