Self, Made

An exploration of selfhood and self-presentation through the works of fourteen American artists

Reflecting on themes of selfhood and self-presentation, this broad collection of works by renowned and lesser-known artists offers a multifaceted look at the complexities of identity in the modern world. Self, Made brings together a wide-ranging collection of media--from photographs and paintings to drawings, sculptures, and film--with an emphasis on photography and work dubbed "outsider" art. The Sandor Family Collection inspires inquiry into the relationship that particular artists and works have with fame, popular culture, and the self.

Short biographies on Eddie Arning, William Edmondson, Lee Godie, Jesse Howard, Annette Messager, Mr. Imagination, Martín Ramírez, Cindy Sherman, Bill Traylor, Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, Kara Walker, Slim Wasson, John Waters, and Joseph E. Yoakum accompany brilliant new photography of their works, as well as views of the Sandors' unique art-filled Chicago apartment. In an interview with curator Matthew Witkovsky, Ellen and Richard Sandor share insights into their democratic collecting philosophy and consider how histories are often futures waiting to be made.

Distributed for the Art Institute of Chicago

Exhibition Schedule:

The Art Institute of Chicago
(June 27-November 9, 2026)