Splayed on Chicago’s bridges, in its stairwells, and dancing across brick walls underneath its freeways are painted murals that tell the story of the city itself. From the pain and struggle of the urban experience, to the faith and hope that abound in its surroundings, Chicago street art is a testament to the spirit of its people and the creative dynamism they embody.
With more major public art murals than you can see in a day, use this guide to find the best graffiti art in Chicago.
Collin van der Sluijs is a Dutch artist who works completely without sketches or notes. He created this vaulting mural at 1006 S. Michigan Ave. depicting two endangered Illinois birds perched on a web of electric blue and purple flowers.
Muralis Hector Duarte is an award-winning public artist who’s contributed to over 50 murals in the city. ‘Gulliver in Wonderland’ is a depiction of Mexican immigration struggles that covers the outside of Duarte’s own two-story home. The mural seamlessly wraps from the side of the house to the front and manages to appear fluid from any angle.
This powerful piece of street art in the Pilsen neighborhood on 16th and Halsted evokes the power and pain of Jesus’ crucifiction as an homage to the shared Catholic faith between the neighborhood’s Mexican and Polish residents.
Janani Nathan is a Chicago-based multimedia artist, CPS art teacher, and tattoo artist. Her art is colorful, organic, and full of vivid...
May 5, 2021Our latest Artist Process Video features graphic designer and letterpress printer Ben Blount, and we couldn’t be...
May 3, 2021
LinkWhether you're starting out on the road to becoming a professional illustrator, or further into your career but in need of a...
April 26, 2021
LET'S TURN ART INTO IMPACT.
