Gray is pleased to present Ellen Lanyon: A Bit of Magic, a solo exhibition of paintings from the Estate of Ellen Lanyon sold to benefit the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. This exhibition was organized  on the occasion of EXPO CHGO ONLINE.

Often discussed in relation to Surrealism and Magic Realism, Chicago painter and printmaker Ellen Lanyon (1926 - 2013) is celebrated for her fantastical and meticulously crafted still-life compositions. A reflection of her own private mythology, Lanyon’s juxtapositions of exotic specimens from the natural world with everyday household objects subvert ideas of domesticity and offer mysterious new narratives both playful and sinister.

To accompany the exhibition at Gray, Partner Valerie Carberry reflects on Lanyon’s life and work in a special video feature. Carberry expands on the exhibition, citing examples from Lanyon's notable Magic series and recounting milestones in the artist’s expansive career.