Chicago's Simple Good: A Group Art Show
09/01/25
At The Emily Hotel, creativity and community are at the heart of everything we do. This fall, we’re honored to partner with The Simple Good to present 'The Simple Good in Chicago', a group art show that celebrates hope, resilience, and the everyday beauty that connects us all.
This exhibition brings together a diverse group of local Chicago artists, each interpreting their own meaning of “the simple good.” Through painting, sculpture, mural work, and mixed media, their pieces explore how art can heal, inspire, and remind us of the small yet powerful moments that make life meaningful.
More than an art show, The Simple Good in Chicago is a celebration of purpose. It’s an opportunity to honor the artists who have long supported The Simple Good’s mission and to spotlight the ways creativity can uplift entire communities. All works on display are available for purchase, with a portion of proceeds supporting The Simple Good’s youth art programs.
About The Simple Good
Founded by Priya Shah, The Simple Good is a Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to spreading positivity through art and storytelling. Born out of Priya’s own journey of resilience and discovery, the organization has grown into a global movement, encouraging people—especially youth—to define their own version of “good” and use it to inspire change.
Through Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and mindfulness-based art programs, The Simple Good helps young people build empathy, self-esteem, and purpose. The organization’s impact is felt not only in Chicago classrooms but around the world, fostering peace and understanding one story at a time.
Supporting this vision is Ryan Dromgoole, Simple Good board member and co-producer of the exhibition. A long-time West Loop resident, Ryan is passionate about art’s ability to shape communities and is proud to bring this show to life at The Emily Hotel.
Featured Artists + Works
The exhibition highlights an exciting lineup of Chicago-based artists, each offering a unique perspective on what “the simple good” means to them:
- David Heo – Merging Korean traditions with contemporary urban life, Heo explores nostalgia, dislocation, and desire through vivid, layered works.
- E.LEE – Known for playful trompe l’oeil murals around the world, E.LEE challenges the ways we perceive and value art.
- Czr Prz – A multidisciplinary artist whose murals and sculptural works draw from folkloric traditions and lived resilience.
- Teresa Nelson – Specializing in pen and ink stippling and hand-poked tattoos, Nelson brings Chicago architecture to life through intricate detail.
- Tim Jimenez – A self-taught artist blending horror, nostalgia, and pop culture into bold, imaginative works.
- Jason Hayth – A Navy veteran and multidisciplinary artist, Hayth uses storytelling to explore identity, culture, and the voices of underrepresented communities.
- John Caleb – Rooted in Southern heritage and the Great Migration, Caleb’s work examines grief, flourishing, and the legacy of family and community.
. . .
David Heo
'HANG ON’, 2025
Oil stick, crayon and acrylic on canvas // 30” x 40”
$5,500
This painting centers on a ceramic vessel inspired by the forms and symbolism of traditional South Korean ceramics, which have long held both practical function and spiritual significance.
Heo reimagines this vessel as a metaphor for the emotional weight that can be carried through the rhythms of daily life. Though weathered and seemingly on the verge of collapse, it continues to stand, quietly resilient in its fragility. The imagery depicted on the vase reflects the internal struggles that often go unnoticed, inviting viewers to consider what it means to acknowledge one’s limits and still endure. Blending cultural reference with autobiography, TheDeepest Breath becomes both collective and intimate, speaking to the tension between breaking and holding on, between inherited histories and the ongoing challenges of our present.
E.LEE
'FUN AT THE BEACH’, 2020
Spray paint, acrylic, hand cut wood panel // 33” x 48”
$3,800
Referencing Girl with Ball by Roy Lichtenstein, this is a painting about a painting that is no longer there. Created during lockdown when we weren't allowed outside, it recalls the beach of 2020... something that existed in memory alone.
CZR PRZ
'LAND OF THE LOST’, 2025
Acrylic, Aerosol on Canvas // 38” x 72”
$6,000
"Land of the Lost" is a lucid dream of a feral landscape that represents the mind while in deep sleep, the open range of the subconscious and its vast opportunities for thought and ideas that help unlock doors of an individual's personal evolution. The surreal depictions of people and objects are a representation of the capability of the human mind to utilize imagery to form icons that take the place of people and places that aren't necessarily presented in real life.
Teresa Nelson
'DEARBORN’, 2025
Pen on Mixed Media Paper // 7" x 10”
$1,200
Nelson lets their fascination in Chicago architecture guide them through each dot in this intricately stippled drawing of windows. The meticulous shading and small details are meant to make the viewer feel the piece come alive.
Tim Jimenez
' CAFFEINATED & COLLECTING’, 2025
Acrylic paint, paint markers, oil pastels // 18” x 24”
$400
Painting depicts me zooming around to various shops and thrift stores on my motorcycle hunting for various trinkets/trading cards/blind boxes that give me a sudden release of serotonin knowing I’m adding a new addition to my collection all while enjoying a cup of coffee to keep me running. I find a lot of joy in a good cup of coffee on my day off and going on an adventure around the city not knowing what I’m going to find.
Jason Hayth
'ENDLESS IMAGINATION,' 2025
Acrylic Paint, Heavy Duty Modeling Paste on Canvas// 48” x 48”
$4500
Its title Endless Imagination. This painting is a combination of realism, surrealism, with a little bit of street art influence. At the center is a young child, smiling with pure joy, seated at an easel and painting. The child holds a palette full of vibrant colors and applies paint to a glowing canvas. The glowing canvas is just part of her idea coming to life. Above, a light bulb illuminates the upper right part of the painting, symbolizing a “bright idea” or creative spark. The background stems from her brush as a swirling cosmic cloud, galaxy-like expanse, rich with purples, pinks, oranges, and blacks, suggesting the vastness of imagination. In this painting I was really trying to capture the idea that creativity/imagination is limitless, universal and can take you anywhere in life.
David Heo
'HANG ON’, 2025
Oil stick, crayon and acrylic on canvas // 30” x 40”
$5,500
This painting centers on a ceramic vessel inspired by the forms and symbolism of traditional South Korean ceramics, which have long held both practical function and spiritual significance.
Heo reimagines this vessel as a metaphor for the emotional weight that can be carried through the rhythms of daily life. Though weathered and seemingly on the verge of collapse, it continues to stand, quietly resilient in its fragility. The imagery depicted on the vase reflects the internal struggles that often go unnoticed, inviting viewers to consider what it means to acknowledge one’s limits and still endure. Blending cultural reference with autobiography, TheDeepest Breath becomes both collective and intimate, speaking to the tension between breaking and holding on, between inherited histories and the ongoing challenges of our present.
See the Show
✨ The Simple Good in Chicago is open to the public at The Emily Hotel for a limited time.
Explore the works, connect with the artists, and experience firsthand how art can serve as a bridge to empathy, healing, and unity.
🖼️ All works are available for purchase, with proceeds supporting The Simple Good’s youth art programs.
- Emily Xx
