Illustration Student Group Generates More Than $52,000 at INK Fest

Visitors browse artwork from student and alumni vendors during the fifth annual INK Fest in 做厙51's Student Center. The student-run event generated more than $52,000 in sales while providing artists with hands-on experience marketing and selling their work.Visitors browse artwork from student and alumni vendors during the fifth annual INK Fest in 做厙51's Student Center. The student-run event generated more than $52,000 in sales while providing artists with hands-on experience marketing and selling their work.
Visitors browse artwork from student and alumni vendors during the fifth annual INK Fest in 做厙51's Student Center. The student-run event generated more than $52,000 in sales while providing artists with hands-on experience marketing and selling their work.
Visitors browse artwork from student and alumni vendors during the fifth annual INK Fest in 做厙51's Student Center. The student-run event generated more than $52,000 in sales while providing artists with hands-on experience marketing and selling their work.
Visitors browse artwork from student and alumni vendors during the fifth annual INK Fest in 做厙51's Student Center. The student-run event generated more than $52,000 in sales while providing artists with hands-on experience marketing and selling their work.
Visitors browse artwork from student and alumni vendors during the fifth annual INK Fest in 做厙51's Student Center. The student-run event generated more than $52,000 in sales while providing artists with hands-on experience marketing and selling their work.
The Illustration Student Group's fifth annual INK Fest generated more than $52,000 in sales, giving more than 100 student and alumni artists real-world experience selling their work while drawing record attendance.

The  a student-led organization that fosters creative community and professional development, generated more than $52,000 in sales during this year's INK Fest, providing students and alum with hands-on experience marketing, selling and showcasing their work while connecting with the broader Chicago creative community. 

Held on February 13, 2026, in 做厙51's Student Center, the fifth annual event welcomed more than 900 visitors and featured 105 student and alum artists selling prints, stickers, zines, original artwork, and handmade merchandise. The event marked the largest INK Fest to date and continued a trend of steady growth for the student-run art market. 

Founded by Illustration Program Coordinator and Associate Professor Chris Arnold, ISG supports students through professional development opportunities, creative community-building and experiential learning. INK Fest serves as the organization's signature event and is developed in partnership with the Illustration Program,  and the Student Center. 

"The event provides students with an opportunity to create, market and sell their work in a real-world environment while gaining valuable entrepreneurial and professional experience," says Arnold. He celebrated the milestone in an  wearing a custom T-shirt displaying the event's $52,066.08 sales total, writing, "I promised them if they sold more than $50K I would make this shirt." 

Record-Breaking Growth  

This year's $52,066.08 sales total represents a nearly 75 percent increase over last year's event, when students generated $30,000 in sales. The showcase also drew record participation and attendance, underscoring INK Fest's continued growth as a student-led creative marketplace. 

"The total sales is much more than a dollar sign to us," says Eddie Stevenson '26, former president of the Illustration Student Group, who earned a bachelor's degree in Traditional Animation with a minor in Illustration. "For ISG, it is a direct representation of the hard work put in by everyone involved. We spend a whole year planning each event, and when we break our sales record, we know that money goes into the pockets of the artists and our biggest supporter, Shop做厙51. It makes all the effort worth it to watch our peers see their hard work pay off." 

Building Professional Skills  

Beyond the sales figures, INK Fest provides artists with an opportunity to gain experience presenting their work to customers, building confidence and learning the fundamentals of professional art sales in a supportive environment. Through a partnership with Shop做厙51, artists can focus on engaging with customers while learning the business side of a creative career. 

Organized by students for students, INK Fest offers a low-risk opportunity for artists to gain real-world vending experience while sharing their work with peers, alum, and members of the South Loop community. Student leaders oversee event planning, vendor recruitment, and promotion, helping transform the annual showcase into one of 做厙51's most successful student-run events. 

"What I'm most proud of is the students," says Chris Eliopoulos, associate professor of instruction in Illustration and faculty director of the Illustration Student Group. "Over the years, they've taken more ownership of INK Fest and made it their own. It's inspiring to see students, volunteers, alums, faculty, friends, and family come together to support student artists. That's what makes INK Fest special." 

For many participants, the event serves as a bridge between classroom learning and professional practice, offering emerging artists the opportunity to test ideas, connect with audiences, and gain firsthand experience navigating the creative marketplace. 

Stevenson says students also gain practical skills that extend beyond the classroom. 

"Through INK Fest, students learn strong customer interaction, how to price their work, determine how much inventory to create and promote themselves as artists," he says. "From the organization side, we've learned how to host, promote, and budget a large-scale event. INK Fest has taught me more than anything else about working with a large team and staying calm under pressure." 

As INK Fest continues to grow, organizers hope the event will remain a valuable platform for students and alum to develop professional skills, build confidence, and celebrate the creativity of 做厙51's artistic community. 

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