Beyond the Grid is Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park’s ongoing art series—an evolving showcase of contemporary artists, immersive installations, and creative exchange. Located on the hotel’s B1 level within the Chicago Pedway, the series brings together local and global talent across disciplines, inviting guests and visitors to experience art in motion.
Each residency transforms the space with new perspectives, while live activations, artist interactions, and community-driven partnerships deepen the connection between art and audience.
What to Expect:
- Rotating artist residencies
- Live art experiences
- Meet-the-artist moments
- Community and philanthropic partnerships
Beyond the Grid is designed to be more than an exhibition—it’s a platform for creativity, connection, and cultural storytelling.
Now On View
Chicago-based artist Fontaine Scarelli launches the series with an expressive, process-driven installation. From May 11 – July 12, 2026, view Fontaine Scarelli’s works on display on the hotel’s B1 Pedway level. All works on display will be available for purchase.
From May 11–14, guests can witness Scarelli creating an original work live on-site in the hotel’s lobby—offering a rare, behind-the-scenes look at his creative process.
Known for his expressive, process-driven practice that blends contemporary abstraction with bold gestural techniques, Scarelli’s work often explores movement, emotion, and environment.
A message from the artist: “I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate on many creative partnerships, but I’m especially excited about this one with Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park,” said Scarelli. “Not only will the work be displayed in one of Chicago’s most iconic hotels, but we’ll also be supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation Illinois, something that truly inspires me and gives deeper meaning to my work. I’m looking forward to making the hotel my home for a few days with my family and creating a unique piece inspired by the spirit of the hotel and its guests in real time.”
Launch Celebration - May 14 at 6pm
We invite you to join us for the launch of Beyond the Grid featuring Fontaine Scarelli on Thursday, May 14 from 6pm – 8pm at Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park.
Guests will have the opportunity to view the artwork up close, meet the artists, enjoy cocktails available for purchase at the hotel’s lobby bar, and dine at the hotel’s premier restaurant, Toro.
About Beyond the Grid:
Beyond the Grid reflects the hotel’s commitment to supporting the arts through sustained engagement with both Chicago-based and international artists. Spanning a range of disciplines and media, the program presents site-responsive works, offering an ever-evolving experience that mirrors the rhythm of the city.
The inaugural installation features Chicago native Fontaine Scarelli, whose work sets the tone for the program’s exploration of contemporary artistic practice. A painter working within the language of abstract expressionism, Scarelli creates large-scale, immersive compositions that investigate tension, time and psychological space. Originally trained in fashion design, Scarelli brings a refined sense of structure and materiality to his paintings, balancing instinct with restraint. His works invite viewers into layered environments where memory, perception and uncertainty converge.
In tandem with the installation, the program will include an artist residency with Scarelli, offering a more immersive engagement with his practice through live-work sessions and guest-facing interactions. This component underscores the program’s commitment not only to exhibiting finished works, but to supporting the creative process itself.
About Artist Fontaine Scarelli (On View May 11, 2026 – July 12, 2026):
Chicago-born and raised, Fontaine Scarelli is a contemporary abstract expressionist painter whose work explores tension, time, and psychological space through large-scale, immersive compositions. A former fashion design student, Scarelli transitioned into painting with a distinct visual language rooted in instinct, restraint, and emotional intensity.
Scarelli’s canvases invite viewers into environments where memory, perception, and existential uncertainty intersect. Drawing influence from post-apocalyptic cinema, The Twilight Zone, and his solitary upbringing, his work reflects a deep fascination with the fragile boundary between reality and illusion. Each painting evolves through layered construction, revealing both vulnerability and control.
In 2025, Scarelli debuted his first international solo exhibition, 11:11 On Another Planet, in Hong Kong, marking a significant expansion of his global presence. His work has been featured in exhibitions across the United States, including Fractured Continuum in Chicago and What Dreams May Come at Gallery 1871. His large-scale painting The Idea of Time was acquired by global design firm Perkins & Will and is permanently installed in their Chicago studio. His work has also been exhibited at Luminaire in the Hollywood Design District and previously at Saks Fifth Avenue, Chicago. Scarelli’s work and practice have been featured on WGN-TV’s Spotlight Chicago, in Visual Art Journal, and in Milk X Magazine Hong Kong in conjunction with his international solo exhibition. Working from his Chicago studio, Scarelli continues to develop new bodies of work while expanding his presence through exhibitions, commissions, and international projects.
Next up, Beyond the Grid:
Liz Flores, a Chicago-based painter and muralist recognized for her evocative explorations of identity, memory, and womanhood. As part of her residency, Flores will invite other local female artists to contribute, expanding her community-driven approach and further building on her focus on female collaboration and creative exchange. Her work will be on view at the hotel after July 12, offering guests an intimate look at her powerful, narrative-driven practice.
Additional Information:
Additional artist residencies, exhibitions, and interactive experiences will be announced on a rolling basis, reinforcing the series’ mission to push creative boundaries, foster meaningful connections, and shine a spotlight on a city that thrives on creativity. As part of Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park’s commitment to delivering unparalleled experiences for both guests and locals, the series is designed to be provocative, immersive, and truly one-of-a-kind, going beyond the art itself.
Local artists interested in participating or learning more are encouraged to reach out directly to Art Curator Peggy Sparks of Artists Proof, by emailing [email protected].
