He's been so busy lately directing films like Hunger, the infamous Shame, and now currently 12 Years A Slave, with literally an all-star cast, that it's easy to forget that Steve McQueen started out as, and is atill first and foremost, an artist.

He specializes in creating massive experimental visual installations, incorporating avant grade film, videos and projected images which deal with various social and political subject matter, from histroical genocide in the West Indies, to gun violence in the U.K. and mining conditions in Africa.

His works have been shown all over the U.K. and Europe, and he was awarded the prestigious Turner Prize by the Tate Gallery in 1999, the U.K's. most desired art prize, and also was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2002.  

He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2011, and he won the Camera d'Or Award at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, given to the best first-time filmmaker, for his film Hunger.

Now, this fall, the Art Institute of Chicago will present the first major exhibition in the U.S. of McQueen's installation works, from October 21 – January 6, 2013. The exhibition, after its Chicago premiere, will then move on to the Schaulager Basel Switzerland, where it will be shown from Feb -July 2013.

The Art Institiute will hold a special reception in honor of McQueen, before the official opening of the exhibtion,  with him in person, that will also include a lecture by him, and other special events, on Friday, Oct 19.

And somehow, between all of this, he has to find time for post-production on 12 Years A Slave.