Our Members
Alonso Galue
Alonso Galue (Venezuelan, b. 1994, Chicago Based) BFA at the University of Los Andes, is a multidisciplinary artist whose experimental use of traditional painting and sculpture articulates speeches on labor, existential crisis, and totalitarianism. In his Immigrants to go series, for example, he uses clay to portray the faces of food industry workers on floating plates with actual food. As the exhibition progresses, the food rots, creating an uncomfortable situation for the observer who faces the hidden laborers. Pulitzer Prize Jerry Saltz commented on Instagram Galue’s work is “a strong voice of the future.”
Galue’s work has been exhibited in several museums across Venezuela and artist-run spaces in the US, including the Museum of Contemporary Art of Zulia, Museum of Modern Art Merida, Museum of Miniature Merida, Espacio Proyecto Libertad, University of Los Andes, Void Projects, and Agitator Gallery. He was Awarded Valencia’s Painting Prize in 2017 and the Iberoamerican Art Fair Caracas 2020.
Email: alonso.galue@gmail.com
Andrea Kaspryk*
Andrea Kaspryk has a BFA (2013) in Painting and Drawing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, a certification in Painting and Drawing in Continuing Studies from SAIC, studied at The Drawing Workshop, and continues to take art courses at Lillstreet Art Center. Andrea changed career direction from studying literature and language and teaching writing to art.
My primary focus is narrative and symbolic paintings that tell a story. My past interest in writing and literature informs my desire to tell a story through images, which is often my personal story as a transgender person. The figures and scenes in my paintings are usually set in a natural and imagined or mythical world. My work is inspired by twentieth century modernist art movements and styles, such as expressionism, surrealism, and symbolism and Max Beckmann, Giorgio de Chirico, and Edvard Munch. Regularly attending figure painting and figure drawing classes and drop-in sessions with a nude model helps me to imagine the figures that I use in my imaginative paintings and prints.
Email: andrea@agitatorgallery.com
Gretchen Hasse*
Gretchen Hasse is a storyteller working in comics, collage, public art, and moving images. She holds a BA in Anthropology from Northern Illinois University, and an MFA in Film, Video and New Media from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has exhibited work throughout the city, and her films have screened in Chicago, New York City, Berlin, London, and computer screens everywhere.
Gretchen’s work is primarily about resilience. She is drawn to stories and images that describe perseverance through pain, and knows that a dark sense of humor, a keen eye for social criticism, and the diligence to work for change are essential tools for survival.
Email: gretchen@agitatorgallery.com
Jen Lau
Jen Lau is a Chicago-based illustrator and paper artist. She received a BA in Studio Art and East Asian Studies from Oberlin College. She joined Agitator Co-operative Gallery in 2019 and currently co-runs the weekly Figure Tuesdays figure drawing meetup.
Her work explores the glorification and exploitation of the human body as well as family histories in relation to the immigrant experience. She is passionate about creating space for Asian American artists while smashing stereotypes. Mediums include drawing and paper-cutting.
Jen founded Duck & Dog, Co. in 2008 as a means of promoting handwritten correspondence through handcrafted stationery. You can purchase these products on Etsy or at these brick & mortar locations.
She also works with local women and artist-run business, State of the Art, to bring Chicago artists into Chicago businesses.
Email: jen@agitatorgallery.com
Luna Rail*
In 1991 I completed my MFA in drawing and painting with a minor in art history at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. I had previously completed a BA in history and radio/TV communications from what is now Elon University. I would subsequently complete a masters in social work at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
I came to Chicago in 1991 with a newly minted MFA and a stack of paintings and prints. From that time until the birth of my son in 1997 I made work, made a few connections and showed around Chicago. I showed in the early Around the Coyote Festivals in 1992 through 1996. Galleries I showed with at the time included Happy-Delpeche and No Palace and, until the end of their contemporary gallery, with R.H. Love Galleries. Happy Delpeche and No Palace were my primary spaces. I miss Jim Happy-Delpeche who was a good friend and champion. I also miss my friends from No Palace. Chad Spicer who started No Palace also became a very good friend and supporter of mine.
Showing over the next 20 years while I raised my son and developed a career in social work was sparse. I showed at small galleries that no longer exist. I also spent a weekend with a wall of swastika paintings at a more recent Around the Coyote event after a friend called and cajoled me into joining him for the weekend.
In 2017 I responded to the call for artists who were interested in forming an artist’s cooperative gallery. From this came a small number who formed Agitator Gallery. We’ve been consistently paying the rent and doing shows and events in the same space for two years now. From 2017 on, I’ve shown with Jack Jung Gallery on occasion and done graphic design work for the Chicago Drug User’s Union, Renaissance Social Services, and the Chicago Recovery Alliance. More than anything, I’m proud of my work and the collective work of Agitator Gallery.
Email: lunarail@agitatorgallery.com
Former Members
Danielle Owensby • Emilio Nadales • Frederick Nitsch* • Jeff Horwat • Jennifer Anne Buckley • Josh Mei • Karmen Elaine • Lorenzo Angel Bonilla • Michelle Graves* • Sarah Bell • Spencer Hutchinson*
Names with asterisks (*) represent founding members