Fame after Death: Posthumous Recognition of Self-Taught Artists in Chicago

Class Description

Ever wonder what so-called “outsider artists” would have thought of their posthumous fame? This class will focus on the legacies of self-taught Chicago artists—some well-known and others who remain anonymous—whose work was popularized posthumously. This class will survey the art, lives and complicated fame of Chicago artists such as Vivian Maier, Henry Darger, and the anonymous author of Bullets for Dead Hoods. The class will also touch on the legal ethics of posthumous fame and how artists can protect their work, intellectual property, and estates.

Linda Pulik is a designer and unsung artist who is passionate about Chicago history and the city’s revolutionaries. Linda is a life-long teacher, learner, and investigator. She has taught courses about design at the University of Chicago, UIC, and IIT.

What to Expect

Format: In Person 

Class Capacity: 18 

Class Style: Mix of lecture and discussion; participation encouraged 

Materials List

Required

• Instructor-Distributed Materials

A Brief Syllabus

1. Fame on the Outside
2. Famously Anonymous
3. The Ethics of Posthumous Fame
4. Protections for Artists

Cost and Registration

4 Sessions, $175 ($157.50 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.

We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($175), Community Supported ($160), and Sponsor ($185). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.

To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.

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Call us at (312) 255-3700 or send us an email at adulteducation@newberry.org.

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