Tala, 2024

Architectural Designer

Tala is a contemporary art space, a gallery, a listening room, a library, and an atrium with a n/a bar and an affordable art retail space built by the dedication of some of Chicago’s most brilliant young, emerging Black, POC, LBGTQ+, women creatives. Tala serves as a haven for Chicago’s creative community, those seeking a guiding light for intellectual, sonic, and artistic inspiration, and a chic place to kick it with the homies.

Tala means bright star in Tagalog. A word so close to Francine Almeda, the founder, gallery director and curator. The star motif is imbued into the ethos, soul and architecture of Tala. Francine’s vision of establishing new, sustainable models in the outdated, traditional art gallery world is ambitious, care-based focused, and beautifully executed. One of the best collaborators and team builders, Francine gathered architect Roland Knowlden, interior designers Katie Lee and Mel Gregorio, Construction Manager Serena JV Elston, fabrication designers Josue Esaú and Sam Algas, head of sound design, myself, sound installers David Beltran and Myles Emmons, librarian John Guevara, stylist Annika Ladero, graphic designer Ashley King, drink curator Monday Coffee, social media strategist Maria Ladero, and support from The Almedas, Steven Piper, Nick, Amardev, Cesar Diaz, Camille Bacon, Alejandra, Cami, Mike and Bob. It takes a village and this was the best team Tala could have asked for.

-Antonio Robles Levine (a.k.a. Blesstonio)