A packed house filled the Beverly Arts Center on Saturday, April 11, as visitors gathered for the opening reception of “I Heard the City Breathe,” a new exhibition by Saint Xavier University alumnus Brian Sykes. The evening unfolded as both a celebration of art and a vibrant community event, drawing a large and engaged crowd eager to experience Sykes’ latest work.
The reception carried an electric energy, with guests moving between gallery installations while also pausing to take in a series of live vocal performances that quickly became a highlight of the night. Several artists took the stage, delivering powerful musical moments that complemented the themes of the exhibition. Sykes himself performed, adding a deeply personal layer to the evening and reinforcing the connection between his visual and musical storytelling.
“The Beverly Arts Center is where I had my first exhibit and it feels amazing to be back here,” Sykes said.
“I Heard the City Breathe” is presented as both a short film and a gallery-style exhibition rooted in the Black experience of Chicago. Through a blend of visual art, music and narrative, the project explores what Sykes describes as the city’s emotional, cultural and historical realities, while uplifting the voices of communities that continue to shape it. The work brings together youth, adult artists and collaborators, creating an intergenerational dialogue centered on identity, memory and creative legacy.
Sykes, a 2014 graduate of Saint Xavier University where he studied graphic design, views the exhibition as more than a new project. It represents a meaningful return to a space that helped launch his career. He described the presentation as a homecoming, noting the significance of sharing new work in a familiar setting.
His artistic journey began to take shape during his time at the university, where he learned to process his experiences growing up on Chicago’s South Side, surrounded by what he has described as “pain, trauma, beauty, culture, and contradiction.” With encouragement from mentors including Nathan Peck, Monte Gerlach, Cathy Saunders and Jane Hileman, Sykes developed both his technical skills and his willingness to create deeply personal work. Music professor Jan Bickel helped him regain confidence in his musical expression, while production specialist Michael Grimm encouraged him to think across disciplines.
That foundation led to his 2014 series “Inner-City Madness,” an early body of work examining the effects of poverty, trauma and violence on Black children and families in Chicago. The series, drawn from his own experiences, became a defining moment in shaping his artistic voice and was later featured as his first solo exhibition at the Beverly Arts Center.
Returning now with “I Heard the City Breathe” brings that journey full circle. Since graduating, Sykes has expanded his work across music, education, mentorship and creative entrepreneurship. He collaborated with Marlon King at Insomniac Studios, where he developed skills in music production, artist development and project management. Together, they co-founded ISPro Academy, an initiative designed to support emerging creatives through training in audio engineering, music production and the business side of the industry.
His work has also led to partnerships with major cultural institutions, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Museum of Science and Industry and the Hyde Park Art Center. Through these collaborations, Sykes has composed original music, led workshops and contributed to programs aimed at supporting developing artists.
All of those experiences converge in “I Heard the City Breathe,” which is supported by the DCASE Individual Artist Grant and the Illinois Arts Council Creative Catalyst Grant. The exhibition runs through May 1 and serves as both a personal reflection and a collective expression that highlights themes of memory, struggle, beauty, survival and creative legacy.