Bad at Sports Episode 886: Scott Speh on 20 Years of Western Exhibitions & Chicago Art Scene Reflections

In this milestone episode of Bad at Sports, we welcome back Scott Speh, the founder and director of Western Exhibitions, to celebrate 20 years of the gallery's existence and its significant role in shaping the Chicago art scene. It's been 19 years since Scott's last appearance on the show, and in this conversation, we dive deep into the journey of Western Exhibitions, its impact on the city's art landscape, and the evolving nature of the gallery's programming. From the early days of launching the gallery to navigating the challenges and rewards of running an independent space in Chicago, Scott offers a unique perspective on the state of contemporary art and its communities. We discuss the dynamic relationships between artists, collectors, curators, and the broader public, and reflect on how Western Exhibitions has not only supported emerging artists but also helped to foster a rich cultural dialogue in the city. As the art world continues to change, Scott shares his thoughts on the future of galleries, the role of physical spaces, and how the local art ecosystem has evolved over the past two decades. Tune in for an insightful and engaging conversation about the intersection of art, community, and sustainability in Chicago. Names Dropped… Shannon Stratton, Marc Fischer, Anthony Elms, Philip von Zweck, Rhona Hoffman, Dirk Denison, David Salkin, John Neff, Jason Pickelman, Dutes Miller, Pedro Valez, Nick Frank, Stan Shellabarger, 7/3 Split, Tim Fleming, Paul Nudd, Dan Attoe, Lisa Boyle, Rowley Kennerk, Andrew Rafacz, Lou Manilow, Robyn O'Neil, Ryan Christianson, Geoffrey Todd Smith, Edie Fake, Mark Pascalr… There were others… https://www.shannonraestratton.com/about https://www.printedmatter.org/catalog/39749/ https://lostandfoundlab.org/anthony-elms https://artadia.org/artist/philip-von-zweck/ https://www.rhoffmangallery.com/ https://www.dirkdenisonarchitects.com/ https://www.davidsalkin.com/ https://artadia.org/artist/john-neff/ https://design.newcity.com/2024/04/05/one-more-day-in-the-life-of-jason-pickleman/ https://www.jmkac.org/artist/miller-dutes/ https://westernexhibitions.com/artist/stan-shellabarger/ https://velezpedro.com/home.html http://www.thegreengallery.biz/artists/nicholas-frank https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-fleming-772a7618 https://www.artfairmag.com/art-los-angeles-contemporary/ https://www.spudnikpress.org/people/paul-nudd/ https://thehole.com/artists/dan-attoe https://badatsports.com/2010/rowley-kennerk-gallery-closing/ https://andrewrafacz.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Manilow https://www.robynoneil.com/ https://www.geoffreytoddsmith.com/ https://www.juxtapoz.com/news/magazine/features/edie-fake-off-the-grid/ https://www.luxcenter.org/artist/mark-pascale https://badatsports.com/2005/episode-6-scott-speh-and-philip-von-zweck-interviewed/ Image Credit - Credit: Josh Druding for Chicago Reader https://chicagoreader.com/arts-culture/the-past-and-future-of-western-exhibitions/