What is CURAYTOR?
THE COLLECTION
CURAYTOR is home to the Ray Reiss art collection. Expanding the definition of “good art,” the 3,000+ pieces of CURAYTOR come from auction houses to rural thrift stores to bring you an eclectic collection of Alternative, Outsider, and Novice artworks. The collection spans the work of great outsider artists, such as Lee Godie, to contemporary Chicago artists Tony Fitzpatrick and Hollis Sigler, as well as postcards and amateur pottery. Our goal in making this collection available to the public through our website and public programming is to provide people from all walks of life with access to this vast collection of unsung artists. To expand, CURAYTOR plans to share its pieces via a unique rental program and pop-up curatorial projects in local Chicago galleries and beyond.
RAY REISS or THE COLLECTOR
CurRAYtor has long been a brainchild of Artist Ray Reiss. Acquiring items from antique or thrift stores and local artists known and unknown, his collection grows larger each year. A former professional photographer for 50+ years, in 2005 he decided to buy the building he worked out of and converted his studio into a Bed & Breakfast. Twenty years later, Ray’s Bucktown Bed & Breakfast has become a beloved haven for travelers to stay and admire the plethora of works on display in Chicago, Illinois. Ray’s interest in sharing his pieces with an even broader audience led him to this idea – an accessible space for people to share in the appreciation for the collection. With the help of his fellow collaborators, that dream has become a reality.
MOLLY SHEFFIELD or THE DIRECTOR
An artist and art therapist, our Executive Director Molly is the co-creator of SAWHORSE, a gallery space in the Hermosa neighborhood of Chicago. Additionally, Molly offers her creative expertise to expand and develop the collection. A former employee at the B&B during grad school, Ray admired Molly’s artistic sensibilities, and their creative collaboration began.
EMMY BRADY or THE CREATIVE ADMINISTRATOR
An artist and current associate at the B&B, our Administrative Director Emmy has a background in environmental justice and political science. Interwoven in those interests is her appreciation for accessible art spaces and community building, which led to her participation in the CURAYTOR project. Within cuRaytor, Emmy implements those interests to effectively connect the public to the collection.
