Welcome to SUGs!

Founded in 1994, the Student Union Galleries (SUGs) at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has established itself as a staple of SAIC’s student life—a place where student artists and curators can challenge their work in a public setting. SUGs is run by five student directors under the guidance of faculty advisor, Michael x. Ryan. Producing between 9 and 12 exhibitions of student work each year, SUGs facilitates programs that provide a more open exchange for students across disciplines and departments, as well as with vital members of Chicago’s art community. Many of SUGs alumni, both directors and exhibiting artists, have made substantial contributions to the arts in Chicago, and have built valuable careers in the arts both nationally and internationally.