Sculpt Like Hunt and Perkins: A Creative Sculpting Workshop

This workshop highlights the accomplishments of Black Chicago sculptors with a spotlight on Richard Hunt and Marion Perkins. Hunt, a world-renowned sculptor and printmaker born in Chicago’s Woodlawn community and raised in Englewood, became one of the leading 20th century American artists. During his acclaimed 60-year career, he was a significant creator of public art in Chicago and across the U.S., with 160 public sculpture commissions in 24 states that included monuments of several notable figures.

Create your own mixed-media sculptures using clay, wire, cardboard, aluminum foil, and paint, inspired by Hunt’s abstract forms and his ability to transform metal into movement. Art activities may include:

• Modular Sculptures: Using geometric shapes and layering to build height and form.

• Figurative Abstractions: Inspired by Giacometti and Picasso, reflecting Hunt’s ability to mix realism with abstraction.

• Community-Inspired Designs: Prompting participants to reflect on what their neighborhoods mean to them, much like Hunt did with his public installations.

This workshop encourages both creative expression and a deeper appreciation for one of Chicago’s most influential artists.

Presented as part of the Renaissance Project, this event invites participants to actively engage with the rich and often untold stories of Black history and heritage at Chicago Public Library.

This program is made possible with support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to the Chicago Public Library Foundation.