To usher in our first holiday season at our Lakeview gallery space, ACRE Projects presents a World of Variety Holiday Shop. World of Variety, organized by artist Stella Brown, is a curatorial project that brings fun and joy to retail shopping. This modern, curated variety store focuses on artist-made objects; local and regionally-produced products; and a range of unique goods collected from around the world.

Whether contemporary art objects; used and found home goods; collected rocks and bits of natural history; or novelty toys, objects tell the story of the time, place, and culture that created and collected them and World of Variety exists to celebrate the things that can make our lives wonderful.

Purchase handmade wares and unique goods and support over 25 local artists, makers, and small businesses including:
Adam Elias Hine, Aitis Something, Alessandra Norman, Allen McNair, Almighty & Insane, Ash Hudson, Ben Driggs, Caitlin Arnold, Gail Placko, GBAY Powerseller, GnarWare, Goodbye Press, Half Letter Press, Ike Floor, Jetsy Merchblatt, Kimberly Kim, Lauren Walsh, Molly Anne Bishop, Molly Colleen O’Connell, Nature’s Trace, Project Onward, Richard Willis, Rock Pile Western, Sílice Masa by VFrnchy, Spring Valley Artisans, The Weaving Mill, and more. 

We invite you to join us for the grand opening of World of Variety’s Holiday Shop on Saturday, November 30th from 12 - 6pm for Small Business Saturday or during gallery open hours on Thursdays & Fridays from 2 - 7pm; Saturdays & Sundays from 12 - 6pm; and by appointment.

Learn more at world-of-variety.com.

Stella Brown

Stella Brown, the World of Variety shop proprietor, is an artist, independent curator, works in film set decoration and was the founding Director of the Buddy store at the Chicago Cultural Center. As an artist, her medium is the language of display, and her academic interest focuses on museums and the collection and display of the cultural object and the concept of the city as a piece of living geology. Brown’s practice, paired with a deep concern for the environmental changes that humanity is bringing to the planet, has created the desire for locally focused retail that both celebrates the wonderful objects produced by the people of the Chicago and Midwest region, as well as a commitment to a sustainable lifestyle for customers. Brown received her BA from the Gallatin School at New York University in 2009 and her MFA from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2019.

Opening Reception:

ACRE Projects Lakeview
2921 N Clark St
Chicago , IL 60657

Wheelchair Accessible

Accessibility Information:

ACRE Projects is on the ground level with a 4-inch step to enter the building. The bathroom is wheelchair accessible. Masks are not required to enter the space but we do have masks available upon request. For additional information, please contact this event's accessibility coordinator Lauren Leving at exhibitions@acreresidency.org.