Jason Campbell / ellProjects
Chicago, United States
Jason Campbell, working as [ell], is an artist and spatial designer exploring performance, archival practices, and sculptural forms. With training in architecture and photography, his work examines productive tensions within space and material, exploring themes such as care, introspection, and post-colonial memory. Notable projects include Society for Care and Maintenance and HOME PRODUCTIONS, archived by the Smithsonian NMAAHC. Campbell’s work has been exhibited in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Cincinnati. He is a 2024 Building Design + Construction 40 under 40 honoree. He has taught advanced studios at UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design, focusing on the immaterial and narrative dimensions of decommissioned systems.
2025 Biennial Project
Project Overview
The Linen Closet
This installation transforms salvaged comforters into a quiet, reflective space. Hung within a hand-carved wooden frame, the blankets soften light, sound, and the boundaries of the room. Each comforter carries a personal history—creases, patterns, and repairs that speak to years of care and comfort in someone’s home. Donated along with the stories of their owners, these textiles become a collective memory, offering visitors a place to pause and consider how everyday objects can hold and share the experiences of a community.
Venue
View moreChicago Cultural Center
Address
78 E. Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602
Neighborhood
The Loop
Description
Completed in 1897 as Chicago’s first central library, the building was established as the Chicago Cultural Center, the nation’s first and most comprehensive free municipal cultural venue, in 1991. One of the most visited attractions in Chicago, the stunning landmark building is home to two magnificent stained-glass domes, as well as free art exhibitions, performances, tours, lectures, family activities, music, and more – presented by the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and many others.
