An unmissable stop on Chicago Avenue’s arts corridor is Kay Hoffman’s solo exhibition, “Being and Becoming,” at PATRON Gallery. You won’t be disappointed by the gallery’s unique architecture, constructed inside an old theater with its glitzy facade still intact. PATRON is a contemporary art gallery in Chicago created by Julia Fischbach and Emanuel Aguilar in 2015. PATRON is founded on the defining characteristics of a patron of the arts: a person chosen, named or honored as a special guardian, protector or supporter.

With a goal of opening new avenues for audiences to engage with art, PATRON is founded on the defining characteristics of a patron of the arts: a person chosen, named or honored as a special guardian, protector or supporter. At 86, Kay Hoffman shapes alabaster, granite and marble into sublime and emergent figures. “Being and Becoming” presents a series of sculptures Hofmann created during the past three years, many originating during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Carved and finished entirely by hand, the works in this exhibition demonstrate Hofmann’s sensitive attunement to the natural physical properties of her stones.

Catch Hoffman’s opening reception alongside Mika Horbuchi’s exhibition, “Showcase.” Horbuchi is a beloved Chicago-based painter who centers her paintings around an obtuse sense of realities and fictions. Chicago Ave is bustling with restaurant options, all only a short distance away. For a unique dinner experience inside a renovated theater, head to Forbidden Root, Chicago's first brewery dedicated to crafting fine botanic beers using all-natural ingredients.