Reclaim, Reformat, and Resist: Social Practice Art and Urban Regeneration in Chicago

This peer-reviewed essay examines how social practice art has informed alternative approaches to urban regeneration in Chicago, particularly within historically disinvested African American and Latinx neighborhoods on the South and West Sides. Drawing a distinction between mid-20th-century urban renewal and contemporary regeneration, which emphasizes sustainability, inclusion, and adaptive reuse, the essay argues that artist-driven practices offer models of equitable and culturally grounded transformation.

Focusing on three interrelated strategies to reclaim, reformat, and resist, the essay highlights case studies where the principles of social practice art have been applied with transformative effects to the urban landscape of Chicago. The essay features examples by Borderless Studio, Chicago Mobile Makers, Floating Museum, Edra Soto, and Amanda Williams. Together, these practices expose the limitations of top-down regeneration strategies while underscoring the power of collaborative and community-rooted approaches.

The essay will be presented as part of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture’s 114th Annual Meeting in Chicago (March 26-28, 2026)