The inaugural Chicago Architecture Biennial presents a broad survey of diverse architecture practices and ideas from around the world. The exhibition includes over 130 participants from more than 30 countries. In parallel with the exhibition, the curatorial team asked participants to have a conversation with someone influential or meaningful to their practice. The State of the Art of Architecture is a collection of over 85 of these exchanges, and is both an archive of the 2015 event and a springboard for further debate. The range of contributors speaks to the diversity of the participants' interests and the interdisciplinary nature of current discourse, and features not only architects, designers, curators and theorists, but also filmmakers, artists, fiction writers, and others.

The State of the Art of Architecture is led by the inaugural biennial artistic directors Joseph Grima and Sarah Herda, with Andrea Bagnato and Irene Sunwoo.

The first public platform of its kind in North America, the Chicago Architecture Biennial presents emerging architectural ideas from around the world to advance global dialogue and public engagement with the ideas that shape the world we live in. The next Chicago Architecture Biennial will open in fall 2017. With the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events for the City of Chicago, the Graham Foundation is a presenting partner of the inaugural 2015 Chicago Architectural Biennial.