Abby Pucker, a 33-year-old member of the influential Pritzker family, has emerged as one of Chicago's most dynamic cultural leaders through her organization Gertie and the increasingly popular Chicago Exhibition Weekend. Standing in a Fulton Market warehouse recently, Pucker demonstrated the hands-on approach that has distinguished her from typical wealthy arts patrons, personally overseeing installations and troubleshooting problems for the weekend's fourth annual edition.
When Pucker returned to Chicago four years ago after living in New York and Los Angeles, many locals assumed her cultural initiatives would be temporary hobbies. As a cousin of Governor JB Pritzker and heir to the Pritzker family fortune—known for funding the Pritzker Pavilion, Pritzker Architecture Prize, and Pritzker Military Museum—skeptics expected her to follow the familiar pattern of wealthy donors who write checks and move on. Instead, Pucker has proven her commitment through intensive, daily involvement in Chicago's art scene.
The misconceptions became clear during a recent "painting emergency" at Exhibition Weekend headquarters on Peoria Street. Rather than delegating the crisis, Pucker could be found wearing sneakers and a hoodie, personally addressing problems with a Rashid Johnson installation. "I'm not a screamer," she explained while surveying the work. "I'm more like a keep-it-all-in-and-let-the-stress-manifest-itself-in-my-neck person." The previous night, she had left a Lady Gaga concert at the United Center early after receiving urgent texts about paint shortages and equipment failures, arriving at the venue by 11 p.m. to help resolve the issues.
Chicago Exhibition Weekend, Gertie's signature event, opens Friday as one of the city's hottest new cultural attractions. The three-day celebration features gallery visits, exhibitions, dinners, art fairs, and exclusive looks at private collections, with most events offered free to the public. Originally established six years ago by Tony Karman of EXPO Chicago as an autumn extension of the spring contemporary art fair, the weekend has grown significantly under Pucker's leadership. "When Abby came back to town four years ago, she didn't lead with her money, her family or her connections," Karman noted. "She led with her passion and ideas in support of the cultural community."
Pucker's influence extends beyond Exhibition Weekend through various ambitious initiatives. During last year's Democratic National Convention, she coordinated public art installations throughout the city. Her monthly subscription service EarlyWork connects Chicago audiences and collectors with local artists, galleries, and cultural events. These projects target what Pucker identifies as her two key demographics: emerging young collectors and culturally curious residents who often overlap. "She's identifying a real hunger in young people to be a part of the art community but find art galleries intimidating," said Valerie Carberry, president and CEO of GRAY gallery.
The impact of Pucker's work has become measurable across Chicago's art institutions. During last year's Exhibition Weekend, GRAY gallery experienced probably its largest visitor influx ever, according to Carberry. "Abby's name opens doors, yes, but no one who works with her thinks of her as a dilettante," Carberry observed. "She's bringing intelligence, energy. We're lucky to have her here." This sentiment reflects the broader recognition that Pucker has moved beyond her family's philanthropic legacy to establish her own meaningful contributions to Chicago's cultural landscape.
The centerpiece of this year's Exhibition Weekend is "Over My Head: Encounters With Conceptual Art in a Flyover City, 1984-2015," curated by Gareth Thomas Kaye and Iris Colburn of the Museum of Contemporary Art. Co-curator Kaye describes it as "sort of a show about shows," featuring works by a dozen artists whose pieces either originated in Chicago galleries or made significant impacts on the local scene. The exhibition includes Kay Rosen's large pink wall painted with "ELVIS LIVES," Molly Zuckerman-Hartung's huge "NO" in silver and black with cheetah-like spots, and Wendy Jacob's field of halved truck tires connected to electronics that make them breathe and move.
One particularly relevant piece is Dara Birnbaum's "Tiananmen Square: Break-In Transmission," featuring long pipes with video monitors and speakers displaying Dan Rather speaking over faded news footage. "It's so incredibly relevant right now, in terms of suppression of the media, and free speech," Pucker explained as the installation came to life. Birnbaum, who died about two years ago, had a seminal show with the Rhona Hoffman Gallery, exemplifying the exhibition's focus on Chicago's role as a hotbed for conceptual and post-conceptual art.
Pucker's approach to cultural programming emphasizes speed and experimentation over traditional institutional methods. While museum exhibitions can take years to organize, she assembled the current major exhibition in just two and a half months. "We move really quickly," she explained, noting that Gertie produces shows at a pace that allows for constant innovation. Though she might change her mind in five years, she currently prefers the flexibility of projects over maintaining a permanent collection, describing her philosophy as "trying stuff."
The weekend kicks off with Pucker's carefully curated dinner for 300 people, with tickets priced at $230 that sold out quickly. "This is my favorite part. I love curating people," she said while arranging name cards at individual table settings. "Why would I put all this work in if the people who attend these projects only talk to other people they know?" This attention to social dynamics reflects her broader mission of making Chicago's art world more inclusive and accessible to newcomers.
Pucker's personal style reflects both her family background and individual identity. She regularly wears sparkly Alexander McQueen sneakers that start at $600, rotating through several pairs like a cartoon character and wearing them to galas and weddings alike. One pair previously belonged to her grandmother, Cindy Pritzker, who died in March at 101 after co-founding the Pritzker Architecture Prize and leading the formation of what became the Harold Washington Library under Mayor Harold Washington's appointment. "She was fucking iconic, is what she was, and my inspiration," Pucker said.
Despite maintaining a busy schedule that includes twice-monthly trips to New York City, Pucker has committed to making Chicago her permanent base. Her typical day during Exhibition Weekend preparation included dry-needling therapy for stress-induced neck tension, buying staff lunch (following advice from her mother, film producer Gigi Pritzker Pucker, that craft services quality indicates production quality), attending political fundraisers, and hosting EarlyWork events at the Chicago Athletic Association.
About a year ago, Pucker stopped concerning herself with questions of legitimacy or trying to please everyone with every project. She acknowledges that Chicago can be a transient place for art world figures but has made her choice clear. "If I'm repping Chicago, who am I if I am not walking the walk?" she said. "I will be here forever now." Chicago Exhibition Weekend runs September 19-21 at various locations, while "Over My Head: Encounters with Conceptual Art in a Flyover City, 1984-2015" continues through October 11 at 400 N. Peoria Street.
