“FOUR TECHSPRESSIONIST ARTISTS”
Artists: Colin, Goldberg, Renata Janiszewska,
Karen LaFleur and Jan Swinburne
150 MEDIA STREAM
150 N. Riverside Plaza Lobby, Chicago, IL
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April 28 - July 20, 2025
LINK TO: Techspressionism
Located in the lobby of 150 N Riverside Plaza in Chicago, the 150 Media Stream is a public digital art installation divided into 89 LED blades. It stretches over 150 feet long and reaches 22 feet high, the largest structure of its kind in the city.
Four artists’ time-based and moving-image artworks highlight Techspressionism as an artistic approach. From Karen LaFleur’s patchwork web of connections to Renata Janiszewska’s characters with sound, Colin Goldberg’s interior landscape, and Jan Swinburne’s moving-image works, each artist explores what Techspressionism means to them in realizing their artistic visions. The result is a montage of their works.
Goldberg, Janiszewska, LaFleur and Swinburne met in the monthly online Salons held by the Techspressionist community for artists to share work and their ideas. In this exhibition, their works highlight a humanist ethos, one driven by human intention and craftsmanship. Just as the lever, oil paint, and the analog camera were once revolutionary, the digital tools used by Techspressionist artists are merely the latest in a series of expressive technologies. The dynamic animations and generative visuals displayed on the screens are not ‘computer-generated’ in isolation, but are the culmination of human-initiated processes and deliberate choices.
Social sculpture, a phrase coined by Joseph Beuys, includes human activity that strives to structure and shape society or the environment. The central idea of a social sculptor is an artist who creates structures in society using language, thoughts, actions, and objects. As such, Techspressionism values decentralization, inclusivity and accessibility. 150 Media Stream democratizes access to these Techspressionist works by showing them in public spaces. The artists’ commitment to transcending socio-economic, gender, and political boundaries find a fitting stage here, inviting diverse audiences to engage with art that is both memetic and affective, inspiring both thought and powerful emotional connection.
Techspressionism, a unique blend of technology and human expression, revolutionizes how art is experienced, shared, and comprehended. Through platforms like 150 Media Stream, this international community transcends traditional gallery boundaries, fostering dialogue and connection in public spaces. Chicago becomes a living canvas. By prioritizing human intention and inclusivity, the artists and their creations embody a universal belief in the strength of both creativity and community.
