Where Art Works

Est. 1986

An overhead aerial photo of an industrial-looking building in the middle of an urban area. Just behind the building, an elevated public train can be seen moving behind it. The roof of the building has steel beams and skylights covering it

An Art Hub on Chicago’s North Side

Where Art Works

The Cornelia Arts Building has provided space to local and international artists and artisans for decades. Established in 1986, the building is home to dozens of work studios specializing in both fine and commercial art. The building also hosts individual and group art shows. Held throughout the year, our open studio events continue to be a popular area attraction.

In 2010 building owner John Wertymer was nominated by the arts community and received one of three annual Ravenswood Arts Advocate Awards. C.A.B. artists have received numerous local, national and international exhibits, awards and commissions.

Cornelia Arts is located in Chicago’s Roscoe Village neighborhood, near its convergence with Lakeview and North Center.

A long, brightly-lit art gallery hallway is shown with an array of pieces hung along the wall by several different artists.
Overhead view of a building in a city

Building History

A brick building painted with bright white and bright green paint with large, red steel beams protruding out of the second story

Constructed in 1910, the facility originally housed an ice block storage and distribution company. The southern annex along Cornelia Avenue was a stable for the horses that were used to deliver ice by carriage.

Other businesses would call the building home over the next several decades, including an airplane parts manufacturer and a pipe bending operation. In the 1960’s, it became a clay factory. It was converted to artist loft spaces in 1986. Today, Cornelia Arts is one of several arts-related studio buildings, businesses and schools along Chicago’s Ravenswood Corridor.

A Modern Update

Beginning in 2019, the building underwent a multi-year renovation and internal expansion, with its interior being almost entirely rebuilt. The result of this undertaking is a beautiful, modern facility with dozens of new work studios designed around artists both creating and showcasing their work.

Photos

Assorted photos from the building, including a couple from the building’s “pre-renovation” days.

A younger woman and older woman standing in a clean, white-walled art space viewing a series of small cityscape paintings that take up a pair of walls in a single row.
Cornelia Arts Near Tracks
Brightly-lit studio exhibition with large work on walls and viewers walking through
A view of three people from behind as they stand in an art studio looking at a row of colorful oil paintings hung on a wall. A window to the alley outside is behind them and a small, orange couch is visible in the right corner of the photo
A brown, 2-story brick building on a sunny day along a city street. Elevated train tracks are visible just behind it.
A brick building exterior with with bright green and white paint is seen at dusk
Several men and women view fine art prints in a brightly-lit work studio. Work desks and tables with art materials and tools are seen throughout the space along with some display walls where framed prints are hung for visitors to look at
Cornelia Arts Building Studio
An art studio shows an assortment of paintings of different subject matter including Chicago cityscapes, tea sets, desserts and flowers. Just outside, a city street and house are visible below.
A trio of men play music against the backdrop of a brick building. One plays a keyboard, the other a bass guitar and in the foreground a man plays a saxaphone. Just barely visible behind the trio is a man playing a drum kit