Soap Opus by Chris Cosnowski and Olivia Zubko

Soap Opus (RESCHEDULED! You can still visit the show during gallery hours, but we will now only have a closing reception)


On Display: March 31st-April 28th
Reception: Friday, April 28th 6-8pm
Artist Talk: Friday, April 28th, 7:00pm
The show can still be visited during gallery hours, or by appointment. Gallery hours:

Wednesday 3pm – 6pm

Friday 11am – 1:30pm

Or by appointment

Contact: Gallery Director Ari Norris anorris@rockford.edu


Chris Cosnowski is an artist and educator living and working in Chicago. He received his B.F.A. from the Columbus College of Art and Design in 1992 and his M.F.A. from Northwestern University in 2000. He has been teaching at the American Academy of Art since 2003. He has exhibited his artwork extensively throughout the United States as well as London. In 2013, he had a 10-year retrospective at the South Shore Arts Association in Munster, IN. His work has been reviewed in numerous publications including The Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Sun Times, The New Art Examiner and the New York Observer. Publications include Manifest Gallery’s International Painting Annual 4 and twice being featured on the cover of New American Paintings in 2001 and 2014. He received a finalist award from the Illinois Arts Council in 2001. In 2017, he was awarded a commission to design artwork for the Blue Line Montrose Station by the Chicago Transit Authority which was installed in May, 2020. When he is not making art or teaching, Mr. Cosnowski tries to find time to travel with his wife Allison. He also likes hanging out with his two cats, Toaster and Pippa and playing classical guitar.

Olivia Zubko is a Chicago-based artist who works primarily in sculpture, utilizing ceramic, fibers, and found materials. She received her BFA in sculpture in 2020 from Northern Illinois University. Recent exhibitions include Neccessarium, a solo show at Cleaner Gallery + Projects in Chicago, West, Wester, Westest 4 at Left Field in Los Osos, CA, Home Grown at Unpacked Artist Space at MdW Fair in Chicago, and Art of Surface at The Robert T. Wright Gallery at College of Lake County. She is currently preparing for an upcoming three person show in September at Heaven Gallery in Chicago. She was recently interviewed for The Comp Art & Design Magazine and featured in Red Skate Mag.