Name: Artists at the Pier
Start: 2025-06-03T11:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-06-03T20:00:00-05:00

Art Installation: Artists at the Pier

Now – September 7, 2025

Joan E. Schenk & Associates in partnership with Navy Pier presents: Artists at the Pier. This exhibition allows a group of established artists to present their artwork at Navy Pier and display various artforms while giving Chicago’s artistic community an opportunity for cultural engagement and creative growth.

This exhibit showcases seven award-winning visual artists, sculptors Isaac Duncan III, Gwen Yen Chiu, and David Noguchi; 2-D painters Didier Nolet and Vana Beginin; and installation and textile artists Louise Pappageorge and Jennifer Zona.

Location: East of the Sable Hotel Lobby (indoor + outdoor)

Learn About the Artists

GWEN YEN CHIU is a Chicago based Taiwanese-American artist. Born in the United States, her work has been an exploration about home, belonging, and identity in the Asian diaspora. Gwen’s metal sculptures are heavily influenced by her upbringing in Chinese Calligraphy and painting. Gwen attended The Rhode Island School of Design, then The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, receiving her BFA with a focus in sculpture. Gwen is a recepient of the Chicago Sculpture Exhibit’s Richard Hunt Award for 2021. Her work has been shown at EXPO Chicago, The Union League Club, Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art and the Koehnline Museum of Art. Gwen is currently represented by McCormick Gallery in Chicago.

ISAAC DUNCAN III is a Chattanooga based artist, raised in Brooklyn, and of Caribbean descent. He received his BFA from the University of Notre Dame, Certification of Secondary Art Education from St. Mary’s College and MFA from the University of Kentucky. Isaac is a recipient of the Tennessee Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship for 2017. Isaaac has been an artist-in-residence for Gallery 37/Archi-Treasures, Illinois, the Richard Hunt Studio Center, Michigan and with the Association of Visual Artist, Tennessee. Duncan’s large scale sculptures are souhgt after by corporate, community, and private collectors. In mid-2008, Isaac purchased a warehouse and opened his Tennessee studio, Duncan Sculpture & Services, where he creates large scale sculptures and fabrication projects.

DAVID NOGUCHI is a Chicago based artist. David’s interest in sculpture began while in college studying mechanical engineering. He worked for a metal fabricator to pay his way through school. Science, technology, and their relationship with the visual arts always fascinated him. His first career of over 20 years was as a celebrated director of photography in Chicago. David was a pioneer visual effects and motion control cinematographer. When film special effects went digital, he chose to follow his heart and began creating sculpture full time. David spent ten years as an independent contractor assistance to sculptor Richard Hunt. David has an expansive exhibition history and is currently making in Chicago.

VANA BEGININ is a Michigan based painter. Vana obtained a Master of Arts Education from Wayne State University, having taught Art Education and English as a Second Language in Wayne County Schools and Wayne Community Colleges. Vana has presented art and language/culture seminars at Eastern Michigan University and Flint Community Schools. Vana has had several solo exhibitions, and many of her works are in private collections. Vana Beginin has done illustrations for Detroit Public Schools Community District, the Detroit News, and the International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit.

DIDIER NOLET is a French-American, Chicago-based painter. At the age of eighteen, he entered the Beaux-Arts School in Paris to study painting. Didier has been a professional artist for the past forty years and has been affiliated with the Chicago art scene since 1980. His work is represented numerous museums and corporate and private collections throughout the United States and Europe. The Chicago Cultural Center and the Rockford Art Museum in Rockford, Illinois both organized a ten-year survey of his work.

LOUISE PAPPAGEORGE is a native of Chicago and a graduate of the School of the Art Institute, Chicago. Early on through the women in her life, Louise was exposed to all types of “domestic crafts” sewing, crochet, knitting and embroidery. Although her artworks have little to do with the utility of these crafts, she retained a profound interest in the mediums and sensibilities of those domestic crafts and their implications to feminism and women’s work. Her work is included in many national and international private and corporate collections including the City of Chicago Merlo Library. She currently divides her time between Chicago and Michigan.

JESSICA ‘ZONAJ’ ZONA is a Michigan-based artist and educator. Zonaj specializes in large-scale sculpture, weaving installations, and wall art using clay, textiles, and found objects. Zonaj is a graduate of the University of New Mexico with a Master’s of Fine Arts. Zonaj completed a residency at the The Icelandic Textile Center, where her weavings were displayed in both the interior and spaces of the building. Zonaj’s art has been displayed in places such as the Krasl Art Center.

Image Gallery

Time

11:00 am - 8:00 pm

Price

Free

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Artists at the Pier

Art Installation: Artists at the Pier

Now – September 7, 2025

Image Gallery

Time

Price

Explore Things To Do at Navy Pier

Explore Chicago by Land, Water, or Air

Fun Things To Do in Chicago

Experience More Than You Imagine…

A Not-For-Profit Landmark

Artists at the Pier

Art Installation: Artists at the Pier

Now – September 7, 2025

Image Gallery

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