Breaking the Silence A Juried Exhibition of Veteran Art
Oak Park Art League | August 8 - September 6, 2026
Opening Night Reception August 8, 7-9pm
Some things don't have words. Not because they can't be described, but because language wasn't built to hold them. The weight of a deployment. The quiet after a discharge. The distance between who you were before and who you came home as.
Art can hold what words can't.
Breaking the Silence brings together 30 original works by Chicago-area veteran artists — paintings, photographs, sculptures, and mixed media created by people who know that experience firsthand. The exhibition takes its name seriously: this is not art about veterans. It's art by veterans, made on their own terms, in their own voice.
The Oak Park Art League is open to the public Thurs-Fri 1-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 1-4pm.
Throughout the run of the show, the Oak Park Art League becomes more than a gallery. We will have events all month long.
Artist Talks and Poetry Readings
Sunday, August 16 | 12:00 – 4:00 pm
Oak Park Art League | Free and open to the public
the artists behind Breaking the Silence step forward to talk about their work. Stick around after for Oak Park Art League's monthly poetry reading, open to all, running right behind the talks. No ticket required.
Artist Workshop: Observational Sketching
Thursday, August 20 | 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Oak Park Art League | Free and open to the public
In collaboration with Wounded Warrior Project & OPAL’s Gallery After Dark
This isn't a typical art workshop. Using the works in Breaking the Silence as your starting point, you'll sketch, respond, and make something of your own. Sketchbooks and supplies provided. No experience necessary. All are welcome.
Closing Reception
Sunday, September 6 | 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Oak Park Art League | Free and open to the public
One last evening with Breaking the Silence. Join us to celebrate the artists, the work, and a month that mattered. All are welcome.
The exhibition is juried by:
Michael Bever — Chicago Artistic Director, New Century Art Guild. Army Ranger veteran and professional artist leading NCAG's Chicago chapter programming.
Sergio Gomez — Mexican-American visual artist, curator, and arts educator. Former Director of Exhibitions at the Zhou B Art Center; founder of 33 Contemporary Gallery and Art NXT Level. His work is held in the permanent collections of the National Museum of Mexican Art and the Brauer Museum of Art, with over 45 solo exhibitions across the U.S. and internationally.
Troy J. Muller — Executive Director, New Century Art Guild. Omaha-based artist and educator with a BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Nebraska. He taught at Iowa Western Community College and Metro Community College for over three decades and is a dedicated advocate for veteran benefits.
Breaking the Silence is presented by New Century Art Guild, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to transforming veterans' lives through art. Open to all.
Exhibitions like Breaking the Silence are made possible by people who believe veteran artists deserve a real platform. If you'd like to support this show and future opportunities for veteran artists, we'd be grateful.
Free and open to the public. Oak Park Art League | August 8 - September 6, 2026
Thurs-Fri 1-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 1-4pm.
Opening Night August 8, 7-9pm