Chicago’s National Public Housing Museum has opened its doors to a poignant exhibition by Nathaniel Mary Quinn. His portraits at the museum—a love letter to his family—offer a stark reflection on life within the Robert Taylor Homes.

The museum, built on the site of the Jane Addams Homes, uses art and history to explore themes of memory, family and racial segregation. Quinn’s work, which includes ten portraits, captures faces from both his childhood in Chicago and his later years in Brooklyn. Each piece is a fragment, blending reality with historical reference.

One particularly striking piece, 'Charles: Re-visited,' juxtaposes a young boy’s features with those of an adult wearing a fedora. The effect is unsettling yet powerful, highlighting the complexity of identity and memory. Other works reflect on family and friends, each portrait demanding attention but often leaving one questioning what reality truly looks like.

The museum itself tells a broader story. Constructed in 1938 as part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal programs, it aimed to provide affordable housing for struggling residents. However, the subsequent Plan of Transformation, launched in 1999, resulted in significant loss of affordable homes. The museum seeks to preserve these stories and the lives they represent.

As SUNI reflects on Quinn’s work and the museum’s mission, it is clear that art can bridge gaps where policy fails. Here, history and memory converge, offering a new perspective on what it means to call a place home.