742 N. Wells Street Chicago, IL 60654-3521
Email : artisnow@aol.com
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Gallery Owners & Directors:
Nancy McIlvaine & William B. McIlvaine
Gallery Associate Director
Maria Antonieta Oquendo
Gallery Assistant
Allison Bailey
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Tuesday to Friday
10:30am-5pm
Saturday
11:00am-5pm
Other times by appoiment
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Portals Ltd, a truly unique gallery located at 742 North Wells St., is certain to stimulate collectors and art lovers alike. Owners Nancy and William McIlvaine have combined remarkable sophisticated realist paintings with Nineteenth Century furniture and decorative arts. They renovated a historic brick building in the heart of the Chicago art district and created a four story "townhouse" that invites collectors, designers, and architects to enter its' "Portals". Nancy's great love in the English Aesthetic Movement (1860-1880) of furniture and objects, works with the contemporary art of "magical realism" as well as representational art by artists from around the world.
"Spatial relationships are so important in the overall scheme of an area, whether it is an office or home. Most people have a difficult time selecting what they need in a gallery with just paintings or a shop with only furniture! Portals brings together all things wonderful in harmony where people have choices," says Nancy McIlvaine .
The ground floor and lower level are devoted to current exhibitions, bringing in a few pieces of important furniture, again to emphasize the concept of a glorious entryway. The second floor features one gallery focusing on contemporary artisans and an adjacent gallery of antiques. A "Band Box" elevator fashioned after a 19th century French elevator gently climbs to the third floor. The library or center gallery, with its 20ft skylight ceiling, and burnished Venetian red faux walls, resembles a room in the Florentine manner of the late 19th century. Galleries off the library painted in celadon invite visitors and clients to view additional works of art and antiques. Exhibitions change, and of course Nancy and William are always on the hunt for exciting and eclectic pieces to bring to Portals. Every item is carefully chosen in order to buy the truly unusual, whimsical and sometimes "funky" things that Portals is known for.
Nancy and William look forward to receiving each visitor and take great delight in introducing them to the special world beyond the front door that is Portals Ltd.
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Street parking available
email : artisnow@aol.com
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