Five years ago, a group of artists transformed a shuttered, historic church at 201 S. Ashland Ave. into Epiphany Center for the Arts. Since then, the venue has blended live music, performance art, and gallery spaces “for the good of art, entertainment, and events.”
“From the outside, people might think that we’re still a church with a practicing congregation, but once you go inside, you realize how unique it is,” said gallery director Vincent Uribe. “People are always blown away. It’s fun to see people come in and start to imagine all the things they can do with the space.”
The main floor, “Epiphany Hall,” features a stage that’s equipped to host shows of all kinds, from jazz ensembles to complex theatrical productions. Walk up a grand staircase to find “The Sanctuary,” a vintage room with vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows that’s suited for cabaret-style music productions, literary arts, comedy, and magic shows.
Nestled underneath the building, you’ll find “The Catacombs,” which feature original stone walls, wood beams, and a dimly lit champagne bar.
In addition to Epiphany’s live music and parties, the venue hosts six rotating art exhibits every season that are free and open to the public.
“We’re not a white-room gallery space, our space is multi-functional and every room is unique,” Uribe said. “We open all of the galleries at the same time so that you can have an adventure going upstairs and downstairs, and getting lost within the building itself while you discover the art and music.”
When booking artists and performers, Epiphany’s curators strive to amplify the voices of underrepresented communities and foster a space where established artists can work alongside emerging artists.
“I notice people tend to be really excited for each other, and the community feels tight-knit,” Uribe said. “For me, what makes Chicago’s arts and music scene unique is how supportive the community is of one another.”
