Global Cities, Model Worlds is an exhibition that explores the spatial and social impacts of “mega-events,” such as the Olympics and World’s Fairs. The host cities of these international spectacles seek to transform themselves into “global cities” through planning, architecture, and ideology. Locally, these events pave the way for redevelopment projects that can create new public resources such as parks, stadiums, or transportation infrastructure but often result in significant displacement of residents or industry, reinforcing existing inequalities.

Ryan Griffis, Lize Mogel, and Sarah Ross.

Global Cities, Model Worlds is supported by the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts; the Miller Gallery and the STUDIO for Creative Inquiry at Carnegie Mellon University; the UIC Innovation Center; the College of Architecture and the Arts, University of Illinois at Chicago; and a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.