Antoine’s Organ (2016) is a monumental, immersive multimedia installation by contemporary artist Rashid Johnson, on view as a part of his career-spanning exhibition, A Poem for Deep Thinkers. Serving as a metaphor for the artist’s own brain, the artwork explores complex themes of race, class, yearning, Afrocentric identity, and the subversion of cultural containment.

Named after the classically trained pianist and music producer Antoine Baldwin (also known as Audio BLK), who originally activated the work in its 2016 debut, a piano is hidden at the center of the labyrinthine structure. Throughout the exhibition’s run, musicians perform live improvisations from within the structure. Music floats through the foliage, giving life and cohering community through shared narrative.

Due to limited capacity, we encourage guests to cycle through the gallery during the performance.

About the Performer

Julius Tucker is a pillar of Chicago’s jazz and creative music community. He is a pianist, composer, bandleader, and producer whose expansive artistry transcends genre boundaries. With a career spanning more than 15 years, Tucker has solidified his reputation for masterful keyboard fluency, harmonic sophistication, and a multifaceted voice that moves effortlessly between jazz, improvised music, electronic experimentation, and beyond. Rooted in Chicago’s rich musical legacy, Tucker began his classical training at the Van Moody School of Music at age seven. He later honed his jazz sensibility at the Merit School of Music and Whitney Young Magnet High School, ultimately completing his academic journey at Northwestern University, earning degrees in both Jazz Piano and Civil Engineering. Tucker is also a recipient of the Luminarts Cultural Foundation’s Jazz Improvisation Fellowship and is an Artist in Residence at The Cliff Dwellers.

A seasoned artist with international experience, Tucker has performed at legendary venues and world-renowned festivals, including The Green Mill, The Jazz Showcase, Sam First, and Red Light Cafe, as well as the Chicago Jazz Festival, Hyde Park Jazz Festival, San Antonio’s Fiesta Jazz Fest, the Iowa City Jazz Festival, and Italy’s JazzIt Festival. Beyond performance, Tucker’s work as a producer and composer reflects a deep commitment to both jazz tradition and contemporary innovation. From intimate trio sessions to genre-blending electronic projects and compositions for film and television, his creative reach extends throughout Chicago’s vibrant music scene and beyond.