Chicago Voyagers, a nonprofit empowering under-resourced youth through outdoor adventure therapy, is teaming up with award-winning creative agency Highdive to present The Future Voyagers. This powerful art exhibition challenges the traditional image of American explorers and redefines it through the eyes of youth of color.
The exhibit opens Friday, August 8, with a ticketed gala at Epiphany Center for the Arts in West Town and will run through September 6. At its core are striking portraits of current Chicago Voyagers participants—young people of color portrayed as modern-day explorers navigating trails, rivers, and landscapes once seen as off-limits.
“This is about rewriting the story of who belongs in nature,” said Pat Burke, Executive Creative Director at Highdive and a board member at Chicago Voyagers. “These young people are resilient, curious, courageous—and they deserve to be seen as leaders of exploration.”
Seven Chicago-based artists—including Dwight White, Co-Creative Director of the exhibition—were commissioned to create portraits inspired by the lived experiences of the youth. The result is a moving body of work that doesn’t just reflect where we’ve been, but boldly imagines where we’re going.
“These portraits are more than art—they’re declarations,” noted White. “The kids we worked with aren’t just the future of the outdoors, they’re shaping it.”
Featured artists include Kevin West, Sam Kirk, Rae Denise, Arrington, Edo, Morgan Nicholette, and others to be announced.
The opening night gala will feature a live auction of original artwork, with proceeds supporting Chicago Voyagers’ mission to expand outdoor access and adventure therapy programs across the city. “Every portrait is a reminder of our mission—to give young people the space to explore, grow, and lead,” said Bernie Rupe, Executive Director of Chicago Voyagers.
Lighting Up theMART: The Future Voyagers Goes Big
From August 7–10, The Future Voyagers will leap off the gallery walls and into the skyline. As part of Chicago’s celebrated Art on the MART series, the portraits will be projected onto theMART’s massive downtown facade, transforming the Riverwalk into a tribute to representation and possibility.
“To see our youth represented at that scale—in the heart of the city—is a powerful moment of visibility,” said Rupe.
“We’re proud to spotlight young artists and storytellers alongside a partner like Highdive,” added Cynthia Noble, Executive Director of Art on the MART. “This is what public art should be—bold, inclusive, and community-driven.”
EVENT DETAILS
Gala Opening: Friday, August 8, 2025 Location: Epiphany Center for the Arts, West Town
Art on the MART Projection: August 7–10, 2025 When: Nightly, Thursday through Sunday Where: Visible from the Chicago Riverwalk between Wells and Franklin Streets
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