Opening Reception: Sat., Sept 12, 5-8 pm

Dear Friends,

SoNa Chicago Contemporary Art is proud to feature new works by Laleh Motlagh in her upcoming show, Rooted. Uprooted. which runs from September 12 – November 7, 2026.

Expanding upon the themes of transformation and quietude established in her 2024 exhibition at SoNa Chicago, Entanglement, Iranian-Azerbaijani American artist Laleh Motlagh presents new bodies of work exploring multicultural identity, resilience, and personal geography. Moving between the memories of her hometown of Tabriz, Iran, and her current life in Chicago, Motlagh navigates the complex realities of displacement and belonging.

By interweaving domestic peace with distant geopolitical unrest, Rooted. Uprooted. invites viewers to hold multiple and conflicting truths simultaneously, capturing the collective precarity of existence and the enduring pursuit of consolation.

See you at the gallery!

Laura Botwinick & Molly O’Donnell

Image: Shrapnel and the Purple Shamrock 2 by Laleh Motlagh

Schedule of Events

Opening Reception:
Saturday, September 12, 5 - 8 pm.

Chicago Exhibition Week Reception:
Thursday, September 17, 5 - 8 pm

Laleh Motlagh Artist Talk:
Saturday, September 19, 12:15 -1:30 pm

Location:
SoNa Chicago Contemporary Art
1527 N. Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL

About Laleh Motlagh

Laleh Motlagh لاله مطلق (b. Tabriz, Iran) is a Chicago-based artist and educator. Her work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions around the world. She has received multiple awards and recognitions. Motlagh received her MFA from the University of Illinois Chicago and teaches at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. Laleh Motlagh was one of NewCity’s Breakout Artists of 2023.

SoNa Chicago is Participating in Chicago Exhibition Week

Sept 14-20, 2026 is an exciting week in Chicago, with a full schedule of activities and over 40 participating galleries. Produced by Gertie. Check out the details at the CXW website.

During Chicago Exhibition Week we will have a special reception on Thurs., Sept. 17, from 5 - 8 pm, and an artist talk with Laleh Motlagh on Sat., Sept. 19, 12:15 -1:30 pm

View SoNa’s Purchase Site

Purchase work from previous shows at SoNa Chicago here.

Image: Sing to the Moon, by Monica J. Brown