Bob Thall
Bob Thall attended Kilmer Elementary and Sullivan High School in Rogers Park, and then received both his BA and MFA from the University of Illinois Chicago. He was a photographer for the Seagram Bicentennial County Courthouse Project and later was commissioned to photograph historic architecture for the Historic American Buildings Survey, the Chicago Landmarks Commission, and the Canadian Centre for Architecture. Since 1972, Thall’s non-commissioned photographic work has documented various aspects Chicago area landscape. This work has been published in four monographs and widely exhibited, including one-person exhibitions at the Art Institute of Chicago (1994) and the Museum of Contemporary Photography (1999). In 1998, Thall was awarded a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship in Photography. Bob Thall taught Photography at Columbia College Chicago from 1978 to 2017, serving as Chair of the department 1999 – 2011.
Portrait by Devina Yoestong
Stories from Bob Thall
Denise Waite & Lincoln Park High School
Project Overview
For my CPS Lives project I returned to my alma mater Lincoln Park High School. There I worked with a talented bunch of 9th grade art majors. I observed their work, encouraged them and offered tips on self-portraiture. At the heart of my project were the portraits I did of the students. Once for each portrait I sat down with a student for a forty-five minute class period and did a pastel drawing from life. It was an amazing way to connect with the students and encourage them in their studies.
Bob Thall & Carl Schurz High School
Project Overview
Bob Thall & Eugene Field Elementary School
Project Overview
Bob Thall & Roger C. Sullivan High School
