1644 West Chicago Ave, #1
Chicago IL

Stars Shown in the East

 January 17 - March 1, 2025

a solo exhibition by 
Mandela Hudson

curated by Denny Mwaura





For his first solo exhibition, Chicago-born artist Mandela Hudson presents a collection of photographs that challenge the notion of sole authorship in storytelling. These works are part of a larger monograph tracing his connections between Chicago and Detroit, emphasizing the profound influences of family, design, history, Chicago’s social and architectural landscapes, and the unacknowledged creative vision found within inherited vernacular photography. Rather than asserting himself as the sole creator of these images, Mandela focuses on the emotions, ideas, and social ties they distinctly evoke.

The exhibition’s title draws from theological and Nativity themes, exploring concepts of light overcoming darkness, the beauty of simplicity, and the connection between otherworldly dimensions and earthly existence. Whether referencing spiritual beliefs, landscapes, personal history, or his practice in Judo, Mandela’s work reflects a layered introspective dialogue within a growing body of work. 

Interspersed throughout Tala’s atrium, gallery space, and library are collaborative works created by his peers, found artifacts, and objects that harmonize with his photography, creating a unified and immersive experience.

Mandela Hudson is an artist and designer whose multidisciplinary practice is rooted in photography and spans woodworking, ceramics, and design. His work has been exhibited at renowned venues such as the historic South Side Community Art Center, Kana Kawanishi Gallery in Tokyo, The Reference in Seoul, and Tala in Chicago. Mandela’s work has also been covered by WBEZ and featured in the Japanese magazine Decades Vol. 1.

Beyond photography, Mandela has developed expertise in fine art digital printing and custom framing. After years of creating museum-quality frames for leading galleries at CMM Framing, he founded Projection LLC in 2023, a specialized framing studio serving artists, design agencies, galleries, and museums. Formal training at the School of the Art Institute’s RETOOL program and the Greater West Town Training Partnership’s woodworking program further reinforce his commitment to craftsmanship, grounding his practice in both technical mastery and conceptual depth.

Through an evolving exploration of material, image, and structure, Mandela challenges and expands traditional notions of artistic production. His approach seamlessly bridges the tactile and the conceptual, fostering meaningful dialogues within creative communities and contributing to a broader visual and cultural discourse.
Install photos by Bob. (Robert Chase Heishman)




Exhibition Program



Full Contact (2024)
by Paige Taul
Debut screening

Saturday, Feb 22, 2-3PM
1644 W Chicago Ave, #1

RSVP to attend 


 


On the occasion of the exhibition Stars Shown in the East, Chicago-based filmmaker Paige Taul debuts her latest film, Full Contact (2024). Blending found footage with oral interviews, Full Contact offers a dive into an unseen student’s spiritual and bodily relationship with the Japanese martial art Judo. Also featured is the student’s sensei, who discusses their philosophical understanding of Judo. A conversation between Taul, Mandela Hudson, and curator Denny Mwaura follows the screening.

Paige Taul is an Oakland, CA, native who received her B.A. in Studio Art with a concentration in cinematography from the University of Virginia and her M.F.A in Moving Image from the University of Illinois Chicago. Her work engages with and challenges assumptions of black cultural expression and notions of belonging through experimental cinematography. Her interests lie in observing environmental and familial connections to concepts tied to race-based expectations and to expose those boundaries of identity in veins such as religion, style, language, and other black community-based experiences. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Film, Video, New Media, and Animation at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Mandela Hudson is an artist and designer whose multidisciplinary practice is rooted in photography and spans woodworking, ceramics, and design. His work has been exhibited at renowned venues such as the historic South Side Community Art Center, Kana Kawanishi Gallery in Tokyo, The Reference in Seoul, and TALA Chicago. Mandela’s work has also been covered by WBEZ and featured in the Japanese magazine Decades Vol. 1. Beyond photography, Mandela has developed expertise in fine art digital printing and custom framing. After years of creating museum-quality frames for leading galleries at CMM Framing, he founded Projection LLC in 2023, a specialized framing studio serving artists, design agencies, galleries, and museums.

Denny Mwaura is a Chicago-based curator, writer, and programmer. He is the Assistant Director of Gallery 400 at the University of Illinois Chicago. Exhibitions and public programs he has organized include Learning Together: Art Education and Community, The Mask of Prosperity, Reckless Rolodex, and Young, Gifted and Black: The Lumpkin-Boccuzzi Family Collection of Contemporary Art and Madeleine Hunt-Ehrlich: Speculative Archives at Conversations at the Edge. His writing has been published in E-Flux, Frieze, Boston Art Review, and New Art Examiner. Mwaura received his MA in Modern and Contemporary Art History from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.




Inquiries: info@talachicago.com 

Open Hours:
Thurs - Sat: 1-6PM