Creating community
through art since 1921

OPAL NEWS

Featured
Monthly Critiques
Monthly Critiques

Our next critique is for artists exhibiting work in our first exhibit of 2025, UNDER CONSTRUCTION. Join us January 16, 6-8pm in the gallery. It’s free to attend, but please let us know you are coming. We will discuss only works included in the exhibition. To get the most out of this critique and to respect all artists, please arrive at the beginning and participate so everyone gets some valuable feedback.

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Weekend Coffee with Kribi at OPAL
Weekend Coffee with Kribi at OPAL

OPAL is starting off 2025 with a new community connection and a wonderful partnership with Kribi CoffeeAir Rostery. When you stop by OPAL during our weekend hours (1-4pm) to check out the gallery and see what art awaits, you can grab a free cup of Kribi’s amazing air-roasted coffee.

Painting by Ana Vitek

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Instructor Spotlight
Instructor Spotlight

Jess Howard has been teaching drawing at OPAL for 15 years this January! And we’re all the better for it!

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Carl R. Krafft ~ An Artist’s Life
Carl R. Krafft ~ An Artist’s Life

If you’ve been curious about OPAL’s founder Carl R. Krafft and details of his life as an artist, I encourage you to check out the webspace and buy a copy of the book.

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FREE Figure session
FREE Figure session

One way we are celebrating the new year and our wonderful figure models and dedicated figure artists, is by offering our first Sunday figure session of 2025, free of charge!

This free session will be with a clothed model, open to teens 12+ as well as adults.
Sunday, January 5th, 10am - 1pm
Model: Kahlua

Please register for your spot online as spaces are limited.

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CALL for ART
CALL for ART

OPAL’s Annual Figure and Portrait exhibition is juried this year!

POSE! Is open for submissions!
SUBMISSION DEADLINE is Feb 16, 2025

This juried national call seeks to showcase a diverse spectrum of work based on the human form yet pushing the boundaries of how we depict ourselves and the bodies we inhabit.

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AKG Micro Gallery
AKG Micro Gallery

FAMILY TIES

Kelley Clink

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Crochet Coral CLUB
Crochet Coral CLUB

JOIN US!
Starting in January 2025, OPAL invites anyone interested in creating coral-shaped forms out of crocheted plastic to our monthly ‘make something’ meet-ups.

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UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Happy New Year! OPAL’s first exhibition of 2025 is Under Construction.
This is an open call for recent artwork inspired by new beginnings with a special emphasis on works in progress. Show your process and share something that may feel risky and unfinished.

Please note ~ Opening reception:
Saturday, January 11, 1pm - 4pm

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Take a Class In the Studio

Featured
W1 - BEGINNING TO INTERMEDIATE DRAWING
Jan 7
W1 - BEGINNING TO INTERMEDIATE DRAWING
W1 - PASTEL PAINTING
Jan 8
W1 - PASTEL PAINTING
W1- BEGINNING TO ADVANCED DRAWING
Jan 8
W1- BEGINNING TO ADVANCED DRAWING
W1 - EXPLORING OIL PAINTING
Jan 9
W1 - EXPLORING OIL PAINTING
W1 - EXPLORING OIL PAINTING
Jan 9
W1 - EXPLORING OIL PAINTING
W1 - Basic Acrylic Painting
Jan 10
W1 - Basic Acrylic Painting
W1 - Experimental Painting: Color, Form, and Meaning
Jan 10
W1 - Experimental Painting: Color, Form, and Meaning
SUNDAY Figure Drawing Non-Instructional with Model
Jan 19
SUNDAY Figure Drawing Non-Instructional with Model
THURSDAY Figure Drawing Non-Instructional with Model
Jan 23
THURSDAY Figure Drawing Non-Instructional with Model
SUNDAY Figure Drawing Non-Instructional with Model
Jan 26
SUNDAY Figure Drawing Non-Instructional with Model
THURSDAY Figure Drawing Non-Instructional with Model
Jan 30
THURSDAY Figure Drawing Non-Instructional with Model
Visual Poetics : Image Transfers & Encaustic Layering
Feb 1
Visual Poetics : Image Transfers & Encaustic Layering

Carriage House Gallery

Founded in 1921, the Oak Park Art League (OPAL) is one of the longest, continually running non-profit arts organizations in Illinois. The Oak Park Art League's mission is to be a welcoming center of artistic inquiry, creative expression and art appreciation in Oak Park and the surrounding communities. Through the offering of dynamic public arts programming and exhibitions, our goal is to engage the beginner to professional artist in creative practices allowing for the refinement of their creative voice.

Thank you to our generous Sponsors

Oak Park Art League is partially funded by the Oak Park Area Arts Council, in partnership with the Village of Oak Park, the Illinois Arts Council Agency and the National Endowment for the Arts.