As an all-volunteer artists' collaborative and network, AnySquared's mission is to encourage artmaking, produce exhibits, create projects, and organize events in cooperation with fellow artists, neighbors, and the wider community. AnySquared continually seeks new collaborations and values hands-on labor. AnySquared's foundation is built upon the idea that we can do anything as long as we do it together. | anysquared.com

• Weekly Studio Day and Public Artmaking Session
• AnySquared Art Exhibitions and Other Projects

• Logansquarist, Artists in Residence: The Love Behind AnySquared Arts, Sept 2018
• Meet Tracy Kostenbader of AnySquared in LoganSquare, Voyage Chicago, May 2018
• Conversations with CAR – Tracy Kostenbader, 2016 Chicago Artists Resource
• La Mezcladora TV Program (interview with Tracy Kostenbader at 21 min), 2015
• Interview with Tracy Kostenbader, Artists of Chicago, 2014
• A Place to Make Art, LoganSquarist, 2015
• Beautiful Collaborations - Dog Park Mural in Logan Square, YAB 2016

July 6 to July 28, 2018 | Chicago, Illinois
Wordplay
Juried Group Exhibition | Juror: Vernita Nemec

Woman Made Gallery
2150 South Canalport 4th Floor

The exhibition ‘Wordplay,’ is an exploration of how artists intertwine text and image to deliver message and effect change.  From handwriting to video, poetic thought to political activism, this group of artists incorporate letters, numbers and symbols to give meaning to their art.

• facebook event >
• exhibition page >
• About my piece in the show >

June 9–July 7, 2018 | Chicago, Illinois
Carry Burdens by Andrea Kaspryk & Eating Words by Tracy Kostenbader
Curated 2-person show

Agitator Gallery
1112 N. Ashland Ave


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Andrea Kaspryk | Carrying Burdens
AndreaKaspryk.com

Tracy Kostenbader | Eating Words
TracyKostenbader.com

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• Opening Photos >
• Opening | facebook event >
• Gallery Hours | facebook event >
• Closing Artists Talk | facebook event >

AgitatorGallery.com

July–November, 2017 | Chicago, Illinois
AnySquared's "Becoming" Community Mural
Senior Lead Artist and Project Manager

South of Kilbourne Park
Roscoe & Kostner

AnySquared's biggest group project of 2017, the ”Becoming" mural at Roscoe & Kostner was in collaboration with Northwest Art Connection (NAC) for their Murals: 30th Ward Year of Public Art 50x50 Neighborhood Arts Project.

• facebook album of process >

I was the Senior Lead Artist on this project where the community voted on several proposal's from our group and chose my rendering/art interpretation/design of Rosa Pineda’s concept for this project. I was also the project manager for this AnySquared collectively-painted mural from soliciting designs from our group in mid-July to making sure the mural was finished and sealed in late November.

Lead Artists: Tracy Kostenbader, Rosa Pineda and Holiday Gerry. Contributing Artists: Helen Sanchez, Lisa Riley, Eric Martin, Jarrett Brown, Jordyn Veronique, Max E Morey, and Agnes Wang. Assisting Artists: Jon Bollo, Marianna Buchenwald, Natalie Carrasquillo, Aaliyah Cudi, Andrea Kaspryk, Aki Kuruma, Grace Pisula, Jacob Ramirez, The Grey Fox 11, Neikko Xavier, Mariela Zavala, Robert Castillo, Nikki Roberts, and Carma Lynn Park. (Thanks neighbor Noe Favela for helping out a couple of days).

Special thanks to Jennifer Hyman and Eric Martin for many rides back and forth with the supplies.
Much gratitude for neighbors Irene and Louie and their continued practical support throughout the project!

December, 2016 | Chicago, Illinois
ABDICATE/ADVOCATE/SCREWED
Solo Installation, Curated by Mary Ellen Croteau

Art on Armitage
4125 West Armitage

• Exhibition Page

ABDICATE, 2016, 96 inches X 36 inches, Acrylic, water-based spray paint, charcoal, ink, and pencil on 4 canvases. (with assistance from Ezel Valdovinos & Etzi Valdovinos)

ADVOCATE, 2016, 96 inches X 24 inches, Acrylic, Spraypaint, on 4 Canvases.

SCREWED, 2016, Site-specific installation (on back wall and front window). Housepaint, stencils, spray paint on wall, and paint marker on front glass.

Site-specific installation that included, 2 paintings, back wall, and window: In ABDICATE I was first thinking about Mayor Rahm Emmanuel’s emails about the Laquan Mcdonald police shooting and feeling that he should resign. Now, this thought also includes Trump’s racist fascism and that he should not be president. I received assistance from 2 children, Ezel & Etzi, who painted the cat and tic-tac-toes during AnySquared’s Studio Day. I also used stencils to build up a texture and then drew in the the fork while thinking of the phrase “put a fork in it.” Those are my word associations and I hope people interpret it for themselves. In ADVOCATE, the word came last, and I was thinking that It is time to fight for each other and for all of us. The SCREWED stencils came post election as I see we have a long fight ahead of us, and also thought about screws as hardware that hold things together. Finally, the circles on the glass are meant to focus on different parts of the installation as you walk by.

September–December 2016 | Liverpool, UK
Transatlantic Rumours: Chicago to Liverpool 2016
Group Exhibition Curated by AnySquared and Rose Howey Coopertive Art Gallery

Rose Howey Cooperative Art Gallery
10-11 Sunnyside, Liverpool, United Kingdom

A collaborative exhibition between AnySquared Projects in Chicago and the Rose Howey Cooperative Art Gallery in Liverpool. The exhibition explored cooperation as an alternative to capitalism. AnySquared mailed pieces in the post, faxes, and emailed pieces to the gallery in Liverpool where Rose Howey responded to our work, watched videos about AnySquared, and hung our work in the in the gallery. #COOPERATIONalternative #TransatlanticRumours #chicagotoliverpool

• Rose Howey Cooperative Gallery is Documented in the UK on the Open Eye Gallery Blog
• Facebook Album
• AnySquared Introductions Video

January – August, 2016 | Chicago, Illinois
Logan Square Dog Park Community Mural Project
Lead Artist and Project Manager

Logan Square Dog Park
2529 W Logan Blvd

AnySquared took on this project with ABC (Artistic Bombing Crew), Renegades of Funk, as lead organizers back in January. The funds raised by the Logan Square Dog Park allowed us to create the mural with many artists, crews and the community at large. See the links below for press and the story of our mural.

Lead Artists: Tracy Kostenbader and FLASH ABC. Featured Artists: Holiday Gerry, Domingo Dominicci, Makeba Kadem-DuBose, REL, NERD, SKOL, Gretchen Hasse, TheGrayFox11, and Attitude 7. Featured Crews: AnySquared, ABC, Renegades of Funk, CMW, and XMEN. Artists: Joseph Ace, ALLEYCAT1, BBOYB, Jon Bollo, BORE, Breaker Ray, Chi Represent, Chumbly, Rodney Dollah, Ladipo Famodu, GAPE, Violet Gee, Andrea Kaspryk, George Larson, Darius Lipinski, MACE, Max Morely, OMEN, Rocko Miranda (Peacflow), Humberto Saldana, Helen Sanchez, Nick Salsa, Melissa Smith, Squeak Starzula, TRAZ, UNEEK, Bruce Wilson, and Natalie Zombie. Crews: CISA, CAB, PUMA, RK, and Classic Cruisers.

Also, much gratitude to every single artist and crew who touched the wall, especially those who help with the mundane stuff! Special thanks to Holiday Gerry, Helen (Superstar) Sanchez, Squeak Starzula, Flash, and Breaker Ray (Renegades of Funk). Thanks to the dog park committee's Sally Hamann for the use of her garage all summer long and her joy every time we see her, and Roxann Ruiz for procuring materials with us. Also, to Jaime Avelo from Classic Crusiers for practical assistance and generator use.

Press

• LoganSquarist Article: Logan Square Dog Park Celebrates Anniversary With Picnic and Mural, Sept 24, 2016
• Community Mural Prep, Logan Square TV, May 22.2016
• Paint a dog and a flower or two Sunday at the Logan Square Dog Park, Our Urban Times, June 11, 2016
• Beautiful Collaborations - Dog Park Mural in Logan Square, YAB blog, August 17, 2016

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November 13–28, 2015 | Chicago, Illinois
Hearts & Minds Exhibition
Curated by Attitude 7/Produced and Curated by AnySquared
Group Exhibition

Hairpin Arts Center
2810 N Milwaukee Avenue

• Exhibition Page
• Trailer: Hearts & Minds Documentary
• Hearts & Minds Show 2015: DNAInfo

April–July, 2015 | Chicago, Illnois
Community Mural at Project Logan
Lead Artist

Project Logan
Located on Medill (near Milwaukee and Fullerton)

• Our Urban Times, Wall Brings Community Together
• DNAInfo, Prominent Wall Gets New Look
• Our Urban Times, Lead Artist, Community Mural
• Logansquarist, Lead Artist, Community Mural

November 21, 2014–January 6, 2015 | Chicago, Illinois
Object Reality
An Exhibition Presented by HUSart
3-Person Exhibition, Curated by Chyanne Husar of husARt
Featuring Gretchen Hasse, Tracy Kostenbader, and Tara Zanzig

HUSart
1800 W. 21st Street
 
Organized by husARt Design Collective, Object Reality questions the truth in our perceptions of the surrounding environment.  Objects have their own stories to tell, their own memories to share, and their own dreams to live.

• Ehibition Page

September 21– November 16, 2014 | Chicago, Illinois
AnySquared's Residency at the Hairpin Art Center
Curator of Exhibit and Producer Series of Events

Hairpin Arts Center
2810 N Milwaukee Avenue
Group Exhibition

Exhibit
Oct 10 – Nov 2 AnySquared's Because Art

Screenings & Performance
Oct 18 Renato Anesi in Concert | Oct 25 Eliaz Rodriguez Film & Beverly Scott Reading
Nov 1 Cinema Culture's Interstellar Outer-Body

Art + Community Events
Oct 22 Open Artmaking Session | Oct 23 ABC Project Logan Slideshow
Oct 29 Open Artmaking Session | Nov 2 Story Forms: Artist Talk & Workshop
Nov 15 ART. SWAP. MEET! Artist Networking Event

• Residency Page
• Residency 2014: DNAinfo
• Residency 2014: Logansquarist
• Residency 2014: Our Urban Times

June 21–October 19, 2014 | Chicago, Illnois
SALVAGE Exhibit
Curator of Group Exhibition

The Plant
1400 W 46th St

Artists: Michael Bolsinga, Mary Ellen Croteau, Miguel Guzman, Chyanne Husar, Tracy Kostenbader, Alexandra Lee (ATYL), Gary Lehman, Stephen Manka, and Luis Sahagun

Through paintings, photo-based works, and site-specific installations, the exhibition explores the metamorphosis of materials, objects, and/or concepts into a new means. Each artist reinterprets materials or concepts within their practice. Stimulated by the notion of transformation, each of their works express varying visions through conceptual methods, aesthetic tools, or through reuse of physical materials.

• Artists of Chicago, Interview with Tracy Kostenbader
• Gaper’s Block, Artists Rethink Waste in 'Salvage'
• DNAInfoChicago, Artists in New ‘Salvage’ Exhibit

May 18 – August 1, 2014 | Chicago, Illinois
Neighborhood All-Star Exhibit
Art@Cole's Art Series #25
Curated & Participated in Group Exhibition

AnySquared's Art@Cole's
2338 N. Milwaukee

AnySquared's 25th Art@Cole's exhibit showcased 40+ area artists. Artists: Janice Aponte, Bboyb, John Bambino, Lynn Basa, Nathan Becka, Wayne Bertola, Michael Bolsinga, Coleman Brice, Tina Brown, Justin Bushman, Robert Castillo, Kerry Couch, Billy Craven, Kimberly Darovec, Angela Davis Fegen, Allison Green, Larry Green, Miguel Guzman, Jared Haberman, Gretchen Hasse, Matt Hilker, Katie Holland, Sharon Hoogstraten, Chyanne Husar, Rachel Katzman, Tracy Kostenbader, Lewis Lain, Ben Lascov, Gary Lehman, Arpad Lep, Betsy Martens, Charlie Megna, Jane Michalski, Harriet Mishoulam, Christine Parisi, Gabe Patti, Rainbow Kitty, James Stieglitz, Julie Sulzen, Nicole Syrquin, Travis Yarak, Dan Zamudio, and Tara Zanzig.

September 28, 2013 | Chicago, Illinois
A Day In Avondale Installation
Solo Show
Revolution Brewery on Kedzie during Art Walk

May 2013 | Chicago, Illnois
Art@Handlebar featuring Tracy Kostenbader
Solo Show

March 2013 | Chicago Illinois
PPPM (Post Post Post Modernism)
Group Exhibition
Pop-Up Gallery at Lake Paradise

The PPPM artists were challenged to produce new work outside their usual practice and encouraged to have fun. Artists included: Whitney Allen, Zachary Hart Baker, Russ Calderwood, Wesley Crusher, Angela Davis Fegan, Antonia Gustaitis, Jenn Grossman, Hannah Harris, Melanie Kasten, Tracy Kostenbader, Matthew John Mcwilliams, Tom Owens, Erin Schiller, Ryan Sullivan, Brett Swinney, David Uthus, Alia Walston, and Joy Whalen.

February 2013 | Chicago, Illnois
Fugue Space Exhibition
Curator

Charnel House
3421 W Fullerton Ave

Fugue Space showcases contrasting sensibilities where artists use memory, layers, or repetition of image or technique to create distinct atmospheres. Curated by Victoria Szilagyi of Chapel Projects at The Charnel House and Tracy Kostenbader of AnySquared Projects. Featuring artists: Michael Bolsinga, Angela Davis Fegan, Miguel Guzman, Brian Hewitt, ATYL (Alexandra Lee), Jane Michalski, Lucy Mueller

October 2012 | Chicago, Illinois
AREA
A Survey of Logan Square & Avondale Vicinity Artists
Hairpin Arts Center in partnership with TRANSIT Residency
A featured exhibition for 2012 Chicago Artists Month
Curated Group Exhibition

Hairpin Arts Center
2810 N Milwaukee Avenue

Exhibition display selection of work from artists who participated on the "TRANSIT MAP." Selected Artists: Ani Ashfar, Lynn Basa, Mary Ellen Croteau, Tracy Kostenbader, Anna Kunz, Beth LeFauve, Monica Resman, Julie Sulzen, Rosemary Warner, and Dan Zamudio.

• Photos of Paintings in Exhibition

October 2012 | Chicago, Illnois
SQUARED! Art+Community art walk and exhibits
Producer, Curator, and Program Coordinator

Curator of Group Exhibitions during art walk:
AnySquared Group Show at AnyWhere Space
Morsels: Small Works/Small Series Exhibit at Township
Art@Cole's #19: 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall exhibit
Art Installations at Threads

• Chicago Reader, Agenda Section, Painting by Tracy Kostenbader featured

July 2012 | Chicago Illinois
Rampant Objects
An Exhibition Work by Tracy Kostenbader
Solo Exhibition

B.1.e. Gallery
6902 N. Glenwood

• Photos of Paintings | Installation Photos
• Live from the Heartland, Art is where you find it – Tracy Kostenbader (Heartland Media video/WLUW radio)

April 2012 | Chicago Illinois
SulzenZamudio Fine Art 10th Anniversary Group Show
Curated Group Exhibition

Sulzen Fine Art Studio
Saint Georges Ct

December 2011 | Chicago, Illinois
Small Works Show by Tracy Kostenbader
Solo Show

Township
2200 N. California

October 2011 | Chicago, Illnois
Curators Showcase Exhibit
Presented by the Logan Square Chamber of the Arts
Curated Group Exhibition

Hairpin Art Center
2810 N. Milwaukee

Exhibit of community based artists who are also curators. The selected artists have given unselfishly of their time and creative energy. They have also come together to plan events, while creating new networks and working collaboratively to produce them.

Artists: FLASH ABC, Jennifer Hines, Jenn Grossman, Tracy Kostenbader, Laura Kurtenbach, Beth LeFauve, Jane Michalski, Lucy Mueller, Emily Rutledge, Ryan Scheidt, and Brett Swinney.

March–July 2011 | Chicago, Illnois
AnySquared's Visual Art Galleries
Coordinated all galleries as AnySquared Projects : 2011 Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival
Head of the Art Committee, Curator of Curator's and Organizer—2011
(Designed and produced the 2011 MAAF catalog about the galleries and arts activities that AnySquared organized.)

Note: the current festival is not the same format and does not refect the focus on art and community that the festival formerly had. MAAF's current goals are very different from the original vision, and the community aspect, as well as the content has been stripped away as people in the community have chosen to not be involved (my involvement was from 2009-2011). It is no longer a full on arts fest that brought you through our neighborhood's rich arts community.

• 2012 Chicago Reader’s Best Public Art Event (relating to my collective AnySquared’s work on MAAF 2011)

October 2010 | Chicago, Illinois
LIP (Life in Progress) Series
Produced and Curated the LIP (Life in Progress) Art Series as AnySquared | Group Exhibitions
LIP was selected as 1 of 12 highlighted programs during the 2010 Chicago Artists Month

LIP asked artists to explore ideas "progress" and showcased answers through two curated group art exhibitions, a video screening and an open studio/artmaking day | October 17 Reception photos | October 8 Reception Photos

September 2010 | Chicago, Illinois
Beyond the Coyote
Flatiron Building, Chicago, Illinois
Group Exhibition

August 2010 | Chicago, Illinois
Old works by Tracy Kostenbader | Art@Cole’s
Solo Show

July 2010 | Chicago, Illinois
Emerging Artist Show
Morpho Gallery
Group Exhibition

July 2010 | Chicago, Illinois
Wax; Small; Gutter; and Print & Still Life Show Pop-Up Galleries
Group Exhibitions

Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival | South End Gallery Map
Organizer—Head of the 2010 South End Art Committee
Coordinated as AnySquared Projects the 2010 South End Galleries and the LIMIT Community Mural

Note: the current festival is not the same format and does not refect the focus on art and community that the festival formerly had. MAAF's current goals are very different from the original vision, and the community aspect, as well as the content has been stripped away as people in the community have chosen to not be involved (my involvement was from 2009-2011). It is no longer a full on arts fest that brought you through our neighborhood's rich arts community.

December 2009 | Chicago, Illnois
Coordinated the 2009 Logan Square Holiday Art Sale & Show
at Anywhere Space and Cole's as Chicago ARTillery (defunct after 2009)

October 2009 | Chicago, Illinois
Chicago ARTillery 2009 Chicago Artist Month Series
Group Exhibitions at Various Location
Work Highlighted in Centerstage, Sun-Times Article: Art Viewing Made Easy

• Chicagoist, Art Happenings
• Outside the Loop Radio, Episode #157 (Interview)
• Chicago Sun-Times, Art Viewing Made Easy

August 2009 | Chicago, Illinois
Logan Square Past & Present; Black Market; A Few Favorite Things; & Logan Square
Connections | Curated Exhibitions at Voice of the City, Cole’s, New Wave, and Pop-Up storefront galleries

Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival
Co-Organizer, Curator, & Promoter of Visual Art Galleries as Chicago ARTillery (defunct after 2009)

• New City article from "Best in Chicago," Best Use of Abandoned Property

Note: the current festival is not the same format and does not refect the focus on art and community that the festival formerly had. MAAF's current goals are very different from the original vision, and the community aspect, as well as the content has been stripped away as people in the community have chosen to not be involved (my involvement was from 2009-2011). It is no longer a full on arts fest that brought you through our neighborhood's rich arts community.

Spring 2009
Co-Founded short-lived Chicago ARTillery Collective (Spring 2009 – January 2010)

February–March 2009 | Chicago, Illinois
CMYK Show | New Wave
Group Exhibition
Press Release

• ChayaOnPaper.com, Symbiosis in Logan Square (related to work as Chicago ARTillery)

December 2008 | Chicago, Illinois
2008 Holiday Art Sale & Show
Anywhere Space with N.A.I.L.S.
Coordinated, Organized, & Promoted
Press Release

August–September 2008, Chicago, Illinois
Unfinished Logan Square: Works by Tracy Kostenbader
Elastic Vision Gallery
Curated Solo Exhibition
Photos from the August 11th Opening | Press Release

June 2007 | Chicago, Illinois
Un/Useful: works by Tracy Kostenbader
noFriction
Solo Exhibition
Selected works from exhibition

press release

CAAP Grant Recipient
This project was partially supported by a Community
Arts Assistance Program grant from the City of
Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and
the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

• Chicago Sun-Times, Eat Your Art Out

July 2006 | Chicago, Illinois
Familiar/place/Everyday/function: works by Tracy Kostenbader
noFriction Cafe
Solo Exhibition
Selected works from exhibition

Exhibition opening and installation photos
Press Release (pdf)

• Chicago Sun-Times, Artist Kostenbader Warms Up Iron for Exhibit, Weekend Section page 2