Disrupters

THE EXHIBITION

This exhibition celebrates the legacy of Chicago women who have shaped architecture and design industries in the Windy City and beyond through the lens of the 50th anniversary of the Chicago Women in Architecture (CWA) professional group.  

DISRUPTERS showcases the trailblazing founders of CWA, who 50 years ago broke through the barriers of a male-dominated industry. These pioneers, lacking their own space, sat on the floor of an office to conceive of an organization that would support and uplift women in architecture. The exhibition traces CWA’s journey over the past five decades, celebrating the progress the group has made and its lasting impact on the field while taking a look at the splinter groups that emerged from CWA, some more disruptive than others. 

The exhibit was developed in partnership with CWA, Wink Design, Ross Barney Architects, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC).