Oakton Announces Upcoming Art Exhibits Celebrating Black History, Student Talent and Renowned Artists

Des Plaines, Ill. (Feb. 14, 2025) — Experience art, history, and creativity at upcoming exhibits on display at Oakton College's Koehnline Museum of Art, 1600 E. Golf Road, Des Plaines. From powerful Black History Month posters to a student showcase and renowned artists’ works, the free exhibits promise unforgettable experiences for art lovers of all ages and backgrounds.

"Our upcoming exhibitions include two established Chicago contemporary artists,” said Nathan Harpaz, Oakton’s Koehnline Museum of Art manager and curator. “While Kathie Shaw deals with abstract environmental paintings, the works of Eleanor Spiess-Ferris are fantastic and spiritual, continuing the tradition of the Chicago Imagists."

All exhibits are free and open to the public. Receptions provide an opportunity to meet the artists and engage in enriching conversations about their work.

African American Movie Posters
Exhibit Dates: Feb. 21 - March 28
Public Reception: March 6, 5-8 p.m.
In honor of Black History Month, Oakton presents a captivating exhibit of African American movie posters. These rare posters from films like “Gun Mol,”1938; “Prison Bait,” 1939; “House-Rent Party,” 1946; and “Bright Road,” 1953; highlight the pioneering efforts of African Americans in the movie industry. The exhibit celebrates the resilience and creativity of Black filmmakers, who built their cinematic legacy despite the challenges of the silent film era and beyond.

OakArt 2025: Oakton Annual Art Students Exhibition
Exhibit Dates: April 10-30
Public Reception: April 10, 5-8 p.m.
Featuring paintings, drawings, ceramics, 3D art, digital art and photography, the exhibit offers a glimpse into the creativity and skill of Oakton’s emerging artists.

Kathie Shaw: Sequences in Time, 2013–2025
Exhibit Dates: May 8 - June 27
Public Reception: May 8, 5-8 p.m.
Artist Kathie Shaw, Chicago, reflects on personal and global experiences through her series of paintings spanning over a decade. Using various media — including charcoal, Crayola crayons, oils, inks, gouache and watercolor — Shaw captures themes of climate change, Tibetan Buddhism and more. Series such as “Tipping Point,” “Chaos,” and “Sanctuary” invite viewers to explore abstract yet deeply meaningful works.

Eleanor Spiess-Ferris: Drinking the Moon
Exhibit Dates: July 10 - Sept. 19
Public Reception: July 10, 5-8 p.m.
Step into the surreal world of Eleanor Spiess-Ferris, Chicago, whose five-decade career blends New Mexican folk art and symbolic surrealism. “Drinking the Moon” features her visual storytelling with motifs of birds, flora and archetypal women. From older oil paintings to current works in gouache, the exhibit highlights Spiess-Ferris’s mastery of creating a unique visual language.