During an age in our country and in our city when we need to be able to imagine a better future, the arts are essential. I have witnessed this firsthand as an intern at High Concept Labs…

What do the words “experimental” and “conceptual art” bring to mind? Perhaps you are thinking of a banana duct-taped to a wall, or Duchamp’s iconic urinal. For many, this sort of work feels defiant, overly intellectual, or elicits no response at all…

✨ Support High Concept Labs for a chance to win a 4-Day Getaway at the Dunes! ✨

For one week only:  every $50 you donate to High Concept Labs earns ONE entry into a raffle for a relaxing, 4-day stay at a beautiful vacation home in the Indiana Dunes.

After eleven fruitful years at Mana Contemporary, HCL will be departing its Mana-based studio in May 2025.

The exploration of High Concept Labs' future strategy began with engaging artists, audience members, supporters, and other stakeholders through a community survey, focus group, and a series of planning sessions that included members of the HCL staff, board, and Artistic Advisory Council. In these conversation with our community, we clarified the following core strengths of HCL…

HCL warmly welcomes and celebrates the 2025 HCL Fellow Artists in Residence:

Bradford Chin
Tirtza Even
Christopher Knowlton
Haruhi Kobayashi
Carissa Lee

High Concept Labs announces a fundraising campaign to establish a board-designated cash reserve. These funds, dedicated to the long-term stability of the organization, will be an essential financial tool for the organization. This fundraising campaign follows the celebration of HCL’s 15th Anniversary, and is a crucial marker in the organization’s development.

We are 68% to our goal of raising $125,000 by December 31, 2024. We need your help to close the gap. 

High Concept Labs & Unfolding Disability Futures Team Up to Present Art/Access Labs

Year-long celebration will feature artist events, programs, and showcases across Chicago.

The HCL Anniversary Campaign seeks to raise $125,000 in recognition of 15 years of advocacy for experimental, conceptual, and genre-defying artistic projects. This campaign will enable the longevity of High Concept Labs and our mission of strengthening Chicago’s creative sector through accessible residency programs.

We want to know about you!

High Concept Labs (HCL) announces the 2024 Artists in Residence: Bradford Chin, Christopher Knowlton, Haruhi Kobayashi, Carissa Lee, and KT Shivak.

For nearly 15 years, High Concept Labs has enabled artists across genres and disciplines to incubate new ideas, discover new approaches to making, and build new skills. We have championed over 300 artists and collective projects through providing no-cost studio space, funding, and professional documentation, along with tailored curatorial, development, and marketing support.

Through this work, we have learned that artists need a platform to share developing projects, test ideas, and gain perspective on their work through conversation. This is where HCL’s Open Labs come in.

High Concept Labs (HCL), a Chicago-based arts service organization and artist incubator, announced today that Aquil Charlton has joined HCL as its new Artistic Director. He joins HCL Managing Director Angee Lennard in a co-leadership position with the organization.

Aquil is a creative and visionary leader who leverages his experience as a teaching artist, consultant, and co-founder of artist collaboratives to make positive contributions in Chicago communities and the arts sector. His leadership in community-based cultural and youth development work have been recognized by Aspen Institute, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 3Arts, Northwestern University, and Yale University. Aquil is also an independent musician, rapper, songwriter, DJ, producer, and was an HCL Sponsored Artist in 2018.