On view July 6 - August 2, 2026
Opening Reception Sunday, July 12, 2026, 1-4 pm
Presence and Absence: The Space Between explores the dual reality of death—the physical disappearance of those we love and the enduring emotional, spiritual, and cultural traces they leave behind. Through sculpture, painting, performance, and participatory installations, the exhibition brings together fragile and enduring materials to reflect on memory, loss, and the tension between impermanence and our human desire to hold on. Rather than viewing death as an ending, the exhibition considers it as a connective force between past, present, and future, inviting visitors to reflect on legacy, remembrance, and the ways we remain present even in our absence
Indira Freitas Johnson is a sculptor, cultural worker, peace activist, and educator whose work explores the intersection of art, community, and social change. Born in Mumbai, India, Johnson received her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is included in collections such as the Library of Congress, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, and the Rhode Island School of Design Museum. She is the recipient of numerous grants and awards, including the Illinois Governor’s Award for the Arts, and in 2013 was named Chicagoan of the Year.
Included Artists:
Beth Herman Adler, Joanne Aono, Prisma Andrade, Selva Aparicio, Ange Altenhofen, Trudy Borenstein-Sugiura, Yevgenia Davidoff, Sheri Denault, Melanie Deal, Ellie Dale Anderson, Darlys Ewoldt, Vicki Emgonopoulos, Nanette Freeman, Alice George, Set Gozo, Beth Le Fauve, Beth Shadur, Beth Herman Adler, Fran Joy, Karl Johnson, Lynda Lawson Karr, Scottie Kersta-Wilson, Cynthia Kerby, Larassa Kabel, Jennifer, Louise Witkin-Berg, Angela McElwain, Katherine Nemanic, Lisa Nelson Raabe, Deborah Newmark, Connie Noyes, Anna Pasztor, Alfonso Piloto Nieves Ruiz, Janis Pozzi-Johnson, Nirmal Raja, Beverly Rautenberg, Virginia O. Roeder, Cathi Schwalbe, Lilach Schrag, Howard Skrill, Eleanor Spiess-Ferris, Dorothy C. Straughter, Savneet Talwar, Will Van Dyke, Weriem, Rebecca White, and Audrey Yang.
For more information on Indira's Fellowship, visit our Curatorial Fellowship page here!
GALLERY HOURS & VISITOR INFORMATION
This exhibition will be held in the First Floor 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: Audrey Yang, Trudy Sugiura, and Deborah Newmark



