Creating community through art since 1921

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.

Upcoming Events

Featured
Spring Studio Sale
Apr 2
Spring Studio Sale
Collector’s Circle Talk    11am - noon
Apr 5
Collector’s Circle Talk    11am - noon
Artwork Pick-up/Drop-off

OPAL NEWS

Featured
Instructor Spotlight
Instructor Spotlight

Mike Barett Kolasinski is our ever popular Pastel Painting instructor at OPAL! Read more about his practice and his class in this months Instructor Spotlight.

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Spring STUDIO SALE
Spring STUDIO SALE

April 2-4, online sale
April 5th, 9-11 am in-person shop
Donate your items for the online sale which will be hosted at www.estatesales.net. The Spring Studio Sale will include gently used art-making supplies and materials, artwork, and odds and ends, estate sale style.
Come to the in-person sale at OPAL to shop what’s left.

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Artist In Residence: Shanelle Harrison
Artist In Residence: Shanelle Harrison

OPAL is honored to host Shanelle Harrison as our artist-in-residence April through June 2025.
Shanelle Harrison is a contemporary narrative artist and wreathmaker renowned for her innovative Print-Craft fusion techniques and evocative wreath-making.

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Ready, Set, BAKE!
Ready, Set, BAKE!

The Oak Park Art League will be at the Oak Park Farmer’s Market, holding a Bake Sale fundraiser on JULY 19, 2025. We are seeking help from our membership to both bake items to sell and help organize and work at our tent the day of.

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Clothed Model Sessions
Clothed Model Sessions

Each month's 1st Sunday figure session is our designated Clothed model session, allowing younger artists access to live models to gain more skill. Open to teens 12+ as well as adults.

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OPAL + EXPO Spring 2025 Member Exhibition
OPAL + EXPO Spring 2025 Member Exhibition

What if you were invited to exhibit at EXPO Chicago? What one work would you want to show?

For our 104th Anniversary Spring Member’s Exhibition, this is what we invite all active Artist Members to bring. The hanging fee is reduced to $15. for one work.

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Spotlight
Spotlight

Welcome Michael Cuadrado to OPAL staff as Programming Coordinator!

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ARTIST Talks
ARTIST Talks

OPAL has hosted many artist talks over the decades, both by artists and by individuals in related fields of interest to the visual art community. Talks are a great way to share information with our interested member body with the goal of improving our individual art practices. Talks offer another learning opportunity and a chance to connect at OPAL.

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POSE! Juried Figure & Portrait Exhibit
POSE! Juried Figure & Portrait Exhibit

OPAL’s Annual Figure and Portrait exhibition, POSE! showcases 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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Special Figure Drawing Event
Special Figure Drawing Event

There is a special figure drawing opportunity coming up! Register for your spot!

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SPRING classes in the Studio!
SPRING classes in the Studio!

Our 5-week studio sessions run year-round, back-to-back. Those in the know make sure they sign up for a class to get lots of personal attention from our award-winning professional artist instructors.

SPRING 1 & 2 sessions are live on our site and you can sign up now to make sure you get your spot.

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Collector’s Circle
Collector’s Circle

Quarterly meet-up for art enthusiasts, “art curious” and new collectors, and artists too.

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Take a Class In the Studio

Featured
SUNDAY Figure Drawing Non-Instructional with Model
Apr 6
SUNDAY Figure Drawing Non-Instructional with Model
ROFFMA Multi Model Session
Apr 7
ROFFMA Multi Model Session
THURSDAY Figure Drawing Non-Instructional with Model
Apr 10
THURSDAY Figure Drawing Non-Instructional with Model
SUNDAY Figure Drawing Non-Instructional with Model
Apr 13
SUNDAY Figure Drawing Non-Instructional with Model
THURSDAY Figure Drawing Non-Instructional with Model
Apr 17
THURSDAY Figure Drawing Non-Instructional with Model
S2 - Exploring Materiality and Form in Sculpture
Apr 21
S2 - Exploring Materiality and Form in Sculpture
S2 - BEGINNING TO INTERMEDIATE DRAWING
Apr 22
S2 - BEGINNING TO INTERMEDIATE DRAWING
S2 - PASTEL PAINTING
Apr 23
S2 - PASTEL PAINTING
S2 - BEGINNING TO ADVANCED DRAWING
Apr 23
S2 - BEGINNING TO ADVANCED DRAWING
THURSDAY Figure Drawing Non-Instructional with Model
Apr 24
THURSDAY Figure Drawing Non-Instructional with Model
S2 - EXPLORING OIL PAINTING
Apr 24
S2 - EXPLORING OIL PAINTING
S2 - EXPLORING OIL PAINTING
Apr 24
S2 - EXPLORING OIL PAINTING

Carriage House Gallery

 

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.