Project 1612 is proud to present artist Dylan Barry for his solo exhibition titled Barry 17:27 on Sunday, September 27th from 5:00 to 8:00pm in the backyard location in Morton, Illinois. Following a week-long artist residency, Barry (he/him) will respond to the outdoor exhibition setting, interacting with the garden and yard as she sees fit for her work. Barry will give an artist talk at the Peoria Public Library Main Branch (date listed below).
Artist Statement
Religion imposes intimate struggles on queer youth, who feel predestined for eternal damnation and contort themselves to fit the heteronormative and cisnormative mold required for salvation. With life experiences shaped by Midwestern Catholicism, I am compelled to investigate how systems of belief shape internalized shame, self-perception, and identity.
Primarily through painting, I confront the intersection of adolescence and queer acknowledgement. My work considers the body as a site where these conflicting forces are internalized, negotiated, and ultimately embraced. I have long feared color. As a queer man, color felt especially vulnerable because it openly invited external judgment. Vibrant palettes reclaim my relationship with color and evoke memories of light passing through stained glass onto a congregation. That divine light is now redirected onto queer figures, reframing queerness as something sacred rather than condemned.
Who or what creates light? What does society illuminate—why? Who controls the spotlight? What if I controlled my own spotlight? How does the light—night, day, or manipulated—change perception? These are questions I am sitting with as I explore how light can interact with my physical work to undergo transformation and receive a divine light.
Bio
Dylan Barry is a Chicago-based artist and graphic designer originally from Brookfield, WI. He received a B.F.A. in Studio Art with a concentration in Graphic Design from Bradley University in 2020 before moving to Chicago, where he currently works as a graphic designer. His studio practice explores queer becoming through lived experiences shaped by Midwestern Catholicism. In 2026, he was featured in an artist interview with PFLAG Council of Northern Illinois’ Open Doors Magazine. Barry has exhibited works in Be Seen Be Proud at 6311Arts and a solo exhibition at Center on Halsted with Barry 17:27.
Project 1612 exhibitions are organized by co-founders Jessica Bingham and Alexander Martin. The 2026 residencies and exhibitions are sponsored by Big Picture Initiative, a Peoria, Illinois grassroots 501(c)(3) organization “formed by a group of dedicated volunteers who believe that art has the power to change our community.”
Dates
Project 1612 events are free and open to the public. Exhibitions are outside (weather permitting). Modifications to events will be posted on social media via Instagram and Facebook.
September 23rd through 27th
Artists-in-residence in Morton, IllinoisFriday, September 25th at 4:00pm
Artist Talk at the Peoria Public Library Main Branch
107 NE Monroe St, Peoria, IllinoisSunday, September 27th from 5:00 to 8:00pm
Project 1612 exhibition
Artist talk beginning at 5:30pm
813 East Jefferson Street, Morton, Illinois
Websites and Social Media
Project 1612
Located at 813 East Jefferson Street, Morton, Illinois, 61550. Street parking is available. Additional information and updates can be found on Instagram and Facebook.
Parents may wish to preview the work in this exhibition prior to children viewing. Nudity is present. Thank you!