About

MAS Context shares ideas and facilitates discourse about urban design and the built environment. Founded in 2009, we are a nonprofit organization based in Chicago, but our reach is global. Our approach is multidisciplinary and collaborative; we strive to be an inclusive community of creative thinkers across disciplines who are interested in the future of cities.

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Netsch Residence, Chicago, 2020. © Will Forrest.

We share our work through multiple platforms, including:

A topic-based journal that brings together global contributors to explore a theme from multiple perspectives

Books dedicated to the work of outstanding people and projects working in urban design and the built environment

Public events including talks, panel discussions, film screenings, book launches, and studio visits

Exhibitions and site-specific installations, presented locally, nationally, and internationally

Observations, an online publishing platform featuring rigorous, in-depth articles about the built environment and the people and conditions that shape it

Dialogues, a series of long-form conversations and oral histories with architects and artists in and around Chicago

As of July 2024, MAS Context has collaborated with 800 people and over 50 organizations; published 33 journal issues, 2 books, 136 Observations, and 12 Dialogues; and presented 152 events and 18 exhibitions and site-specific installations.

All our content is archived online and available as open access.

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Klaus, MAS Context Analog, Studio Gang Architects, Chicago, 2016. © Iker Gil.

“MAS Context is a true champion of contemporary visual art and architecture by supporting emerging practitioners with tools that are integral to their personal and professional growth. They can see and believe in the power of projects by artists in the early stages of their career and work tirelessly to connect them with the people and resources that can further enrich their practice. I am so grateful for the guidance and support that I have received for my own work!”
Virginia Hanusik

TEAM

Editor in Chief

Iker Gil

Contributing Editor

David Schalliol

Editor

Julie Michiels

Monthly Columnist

Elizabeth Blasius

Manager of Development and Initiatives

Molly Hanse

Publisher

MAS Context

Website Design & Development

Span
Collin Joyce

Ongoing Collaborators

Graphic Arts Studio (Printing)
Omni Media & Marketing (Video Production)
André Corrêa (Website)

Past Team Members & Collaborators

Emily Baek
Michelle Benoit
Ben Derico
Andrew Dribin
Tom Harris
Stephen Killion
Lucid Creative Agency
Matt Messner
Paul Mougey
Cleo Ngiam
Lance Patrick Sy
Plural
Spirit of Space
Enric Turull
Alexa Viscius