OUR STORY
Located on the first floor of the Bronzeville Artist Lofts, Gallery Guichard features a rotating collection of modern and contemporary works from numerous global artists including, Abiola Akintola, Stephen ‘Sayo” Olalekan, Pearlie Taylor, Marlene Campbell, Andre Guichard and many others.
A gallery commanding as much respect as Michigan Avenue, located in the Bronzeville community, in the largest African American art district in the country, owners Andre Guichard, Frances Guichard and Stephen Mitchell, opened the gallery in 2005 with the mission to expose patrons to multicultural artists specializing in the art of the African Diaspora thus creating platforms for artists and collectors to meet. Through fine art exhibitions, experiential events, and art tours, Gallery Guichard gives emerging underrepresented talent and mid-career artists an opportunity to develop their imagination and creativity.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, now holds Gallery Guichard’s virtual exhibition catalogs in what is considered the world’s largest collection of contemporary art catalogs. Gallery Guichard’s brings conversation from artists and collectors to help the viewer connect with the artists, collectors and their art. You can view and listen to the introduction of the exhibition video and drop into the gallery 24/7 to experience the art of Gallery Guichard. Visit here. Missed our exhibition, you can visit past exhibitions. Visit here.
Gallery Guichard in collaboration with Sterling Bay has a new standing exhibition titled African Diaspora: #Chicago designed to create a much-deserved platform for underrepresented artists of African descent and foster a new, meaningful cultural experience at #Chicago’s landmark address. Learn more and plan your visit here: https://lnkd.in/dqunK4R
The collection at One Two Pru features 20 collage and acrylic mixed media pieces created by artists including Chicago native Adam Guichard, Nigerian artist Stephen ‘Sayo’ Olalekan, and Detroit native Judy Bowman, as well as Gallery Guichard co-owners Andre Guichard and Frances ‘Marlene Campbell’ Guichard.
Gallery Guichard offers a range of fine art services, including hosting exhibitions, artist talks, framing, crating, shipping, and moving.
Corporate clients like Sterling Bay, Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP, Walgreens, Morgan Stanley, Northern Trust, ConAgra, ComEd, and Granger have enlisted their services. Meanwhile, community partners such as the Chicago Defender and the Chicago Urban League continue to maintain a deep relationship with the gallery in an effort to promote imagination and creativity throughout Chicago.
Gallery Guichard also provides public art opportunities for muralist acting as the administrator for projects and connecting artists to opportunities. In 2020, Gallery Guichard was the administrator on the ComEd Renaissance Mural project located at 38th and S Michigan Ave. The mural represents ComEd’s commitment to the past while building the future. Visit here.
We are very excited to reach our 16th-year milestone. During that time Gallery Guichard created its Bridge program, connecting artists from the continent of Africa with Gallery Guichard by bringing the artists and their works to Chicago. To date we have showcased artists from Dakar Senegal, South Africa, Ethiopia, Egypt and The Seychelles.
Even at sea, in 2013 and 2014, Gallery Guichard was named the official art gallery of Tom Joyner’s Fantastic Voyage. During the cruise in 2014, they raised more money for the foundation through art sales than any previous year.
In 2011, six of Andre Guichard’s original paintings were featured on canvas tote bags as part of Walgreens Community Corner program. The tote bags were sold in 7500 stores nationwide. The gallery currently merchandises art-inspired tote bags and journals for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Gallery Guichard has proven itself as the safe haven for fine art enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in rich culture that touches the soul!
OUR TEAM
ANDRE GUICHARD - CO-OWNER
With over 25 years of experience painting professionally, Andre Guichard is the visionary behind a diverse portfolio of work that can be found in over 2,500 corporate and private collections globally. This self-taught painter is the international curator and spokesperson for the Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series, an international contest, with 8,000 artists’ submissions, created to provide a platform for artists to connect with collectors. For the years 2011 to 2016, the Chicago Urban League commissioned Andre to create paintings of the prestigious Bill Berry honorees - presented to Louis Gossett Jr., Jessie Jackson Sr., Rev. Willie Burrows, Phylicia Rashad, Patti LaBelle, Timuel Black and Isobel Wilkerson. Six of his original paintings were featured on canvas totes as part of Walgreens Community Corner program in 7,000 stores nationwide, while another two were used to design fine art totes for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Andre created a jazz-inspired installation in the Bronzeville Jazz McDonald’s restaurant. He was the official featured artist for the Chicago Jazz Festival in 2012 and 2014.
In 2012, music legend Prince and Rebuild the Dream Village tapped Andre to create Thirty 8’ x 4’ abstract paintings for the “Share Your Story Booth” during their Welcome 2 Chicago concert. The concert provided a fun, interactive place to learn about how people can all rebuild vibrant and sustainable communities.
In September 2016, Andre became the Mayor of Bronzeville. Under his leadership, the benefits of art will continue to be spread globally, with programs like the annual Bronzeville Mayors Ball (August 18, 2018) and First Lady Garden Party (June 23, 2018) to bring awareness to the pillars working to make a better Bronzeville and providing a donation each year to a worthy nonprofit making a difference in the lives of our youth.
FRANCES GUICHARD - CO-OWNER
After 20 years of experience in government, Frances Guichard ventured into the art business with her husband and currently operates as Gallery Guichard’s business manager. With a keen attention to detail, Frances provides artful experiences to future visionaries and collectors. She specializes in aligning artists’ works with collectors looking for a specific piece.
As a curator and moderator for the Bombay Sapphire’s Artisan Series, she is responsible for coordinating and judging over 3,000 submissions. Frances’s vast knowledge of art has drawn the attention of dignitaries worldwide. She’s the international bridge that inspires global talent and exposes local patrons to art from Senegal, South Africa, and the Caribbean Islands. Influenced by her travels and husband, Frances began painting in 2004 under the pseudonym Marlene Campbell.
STEPHEN MITCHELL - CO-OWNER
Stephen Mitchell was born in Atlanta, Georgia on July 23, 1972. After graduating from High School, Mr. Mitchell went on to Florida A&M University. Mr. Mitchell graduated from Florida A&M University in 1994 with his B.S. in Business Economics (magna cum laude) and received his M.A.S.S. in 1995
Stephen is president of The Stephen Mitchell Law Group, PC, which is one of Chicago’s Premier Personal Injury Law Firms. The firm represents individuals and their families in personal injury and wrongful death cases. Mr. Mitchell has handled cases in federal and state court and has obtained very successful results for his clients.
In 2013, Mr. Mitchell became the founding President of the Bronzeville Neighborhood Collaborative (BNC). The BNC is a community based organization whose mission is to work together and harness the power of ALL to build the quality of life in Bronzeville.
In the spring of 2017, Mr. Mitchell was appointed as the Father’s Auxiliary Chair of the Chicago Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. He was also recently recognized as a Pillar of the Bronzeville Community by Andre and Frances Guichard, the Mayor and First Lady of Bronzeville.
Stephen is also a prominent collector of African American Fine Art with hundreds of pieces in his personal collection and is co-owner of Gallery Guichard, one of the nation’s most prominent art galleries.
MEGAN MYRIE - CREATIVE DESIGN ASSISTANT
Megan D. Myrie, is a graduate of the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana), with a BFA in Graphic Design and two minors in Art History and Communication. She is a Graphic Designer and multidisciplinary artist.. She was born and raised in the city of Chicago and because of her various artistic experiences in the city, she has set out to spread love, art, and her love for art in all that she does.