Corbett vs. Dempsey

About the Gallery
Corbett vs. Dempsey LLC was founded by Jim Dempsey and John Corbett and opened its previous space on North Ashland Avenue in September 2004. Since opening, Corbett vs. Dempsey has presented a range of international artists and artists connected with the historical and contemporary legacy of Chicago. The gallery's mission has included extensive exploration of widely known artists including Ellen Berkenblit, Brian Calvin, Arturo Herrera, Charline von Heyl, Dick Higgins, Rebecca Morris, Albert Oehlen, Joyce Pensato, Arlene Shechet, and Christopher Wool, supporting emerging and mid-career figures including Christina Forrer, Gabrielle Garland, Magalie Guérin, David Hartt, Celeste Rapone, Rebecca Shore, Lui Shtini, Cauleen Smith, John Sparagana, Omar Velázquez, and Molly Zuckerman-Hartung, and championing artists of critical significance to post-war Chicago including Margot Bergman, Dominick Di Meo, Edward Flood, Philip Hanson, Thomas H. Kapsalis, Robert Lostutter, Christina Ramberg, Diane Simpson, Karl Wirsum, and Jimmy Wright. Creative music has always been a feature of the gallery's activities; in addition to having its own record label, CvsD is proud to represent Peter Brötzmann and the estate of Sun Ra.

About the Presentation
At Independent 2025, Corbett vs. Dempsey presents three artists: Arch Connelly, Jeff Perrone, and Sadie Benning. Their work resonates on multiple levels – formal, semiotic, and conceptual. Connelly (1950-1993) and Perrone (1953-2023) were members of the queer New York underground in the '80s and '90s, and their work shares a sensitivity to craftsmanship and a love of fabulous materials – from faux pearls to vintage buttons – and an abiding sense of funk and an interest in the mechanism of meaning. Sadie Benning (b. 1973) comes from a different generation, but brings a similar sensibility to their unique wall-works made with sculpted and painted aqua resin, assembled in a jigsaw manner, sometimes incorporating photographs or objects onto their surfaces.