Biography

Ginny Sykes maintains a rigorous studio practice as well as develops public art projects informed by a commitment to local community activism. She has participated in both solo and group exhibitions, including Transcultural Exchange’s The Tile Project, an international collaborative resulting in permanent tile installations in 22 countries around the world from 2004 through 2007; Pandora Meets Sarajevo, an exhibition she co-curated featuring artists from Bosnia, Vietnam and the US; and a solo show of her series The Spain Paintings at Stephen Kelly Gallery in Chicago.

Initiating projects within her community, she has completed collaborations with the Chicago Department of Transportation and the Chicago Public Art Group that have resulted in significant architectural and spatial interventions for parks, civic spaces, schools, museums and hospitals. Sykes has completed over 30 public art projects. Her most recent project is a 135 sq foot glass tile mural produced in collaboration with After School Matters and Chicago Public Art Group that is permanently installed in the rotunda linking terminals two and three at O’Hare airport.

A respected educator, Ms. Sykes has taught in both the Museum and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, as well as through Gallery 37, the Illinois Arts Council, and Beacon Street Gallery residency arts programs. Ms. Sykes has received honor awards from the Illinois chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, and has been awarded several Ragdale Foundation residencies. Her expertise ranges from traditional European painting techniques to contemporary and conceptual studio practice.

Ms. Sykes is Artist Liaison, core artist, and board member of Chicago Public Art Group and an advisory board member of Woman Made Gallery. Her work is included in the publications A Guide to Chicago Murals, Urban Art Chicago, and The Chicago Public Art Guide.