On February 28, 2023, Sidley partnered with Gallery Guichard, a Chicago-based Black-owned fine arts gallery, to host over 100 clients and friends for a one-of-a-kind Black History Month event. The event, a special exhibition of Gallery Guichard’s collection Connecting the Dots, The Bridge to the African Diaspora, featured more than 20 pieces of art from Nigeria, Zanzibar, South Africa, and Brazil. An assortment of treats from Black-owned Chicagoland businesses, including Brown Sugar Bakery, Al’s Cookie Mixx, and Haire’s Gulf Shrimp, were provided for all to enjoy.
Sidley has had a relationship with Gallery Guichard for almost 20 years. In 2004, Sidley commissioned a piece from gallery co-owner Andre Guichard and Chicago-born artist Jason E. Jones. The original work, a tribute to the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, hangs in Sidley’s Chicago office with reproductions of the piece displayed in various Sidley offices across the country.
A pioneer in workplace diversity and inclusion initiatives in the legal industry, Sidley supports the work and contributions of Chicago’s black communities. The firm honors the triumphs and struggles of African Americans through this powerful art exhibit.