Evanston Art Center Exhibit Addresses Mental Health and Social Taboos

Visitors to the lobby gallery encounter several compelling pieces, including Tiffany Grove’s painting, “The Magician Longs to See.” Grove utilized fluorescent and metallic acrylic paints to depict a “battered” young woman in a state of despair, representing the struggle of losing oneself to past trauma. She expressed, "I hope a takeaway from this piece is knowing to take care of yourself when you’re trying to take care of others."

Curated by Chicago-based artist Azul Alberto Nogueron, “Whispers in the Dark” stems from the idea of confronting the secrets of personal history. A notable part of the exhibit includes a series of abstract self-portraits by Matilda Brumbaugh, featuring figures that represent her repressed identity before her transition. Her culminating piece, “Unto Eternity,” completed in 2025, focuses on self-liberation through a figure adorned with Christian iconography.

Brumbaugh remarked, “You really do in many ways have to forsake this idea that other people have of you in order to be you.”

This exhibit marks the final project of Nogueron’s tenure as the COMPASS Resident at the Evanston Art Center, which aims to elevate underrepresented artists. Nogueron previously addressed themes of queer identity and disillusionment with the American dream, and with “Whispers in the Dark,” they strive to foster conversations about mental health. "All the works here really speak to me as an artist, because it feels like it highlights a lot of the things I struggled with growing up," Nogueron stated.

Artist Ricky Terrell also contributed to the exhibit, presenting works that reflect on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. She hopes her paintings, titled “Journal Entry No. 2” and “Journal Entry No. 4,” will humanize these experiences for viewers: “These are pieces that I’ve done a couple years ago. I’m just grateful for the opportunity to exhibit my work in a new space.”

“Whispers in the Dark” will remain on display in the Lobby Gallery of the Evanston Art Center until November 1, 2026. The center is open to the public for free every day of the week.