Roman Susan has been organized and run with significant help from family, friends, neighborhood volunteers, and participating artists. In 2016, Roman Susan incorporated as an artist-run nonprofit organization, receiving 501(c)3 tax-exempt status as a public charity.
If you have the means to do so, please share your support through an online donation below; or through a check mailed to: Roman Susan, 4750 N Sheridan Rd #534, Chicago IL 60640. Or contact us at art@romansusan.org for additional options.
Our first program – started before we were a nonprofit – was a project space in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago. At 1224 W Loyola Ave, Roman Susan hosted 185 artist-led projects with the contributions of 913 artists from November 2012 through September 2025. From this location, we are proud to have launched four new programs:
- ANNEX develops site-responsive projects developed in collaboration with local nonprofits and domestic spaces. Since 2014, this program has shared the work of 683 artists at 30 locations in Chicagoland.
- Navigations are a series of artist-led projects in and about public space. Starting in 2021, this program features 7 ongoing projects and 5 works-in-progress, with the contributions of 44 artists.
- AUX provides administrative support to help artist-run initiatives realize their work. Launched in 2022, this program has assisted 9 independent artist-run efforts.
- 4750 N Sheridan Road is a media room, informal archive, and workspace. Opened in 2023, this program shares moving-image work by 14 artists.
Help us support new artist-led projects! For more info about our organization, visit Guidestar. You may also support us and help the organization grow without money by giving us your honest feedback via romansusan.org/our-ongoing-work. Thank you!
The image above at 1224 W Loyola Ave is from 2014, during the project On the impossibility of a singular hand by J. Kent. In our first 13 years, Roman Susan has been privileged to celebrate and share 225 art projects, showcasing the work of 1,300+ artists.
Roman Susan programs are partially supported by grants from the Illinois Arts Council Agency; CityArts grants from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events; Arts Work Fund; the Cliff Dwellers Arts Foundation; the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; the Reva and David Logan Foundation; Artspace Immersion with funding from Good Chaos; as well as in-kind support from Cargo Collective; Chicago Park District; and Lawyers for the Creative Arts. Past programs have received support from AD3 Innovation Bootcamp; a Chicago Arts Recovery Program grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events; Crossroads Fund; The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation; the Graham Foundation Bookshop; Hyde Park Art Center’s Artists Run Chicago Fund in partnership with Art Design Chicago; and The MacArthur Funds for Culture, Equity, and the Arts.