Join us for an evening hosted by design historian Daniella Ohad with Illinois First Lady MK Pritzker and renowned decorator, Michael S. Smith as they discuss their new book, “A House That Made History: The Illinois Governor’s Mansion, Legacy of an Architectural Treasure.”

Smith, who renovated, redecorated, and reimagined the Obama White House, was commissioned by First Lady Pritzker and her husband, Governor JB Pritzker, to restore the Illinois Governor’s Mansion. The three met in January of 2009 in Washington DC, the evening before the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States.

The talk will focus on the intersection of politics, collective identities, and interior decor, exploring the way in which Smith preserved and expressed the history and culture of the people of Illinois through forging the interior space. Using the best of Illinois’s long tradition of fine craftsmanship allowed him to illuminate the mansion’s unique and remarkable history, exceptional decorative arts, and superb art collections.

Don't miss this lively conversation and book signing!