The art of staying: Theaster Gates and the Rebuild Foundation

Artist Theaster Gates has lived and worked in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood of Chicago since 2005, and has developed a constellation of spaces in the area for art and cultural programming. The artist has renovated abandoned or decaying structures, transforming them into sites for community gathering. This thesis examines the projects Gates produced in Chicago and how his efforts have been expanded since the launch of the Rebuild Foundation in 2010. Working with multiple parties, including civic or public institutions and private individuals, Gates's expansive practice is an interesting case of how artists can work in the public sphere and develop long-term, community art projects. The text explores Gates's projects alongside other socially engaged art practices and addresses the major debates surrounding the field.