Past Exhibitions > Shonna Pryor Of Portals and Pathways January 30 - February 28th 2022

Shonna Pryor, Afrofuturist artist in residence at The Chicago Council on Science and Technology explores reclaimed dinner tablecloths and other conceptual portals connecting the past/present/future of diasporic African American culture.


On the heels of a collective of food, family and cultural holidays leading into Black history month, the solo art exhibition of Shonna Pryor: Of Portals and Pathways, is a perfect celebration. Pryor is a multimedia conceptual artist and educator at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and current artist in residence at The Chicago Council on Science and Technology. Through the lens of objects such as reclaimed dinner tablecloths, reproductions of defunct US government bank ledgers, and a “Care Package for An Afro Migration To Mars”, Pryor takes you on a journey of speculative travel through space and time that navigates African American memory, history, power, and play.

“My work aspires to generate questions, broaden perspectives, and inspire action-to-positive-change both personally, and within broader social frameworks.”

“…is half black and I said chiiile please. If…”
Reclaimed dinner tablecloths, wood, metal, acrylic paint
66 x 54 in
2022
Of Portals and Pathways
Installation View
2022
Of Portals and Pathways
Installation View
2022
“…passed it down to…”
Reclaimed dinner tablecloths, wood, metal, acrylic paint
56.5 x 45 in
2022
“…don’t let the streetlight…”
Reclaimed dinner tablecloths, wood, metal, acrylic paint
54 x 42 in
2022
Care Package for An Afro Migration To Mars: Wash, Wash, Rinse
aluminum foil, acrylic paint, various reclaimed items, vacuum sealed on wood panel
18 x 20 in
2022
Care Package for An Afro Migration To Mars: Left Turn, Past 2 Moons, You will Know
aluminum foil, acrylic paint, various reclaimed items, vacuum sealed on wood panel
20 x. 18 in
2022


On view at Material
throughout  Black History Month
2025 West Belmont Ave, storefront
Chicago, IL 60618