Expo Chicago to bring scores of art dealers to Chicago in September

Expo Chicago Director Tony Karman has been busy. The founder and head of Chicago's only major international contemporary art exhibition said late this week that he has rounded up no fewer than 140 art galleries to participate in the fourth annual edition of the show slated for Sept. 17 to 20 in Navy Pier's Festival Hall exhibit space. Despite troubling signs that Chicago's visual arts and gallery scene may not be as robust as it was 10 or 20 years ago, Karman has continued to insist the city can — and will — support a major international contemporary art show if he has anything to say about it.

The list of participating art dealers at the 2015 Expo Chicago represents 15 countries and 40 cities from around the world. Among the countries represented are China, France, Germany, Italy, Singapore and Switzerland and, of course, the United States. As in years past, Expo Chicago's presenting sponsor continues to be Chicago-based financial institution Northern Trust.

Karman had this to say of the Expo Chicago exhibitor line-up and the city's place in the international art scene: "We are extremely proud to announce this exceptional list of exhibitors for our fourth edition. Coupling this international list with incredible museum alignments, numerous special events, core programming and exhibitions bringing in notable artists, curators and collectors to our city, I am confident in saying that Chicago is definitely the place for the art world to be this September."