The Bean' artist, Chicago nonprofit respond to Border Patrol photo op!

Presence in Hometown: An artist’s gift of resilience

ARTNET covering Chicago’s art response to the recent Trump-associated Border Patrol photo op at Cloud Gate (“The Bean”). This story captures the energy and hopefulness of the city’s creative community as artists and nonprofits joined together—turning a politically charged moment into one of unity and shared resistance. Anish Kapoor, the sculptor behind The Bean, stood alongside local organizations in voicing that art should belong to everyone, and that public spaces must remain open, safe, and accessible.​

My Thoughts

Witnessing this surge of solidarity is truly humbling and energizing. The gratitude he feels for being a part of Chicago’s passionate arts community is immense: “There is a rare power in how this city rallies—how artists, activists, and everyday citizens show up to defend the integrity of public art and the connections it fosters. We’re reminded that our creative spaces are not just shelters from turmoil—they are sites of possibility, of hope. Each time our community chooses presence, chooses to make their voices heard, it strengthens the fabric of what it means to create. I’m so grateful to stand alongside my peers who turn art into action and remind us that together, we can always make a difference.”

ARTNET