One Gallery’s Fight to Fuse Art & Sports
Dozens of people mingled and drank free Baderbräu beer on a brisk November night as they surveyed framed black-and-white screen prints celebrating the 150th birthday of one of the world’s most well-known architects, in one of Chicago’s fastest-growing neighborhoods.
Hip-hop tracks pulsated through Zissou Tasseff-Elenkoff’s freshly painted, brightly-lit retail space that he finished curating only hours before. Guests purchased Big League Chew bubble gum and 18”x24” Kate Lewis-designed prints at a small wooden desk underneath a Spalding basketball hoop and exposed air ducts.
Not too long ago, a furniture resale shop occupied All Star Press (2775 N. Milwaukee Ave.), an art gallery that sits near the corner of Milwaukee and Diversey avenues. But on this Saturday, the Logan Square spot dedicated in large part to screen-printed sports jerseys kept its doors open until late at night to showcase a Frank Lloyd Wright collection.
Tasseff-Elenkoff, a 34-year-old father who often sports a mohawk, is a School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduate, born to nomadic jewelry makers, raised in and around the art scenes of Paris and London. “I grew up going to galleries on a regular basis, and I hated it,” he said. “I hated it because they are normally very stuffy and elitist, and not the most friendly places to walk into. As an artist, I never wanted to be part of the fine art gallery scene.”
The sports-focused All Star Press opened in June, his latest counter to the aspects of the art world he despises. It’s a concept the European football-obsessed artist believes deep down could one day span the globe.
Tasseff-Elenkoff started All Star Press because he is deeply invested in the subject matter and enjoys working with a tight-knit crew. All Star Press’ proprietor also understands sports to be “mega.” He knows he has the talent and drive to succeed in a market typically bereft of skill and style.
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Ben Rains 