Choose Chicago Names Alum Vashon Jordan Jr. '21 Artist of the Year
Vashon Jordan Jr. during his time at Columbia College Chicago. 
Vashon Jordan Jr. visited a journalism class at Columbia College Chicago last year.Choose Chicago, a sales and marketing organization responsible for promoting Chicago as a global visitor and meetings destination, recently named Columbia College Chicago Alum Vashon Jordan Jr. ’21 Artist of the Year. Jordan, a visual artist with a degree in Film and Television, was selected because he exemplifies the spirit of Chicago.
As the Artist of the Year, his work will be commissioned to use for gift-giving opportunities throughout the year, including through the presentation of artwork to select major convention clients as a thank you for holding their event in Chicago. A selection of Jordan’s cityscapes will be purchased by Choose Chicago through the Artist of the Year Program.
Jordan Jr., who received a Chicagoland Transfer Award while at Columbia, uses photography and videography to showcase authentic stories and moments that reflect the people of Chicago.
A graduate of Kennedy-King College and Columbia College Chicago, Jordan has experience as a photography intern for the Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Mayor’s Office, Chicago Tribune and served as staff photographer on Governor JB Pritzker and Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton’s reelection campaign.
In 2020, Jordan captured over 17,000 photographs at dozens of demonstrations across Chicago and self-published a photo book entitled Chicago Protests: A Joyful Revolution. The Chicago History Museum acquired his photographs of the 2020 protests for its research center and collection and his work was included in an art exhibition at the Elmhurst Art Museum and Museum of Science and Industry. The book is currently available in over a dozen Chicago Public Libraries.
“It is an honor to be selected as the Choose Chicago Artist of the Year,” Jordan Jr. says. “I am thankful for this opportunity to celebrate the beauty of our city and share my work with a new audience.”
The Artist of the Year Program is part of Choose Chicago’s wide-ranging efforts to support and acknowledge our convention clients while celebrating local artists. Since 2000, Choose Chicago has recognized 15 exceptional local artists through this program and presented hundreds of pieces of artwork as gifts.
Congratulations Vashon!
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