On view January 24 - March 1, 2026
Opening Reception: Sunday, February 1, 2026, 1–4 pm
The Evanston Art Center (EAC) is excited to welcome the public to our upcoming exhibition by Eli Williamson, Fellowship. The exhibition will be on display from January 24 - March 1, 2026.
In Fellowship, South Side Chicago native and photo essayist Williamson visually explores the sacred spaces where Black men and boys learn, grow, and heal in each other’s presence. Through imagery, the exhibition asks: Where are the rituals that teach manhood? Fellowship is an installment of Williamson's ongoing series, The Four Virtues, a four-part monograph that cements the virtue of Black men and boys through images and writing.
Dr. Eli Williamson is a South Side Chicago native, organizational executive, and photo essayist whose work sits at the intersection
of service, storytelling, and community. He co-founded Leave No Veteran Behind, an Illinois-based nonprofit that builds real
opportunities for veterans through education, workforce development, and community support.
Before this work, Eli served in Iraq and Afghanistan as a U.S. Army Psychological Operations specialist and Arabic linguist—
experiences that taught him how narratives shape people, communities, and entire societies. He later continued this work stateside through the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, where he led veteran-focused initiatives aimed at strengthening pathways in employment, behavioral health, and community navigation. The lessons learned across these roles show up everywhere in his work today: in how he advises philanthropists, how he listens to communities, and how he creates images.
Fellowship will be exhibited in the Lobby Gallery of the Art Center. The opening reception is free and open to the public. This exhibition is partially funded by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and the EAC’s general membership.