THE MISSION PROJECTS is pleased to present new ceramic works by Chicago-based artist Rodrigo Lara at Barely Fair 2026, the 6th edition of the international miniature art fair. Operated by the Julius Caesar artist collective, the artist-run fair takes place near McKinley Park and is presented in a distinctive 1:12 scale format. Exhibitors share a tiny peek of their programming inside 20 x 20 inch booths, arranged in rows like a standard art fair. This year’s fair features day time general admittance and special evening events. Evening events include experimental cocktail installation called “Lewis Bag” by artist Tony Lewis.
Barely Fair is a ticketed event at a space near McKinley Park in Chicago. Venue address is provided through the ticketing platform upon booking visitation. Learn more at barelyfair.com.
VISITING INFORMATION
April 3 through April 19, 2026
Evening events: April 3, 4, 7, 10 & 11
General Admission: April 4-19, 11-5 PM (Closed Mondays)
Rodrigo Lara Zendejas (b. 1981, Mexico) is Assistant Professor/Area Head of the Ceramics Department at the University of Notre Dame. He received an MFA from SAIC in 2013 and his BFA, from the Universidad de Guanajuato in Mexico in 2003. Lara has had solo exhibitions at institutions such as the Museo de Arte Moderno in the state of Mexico; Museo de la Ciudad in Querétaro, Mexico; Hyde Park Art Center in Chicago; the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago; C.G. Boerner in New York City; Kruger Gallery in Marfa, Texas; The Mission Projects in Chicago; among others. Lara has two monographs of his work, Máscaras y Artefactos and Memorials. He won the first prize in sculpture at the Premio Nacional de las Artes Visuales in Mexico in 2010. He has received several awards including: IAPG, DCASE, Chicago; Proyectos Especiales and Jóvenes Creadores, FONCA, Mexico City; Emerging Artist Grant, Joan Mitchell Foundation, NYC; James Nelson Raymond Fellowship, 2013 SAIC; PECDA Estudios en el extranjero, IQCA; International Graduate Scholarship, SAIC; and the John W. Kurtich Travel Scholarship, SAIC, Berlin/Kassel, Germany, among others. He currently lives and works in Chicago.