Jesus Torres-Medina: Work in Progress, an Ongoing Practice

Lillstreet Gallery presents Work in Progress: An Ongoing Practice, a solo exhibition by Jesus Torres Medina, on view from October 1-30 in the Annex Gallery.⁠

Work in Progress: An Ongoing Practice brings together work from nearly twenty years of my metalsmithing practice, beginning with pieces I made as a student at Lillstreet and continuing through work I am making today. Rather than a traditional retrospective, the exhibition looks at how my work has evolved through making, experimenting, following ideas, and changing direction along the way. ⁠

The title refers not only to the work, but also to my own evolution as an artist and person. Twenty years later, neither the work nor I feel finished. Both are still in progress.⁠⁠

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Jesus Torres-Medina is a Chicago-based metalsmith, jeweler, and educator whose work ranges from jewelry and vessels to small sculptural forms. He first discovered metalsmithing at Lillstreet Art Center in 2006, beginning a practice that has continued to grow and change over the past twenty years. ⁠

His work is rooted in a hands-on, process-driven approach, often allowing materials, techniques, and unexpected discoveries to guide the direction of a piece.⁠

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He has continued his education through workshops and intensive study, including a two-month concentration at Penland School of Craft, and was a Maxwell/Hanrahan Guest Artist in Residence at Peters Valley School of Craft. As an educator, Torres-Medina teaches at Lillstreet and other craft schools and art centers, encouraging the same curiosity and willingness to experiment that continue to shape his own work. ⁠

Early Attendance Recommended, Limited Seating