Morpho Gallery

Chicago, United States

3.7

Closed now

10 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 773-878-4255
Website:
morphogallery.com
Address:
5216 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL, 60625
b/t United States Highway 41 & Farragut Ave
Lincoln Square
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.5 miWestern & Foster NB
0.5 miWestern & Berwyn NB
0.5 miFoster & Western SB
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Street
Wheelchair Accessible
No
Good for Kids
Yes
By Appointment Only
No

Today

Today 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Chicago) 20:29 Thursday, 26 June 2025

Business hours

Monday –
Tuesday –
Wednesday –
Thursday 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Friday 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Saturday 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

Morpho Gallery prides itself on seeking talented artists who are on the cusp of being discovered by the mainstream art community. We invite local artists to exhibit their work in a creative and non-​competitive atmosphere, where artistic experimentation and development are encouraged. By creating a blank palette inside the gallery, Morpho offers infinite possibilities for an array of colors, textures and media to come together. As members of the Bowmanville community and the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce, we strive to enliven the area around us as active participants in community development and growth.

History

Established in 2004.

Originally a chef and longtime art collector, David Leigh left his full-​time culinary career to pursue more creative outlets. The result is a part commercial, part studio, and part garden space that epitomizes Morpho’s eclectic ideology. In June 2004, Leigh opened Morpho Gallery in a storefront space tucked away in Chicago’s Bowmanville neighborhood. Never heard of Bowmanville? Once just a quiet residential pocket, it now boasts a close-​knit community of seven art businesses pioneered by Leigh, Morpho Gallery’s owner/​director.

Leigh also dabbles in antique dealing, Dave’s LPs, gourmet catering and has a booth in the very popular Blue Star Antique Pavilion in Saugatuck, Michigan. Leigh also owns Lakeshore Catering in Chicago.

Dedicated to exhibiting emerging artists and encouraging a collaborative environment, Morpho is now entering their tenth year.

Recently Morpho expanded its music program to include a piano teacher as well as a trio, The Morphtets, that practice at the space.

Meet the Business Owner

David Leigh L.

Business Owner

Leigh owns Morpho Gallery, Dave’s Classic LPs along with a catering business «Lakeshore Catering.»

Morpho also operates a booth inside the Saugatuck Antique Pavilion located in the popular vacation Mecca, Saugatuck Michigan since 2009.

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10 reviews of Morpho Gallery

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Morpho Gallery is a well-​establish show space that encourages young and emerging artists to display with work. They also have a fantastic and extensive collection of vinyl for sale. Morph holds a yearly juried photo exhibit. It is THE place in Chicago for art of all kinds. Host/​owner David Leigh has been devoted to his gallery for over seven years and has the uncanny ability to find talented artists. At every show the artwork is displayed in the best possible way — a tribute to David’s ability. This one-​of-​a-​kind gallery’s art is reasonably priced and art is available for every taste.
Place rating: 1
Westerly, RI
Boy did I just get screwed over by an art gallery last night. When I shipped my work I included my CC info (there was a space for it on the form) but was told they don’t do credit card transactions this way and to bring CASH to the opening. Well I did, and I gave him the money and I had to ask for a receipt (he didn’t automatically offer one). I am standing around waiting for one and he distracts me with art on his PC screen. He never gives me a receipt, I forget. I’m at the gallery for at least a ½ hour after and he never came up to me. I want feeling well, so I left. So now I get an email saying I never paid. I am basically screwed because I don’t have a leg to stand on here. I am going to have to fork over another $ 75 bucks hanging fee and somehow trust my work doesn’t come up missing during the show. What sucks is I know better, I even knew to ask for a receipt. So a warning to other artist if a gallery won’t take CC or paypal and insists on cash, be very careful.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
I’m not really qualified to review the gallery portion of this business… nice stuff is all I can say!
BUT…
They also sell records… been there digging a few times, and always find cool, reasonably priced stuff…
Mostly 60s-​80s stuff, LPs and singles… not in order of any kind so dig in!
Very much worth a look… and hell, if I’m ever in the market for art… i’ll start there!
Place rating: 2
Chicago, IL
Just went to a show here. It’s a tiny space, with a room in the back packed with what looks like old records and more paintings on the wall. The quality of the artwork featured was hit-​or-​miss. The biggest critique I have is that, with a live band playing rather loudly in a small, cramped space across from a big table with drinks for a suggested donation, there was hardly any room to stand back and appreciate the art. Infact, the art was a bit of an after-​thought. I agree with the other posts in that this place is a quaint, hip little destination off the beaten path. It would be a cool place to go hang out, as long as your main goal was not to look at or purchase art work.
Place rating: 3
Chicago, IL
Morpho gallery has a wonderful collection of the original, vintage, late 19th century French humor magazine «Le Rire”– worth the trip.
Place rating: 4
London, United Kingdom
This has potential to be a great little escape on the northern stretches of Damen. (and no, I don’t consider Bucktown to be «north!»)
Quaint, independent gallery situated on the first floor of an apartment building on Damen just north of Foster. Somewhat off the beaten path… but fitting. Winding rooms, corners tucked away, track lighting highlights the work…
I went for a printmaking exhibit with a good friend of mine who’s instructor was displaying some work, and was extremely impressed with the space, location, and creativity displayed. Really talented and offbeat.
Afterwards, just cross the street and have dinner at Yes Thai, a surprisingly cute little BYOB place with white tablecloths and stellar Thai food for cheap. There’s even a liquor store around the corner… or head to Dorado (but make reservations) just west on Foster at Oakley.
Street parking can be hit or miss, but the Damen and Foster busses both run late.
Kind of a quirky, perfect, unexpected date… all in just a few blocks. It’s off the Metromix radar, too… so perhaps you’ll be able to enjoy some original art, excellent food and a mostly untouched neighborhood in Chicago without the fratboy/​trixie crowds. Sounds perfect to me…
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
I was here for Morpho Gallery’s 3rd annual photography exhibit and what a great Little place!
All the little rooms are packed with works of emerging artists that are very reasonably priced. I think there was something there to please every taste. The owner David was a great host, took the time to show us around and tell us the stories of the artists that we found interesting.
I look forward to his next Evert!
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
Rachel had her art up here and we went to the opening night. The neighborhood was very cute and the gallery was super cozy. There was a lot of different art packed into that tiny place. I was also happy to see the place fill up so fast. They offered a nice table of snacks and wine, featuring yummy toffee squares that I couldn’t keep my hands off. Prices for people’s art work were very reasonable. Usually when I go to some art galleries I sometimes have to roll my eyes when I see what they are charging. Don’t forget to check out the grotto. It’s a good place for a cool down after standing in the main room under all those hot lights. We got to meet Avram Eisen who has a framing business in the grotto. He was an excellent person to talk to. I think I want to submit my artwork to this place soon. Next time I will definitely plan on going to Yes Thai before the opening.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
I had some work in a group show last night and Morpho was really great to work with. The gallery is a small, cozy place with affordable art and great people. The crowd (and there was quite the crowd) was fun and friendly. They had some great snacks including some toffee squares that I should have stuffed more of into my purse. Soooo good. It got hot in there thanks to the huge crowd and the lighting so we snuck away into the grotto that is Avram Eisen Studio and got to meet Avram and chat a little which was awesome. It was also nice catching up with one of the girls who works there, Shirley, who went to my high school and actually was in the same class as my sister way back in second grade. It really is a small world. I’ll definitely jump at another chance to have a show in this great little gallery in a cute, cozy neighborhood.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
This small tasteful gallery is the best thing to happen to the far northern stretch of Damen Ave. in recent memory. Shows rotate through fairly quickly and are of consistently high quality. The owner, David, is a strong supporter of emerging talent and the local art scene in general and has introduced me to the work of several excellent artists.
So far we have bought a $ 1000 painting, a ~$ 200 print and two inexpensive but charming Danny Mansmith fiber works from Morpho. We intend to continue expanding our modest but personally meaningful collection as our budget allows. Many pieces are affordable, and some are a little out of my league. It’s fun to stalk a piece, wrestle with your interior money prude, and then give in and splurge.
I always have fun talking to interesting people at Morpho openings. The space is very warm and inviting. A lot of people discover it by accident and are grateful there’s a cool unpretentious gallery located in the neighborhood.
Morpho recently partnered with Avram Eisen Gallery and expanded their space to a cool back room grotto. Eisen mounts shows with a similar sensibility and also offers custom picture framing. So far it looks like an ideal fit and I’m looking forward to seeing more cool art in the hood.
A perfect night out in Bowmanville would be eating dinner at Yes Thai, hitting an opening at Morpho-​Eisen, drinking a little too much at Leadway, then staggering off to Golden Nugget to precushion your hangover.
Barry-​tested, Barry-​approved.