There’s something deliciously voyeuristic about visiting an apartment such as Teti. While walking up the creaky, winding staircase to this second floor space in Wicker Park, visions of dwellers streaking in bathrobes came to mind. That is hardly the case, though. Owner Matthew Teti runs an impeccably professional gallery in spite of spatial and structural confines typical of a single flat; he'll even offer you a glass of wine as soon as you set foot in the door.

Low ceilings and narrow rooms are no obstacle for Teti Gallery’s diverse installations by local, national and international artists. Various mediums including paintings, textiles and videos are displayed on quaintly imperfect white walls and bathed in scorching bright lights so no detail is lost. Exhibitions include accompanying essays and artist information.

Coupled with the owner's infectious passion for art, Teti Gallery embodies tenacity and spark. A recent exhibit by Taiwanese artist Pey-ying Kuan consisted of Mandarin script-painted eggshells, which lined the walls of the gallery almost completely. One can only admire the painstaking hours needed to hang such fragile works, which captures the experience of Teti Gallery—from the heart.

Centerstage Reviewer: Jen Hazen