"[1][2] Founded in 2014, the biennial is managed by a charitable corporation under the auspices of the city's Cultural Affairs department, and sponsored by public and private organizations and individuals.

[4] The event was championed by then-mayor Rahm Emanuel who told the Financial Times: "This biennial is an ode to the city's past and an echo to our future.

The exhibitors were invitees, many from North America and Europe, but also from Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Israel, Japan, Pakistan, the Palestinian Territories, South Africa, and South Korea.

Its lead curator was Yesomi Umolu, and it was co-curated by Sepake Angiama and Paulo Tavares.

[29] The third iteration of the biennial focused on four main themes: land and belonging, architecture and memory, rights and advocacy, and collaboration and discussion.