On View August 8 - September 20, 2026
Opening Reception August 9th, 1-3 pm
Grief has played a major role in my pieces, displaying intensity and sorrow in concepts that were personal to me. However, I discovered that the core of the grief was a profound love for those who have touched my life. Drawing from my own experiences, I’ve woven romance into my work with vivid hues and unique portraits from a queer perspective. I am compelled to show the immense love in my life, and by sharing my journey of love, I hope to evoke a deep emotional connection between the audience and the piece.
While embracing passion and love, complexities arose when facing religion. I find myself wanting to be embraced by a higher power, yet I am torn by fear of judgment for finding happiness that doesn’t abide by the strict rules religion imposes. My desire is to be loved unconditionally, but the rigid teachings of religion dictate that only a certain type of person is allowed into the kingdom of heaven. Through the use of Catholic symbolism and figurative bodies, I marry the struggle of acceptance and yearning to belong.
Included Artists: Adam Polak, QueMalaBruja, Jacob Boglio, Lauren Oberlin, KP Piña, Riley Gunderson, and Sarah Alexa Siegel
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Because of these opposing topics, I create surrealist paintings that intertwine the concept of self-acceptance, romance, and grief. The battle of the sense of self is displayed in distorted portraiture, patterned layers, and unusual material to create these structures. I explore the way in which I hold space and live life, airing out my “dirty laundry” while making room for new experiences to shape my core.
This exhibit is a whimsical surrealist show about spirituality and religious trauma through the queer perspective. Questions that are being asked: How did your religious upbringing shape the person you are today? What aspects of spirituality do you still carry with you today? What does it mean to be chosen by God? Through the lens of queerness, spirituality is being challenged and demonstrated as not a monolith but instead as an intrinsic idea of belonging and identity.
-Azul Alberto Nogueron
Glass Castles is the second of three exhibitions curated by Azul Alberto Nogueron as part of their time as the EAC's COMPASS Resident. The COMPASS Curator Residency provides an emerging curator with an opportunity to curate three shows in the Evanston Art Center’s Lobby Gallery space. The EAC’s Lobby Gallery is a space dedicated to exhibiting emerging and underrepresented artists/curators and responds to current social events. This dynamic and inclusive space draws in new curators, artists, and audiences.
Azul Alberto Nogueron is a queer non-binary multidisciplinary artist from Chicago, IL. They began their career as an artist in Chicago, where they worked with organizations like After School Matters, Fulton Street Collective, and the National Museum of Mexican Art. They received their BA from Monmouth College and received their Master of Fine Arts from the Maryland Institute College of Art.
Their current practice reflects the relationship between grief and love. Inspired by surrealism and fauvism, they are interested in the role of color and how it operates in the whimsical connection between the artist and the subject. In addition, their work addresses the dichotomy between religious beliefs and the queer experience. They are exploring their conflicting beliefs and using their own experience as a trans person to create stories of acceptance, fear, and curiosity in their paintings.
GALLERY HOURS & VISITOR INFORMATION
This exhibition will be held in the Lobby Gallery of the Evanston Art Center (EAC). Masks are optional but strongly recommended for students, visitors, and staff.
Gallery Hours
Monday–Thursday: 9am–6pm
Friday: 9am–5pm
Saturday–Sunday: 9am–4pm
HOW TO PURCHASE ARTWORK
Artwork sale proceeds benefit both the artist and the Evanston Art Center. If you are interested in purchasing artwork on display, please contact Emma Rose Gudewicz, Director of Development and Exhibitions, at [email protected] or (847) 475-5300 x 102.

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Image Credits (L to R): Sarah Alexa Siegel and Lauren Oberlin



