Britni Mara is a Chicago native, a visual artist (primarily through paint) and founder of The Hallway Gallery, a pop-up project that turns unused walls in residential buildings, empty storefronts and in-use office spaces into art galleries for female and nonbinary artists.

• She also runs one of the most visually appealing art accounts on Instagram, with almost 55,000 followers.

The latest: Mara is planning the next iteration of The Hallway Gallery for this spring/early summer at The Forge, a woman-run education center for filmmakers and actors.

What's happening: Mara spoke with Axios' Maxwell Millington about her work and her aspirations. The interview has been edited for clarity.

How do you define art?

• Art can be anything that makes you feel something.

What local artists do you really admire?

• One of my favorite artists and humans is David Ellis, who goes by "Ewrks." He works in Rogers Park, and he makes music as well. His art is really provocative and interesting.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

• For me, it comes from lived experiences. I catalog those experiences, and it comes through in my artwork. I also love to travel, and lately I’ve created series that focus on escapism from the cold, gray weather in Chicago.

How does living in Chicago impact your work?

• There’s so much vibrant culture in (Chicago) between art, food and music. I think the Midwestern charm makes the city less intimidating than New York and LA, and every artist I’ve met has been willing to cultivate a community and network and help each other.

What is one of your dream projects?

• It would be a dream for me to showcase at The Biennale. It's the equivalent of the Olympics for art. I would love to (create something) that evokes conversation from a grand scale.

Go deeper: Britni's artwork.

Up for a field trip? These local spots are exhibiting artworks that range from calming to colorful to complex.

👨‍🎨 Art Institute of Chicago

• Visiting exhibit: "Salvador Dalí: The Image Disappears" has more than 30 paintings, drawings and other materials to celebrate Dali’s work. It runs through June 12.
• Hours: 11am to 5pm on Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and 11am–8pm on Thursdays. Additional hours for members are 10–11am Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
• Cost: General admission is $14 for Chicago residents.

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⚱️Field Museum

• Visiting exhibit: "Death: Life's Greatest Mystery" explores the relationship between life and death with pieces including a 10-foot-long diorama showing how a whale’s body provides for nearby organisms. It closes Aug. 27.
• Hours: 9am–5pm daily. Last admission is at 4 pm.
• Cost: General admission for an adult is $18 for a Chicago resident, $27 for an Illinois resident and $30 for out-of-state. Discounts are available for children, students and seniors. Active military and Illinois teachers can get in for free.

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🌋 Museum of Science and Industry

• Visiting exhibit: "Pompeii: The Exhibition" transports visitors to the ancient Roman city destroyed — and starkly preserved — by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. It runs through Sept. 4.
• Hours: 9:30am–4pm daily.
• Cost: Museum entry is $21.95 for an adult and $12.95 for a child ages 3–11.

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Inflation has hit tickets to arts venues and other cultural activities.

The big picture: Admission prices for museums, movies, concerts and theaters rose 6.5% from March 2022 to March 2023, per the latest Consumer Price Index.

• Faced with those economic pressures, museums have pushed new exhibits, programming and other ways to bring in visitors' limited entertainment dollars.

Be smart: Some area institutions offer free admission days so visitors can explore the arts and culture scene on a shoestring.

• The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago has a pay-what-you-can policy; every Tuesday, it offers free admission to Illinois residents.
• Mark your calendar: The Art Institute will offer Illinois residents free admission on Thursday evenings May 18 through Aug. 31.
• The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center is free on Wednesdays for Illinois residents.

Now that it’s warming up, here are some ways to enjoy art outdoors.

1. Tour Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park

The park has 60 sculptures spanning two miles. Visit the park’s website as you walk to listen to audio notes from many of the featured artists.

• Address: N. McCormick Blvd., Skokie

2. Learn about Black history, culture and art at The DuSable

After you’re done taking in the indoor exhibits, head outside to see sculptures in the garden.

• Admission is $4–$12.50 for Chicago residents.
• Address: 740 E. 56th Place (parking is at 5631 S. Cottage Grove Ave.)

3. Take a self-guided public art tour around the Chicago Loop

You can use this guide to make your way through a dozen public displays. And yes, it does include Cloud Gate (the Bean). You’ll also find Crown Fountain by Jaume Plensa and other noteworthy works.

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