Avery Johnson at Foundry Art Centre
November 6 – December 20, 2026
The Foundry Art Centre is delighted to announce the opening of Fourth Wall, a solo exhibition by Chicago-based artist Avery Johnson.
Fourth Wall is a series of large-scale prints based on self portrait video stills featuring the artist in hand-crafted, hand-beaded costumes. Through a painstaking multi-layer printing process that deliberately introduces disruptions, misregistrations, and noise, the works interrupt the easy consumption of the image and focus the attention on the act of viewing itself. Glamorous costuming, barren settings, and distorted surfaces act as a metaphor for the deep disconnect between the desire for visibility and the isolation that accompanies being in the spotlight.
Avery Johnson grew up in Los Angeles, California, and resides in Chicago, Illinois. Drawn into making through darkroom photography, she received her BFA in printmaking from Washington University in St. Louis. She works at Spudnik Press as a fine art and commercial printmaker. Her artistic practice reflects a commitment to rigorous process, and dances between the mediums of photo, moving image, and print.
Fourth Wall will open in the East Gallery of the Foundry Art Centre on Friday, November 6th, 5-8pm, as part of the Foundry’s First Friday programming. Art activities, live music by Katarra Parson, the Foundry bar, and more will be available throughout the evening. Exhibitions by Anna Schenker, Igor Karash, and Melissa Whiteman will be on view in the Main Galleries.
Fourth Wall will remain on view in the East Gallery through December 20th.
For more information, please visit us at foundryartcentre.org or email Jessica Mannisi, director of exhibitions, at [email protected].
About the Foundry Art Centre
As a vibrant home to the arts, the Foundry Art Centre raises awareness and appreciation of the arts throughout the region. Alive with activity, the Centre’s programming reinforces the importance of the arts and helps ensure that arts and culture remain vital. Artists, patrons, young people and the community at large continually find new ways to interact at this unique facility.
