Sept 12th thru Oct 25th 2025
Gallery Hours Friday and Saturday
11:00am to 5:00pm
Or by appointment:
info@madculture.org
Or
OUR EXISTENCE IS PROTEST
David Lozano / Polvo Eres
Our Existence is Protest.
Our existence is not negotiable.
In response to the recent executive order targeting “the mentally ill” and the threat of Chicago becoming a site for federal overreach, the Center for Mad Culture presents Our Existence is Protest. Madness has always been used as a weapon, intentionally misdiagnosed and imposed on protestors, minorities, and those society seeks to control. This exhibition calls that out and creates a space for refusal.
This community-driven exhibition transforms the gallery into a site of solidarity and defiance. Visitors are invited to leave their protest on the walls, including writing over a large copy of Donald Trump’s July 24th executive order, “Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets.”
At the opening on September 12, 5–9 pm, artist David Lozano/Polvo Eres will be letterpress printing protest posters for attendees. These works will be displayed along one side of the gallery, filling the space with collective resistance in print.
This is not just an exhibition. It is a gathering. A refusal. A declaration that mad and disabled lives will not be erased.
The Center for Mad Culture challenges the medical model of "mental health" and "mental illness," instead offering a new way of looking at the human experiences and cultural contributions of madness.
To accomplish all this we offer art exhibitions, poetry readings, workshops, a mad/disability research library, and other opportunities. Come by and visit to learn more about what we offer!
Location and Hours
The Center for Mad Culture is located in the historic Fine Arts Building in downtown Chicago, one of the last buildings with manual elevators! We are located just two blocks south of the Art Institute of Chicago, walking distance to the lake, and near many other amenities.
410 S Michigan Ave, Suite 419
Chicago, IL 60605
Current Hours:
We are open weekly:
Friday 11:00am - 5:00 pm
Saturday 11:00am - 5:00pm
Or by appointment. Sadly, with a limited staff we are limited in our open hours, but we are happy to arrange a time if you use the contact form at the bottom of this page!
While we at the Center choose to challenge the use of "mental health" and "mental illness," we also recognize everyone's relationship to terminology is different. Please know that everyone is welcome at the Center and how one chooses to utilize terms to describe their experience is supported.
Upcoming events and workshops
Stay connected with the latest events and workshops at the Center for Mad Culture! From exhibitions and performances to hands-on workshops and discussions, our programming invites you to engage with mad identity, history, and creative resistance. Don’t miss out—explore our upcoming events and register today by following the link below!
Mad Pride is at the heart of our work, celebrating madness as a cultural identity and rejecting the narratives that pathologize our experiences. Our events create space for community, expression, and activism—because madness is not just something to be treated, but something to be honored. Join us in reclaiming mad histories and shaping mad futures.
Disability Access
The Center for Mad Culture strives to keep its space accessible to all visitors, please contact us if there are any access questions.
The exterior doors to the Fine Arts Building can be heavy for some folx, if you contact us ahead of your visit we will be sure to meet you out front. Otherwise, The Center for Mad Culture is accessible to wheelchair users, this includes the restrooms on our floor.
We offer captioning services at all times through the app Ava, which is free to use - we also have devices on site for your use with this app.
We offer audio desciption tours of all exhibitions upon request.
Any other access needs will be met to the best of our ability. Feel free to contact us using the form below so we can make sure your visit is one you look forward to.