For art lovers living in Chicago, but also those coming to visit, we put together a list of what we think are some of the most unforgettable street art murals in the city.
Chicago has not only some of the best street food in the world, but also some extraordinary street art to be equally enjoyed!
Chicago is a living canvas, with many neighborhoods literally covered in art. Tens of thousands of square feet of murals make their home on bridges, buildings, train stations, and even parking garages. Many artists, either very young ones, starting a career, or established ones in a quest for new expression possibilities have been telling the story of despair and hope, race and immigration, struggle and accomplishment, love and sorrow. The city’s progressive arts culture boasts acclaimed street artists such as Hebru Brantley, Jeff Zimmerman, and Gaia, but many more are coming into their style, defining their artistic expression.
A thriving artistic community does not only live through stunning public art installations or exhibitions in the city’s many museums. Today the street art and graffiti scene in Chicago is alive more than ever before with new pieces appearing all over the city every week. Some of these have become as much part of the Windy City’s identity as its iconic sculptures and architectural landmarks.
Being met with more formality and respect by the local community, Chicago’s street art has thrived over the last 10 years or so. Nowadays, murals are more than an extraordinary spectacle, they prove a point, celebrate different heritages, fight for equality, pay homage to icons, and honor the heroes of society.
Chicago has a glut of gorgeous murals you can pose with for your Instagram, and are included in the most sought after spots to take pictures in. The popularity of these beautiful pieces of street art has really taken flight among locals and travelers alike. You’ll find huge, colorful murals and other street artworks decorating various buildings and public walls all over Chicagoland.
Hunting down the great pieces of Chicago street art is a rewarding experience any time of the year but for the most informative experience, you can join an expert and learn all about its history with the Offbeat Street Art Tour of Chicago: Urban Graffiti and Murals.
1. Greetings From Chicago Mural
This vintage postcard-inspired mural is the most popular and photographed mural in Chicago. Situated in Logan Square, on an old plumbing supply building along the Blue Line el tracks, off the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Prindiville Street at 2226 N Milwaukee Ave, the Greetings From Chicago Mural was the first official on-the-road ‘postcard mural’ by NYC graffiti artist Victor Ving and Ohio-born photographer Lisa Beggs. The fantastically talented duo have traveled across 20 states in their 24’ ft RV to do this type of works.
Fun fact: New York City artists, Victor Ving and Lisa Beggs, have made over 40 “Greetings From” murals in the country, but Chicago was their first official one.
This mural is one of the most Instagrammable spots in Chicago, along with other similar attractions.
Where to find it: 2226 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago.
2. Robin Williams By Jerkface & Owen Dippie
Photo Credit: Bri Sieber
When Ving and Begg’s Greetings from Chicago mural first appeared in Logan Square you had to travel to other neighborhoods in Chicago to find murals of the same caliber. Since then stunning pieces of street art have popped up all over the neighborhood. The Robin Williams mural is one of these and shows the late actor and comedian surrounded by blue genies from the Disney movie Aladdin – the character voiced by Williams, one of his most famous roles in cinema.
The piece is a collaboration between the artistic duo Jerkface and Owen Dippie with Jerkface known for cartoon characters and Dippie for his detailed close-ups. They completed the mural in 10 days and wrote “we miss you Robin” when they unveiled it on Instagram. It is today considered one of the most important pieces of street art in Chicago.
Where to find it: 2047 North Milwaukee Avenue (North Side), Chicago.
3. Vivian Maier By Eduardo Kobra
A short walk down Milwaukee Ave and into Wicker Park lies another of Chicago’s most famed murals, the Vivian Maier mural. Painted in 2017 by São Paulo-born Eduardo Kobra, and facilitated by Beauty and Brawn, it depicts the late Chicago photographer Vivian Maier, whose work only gained notoriety after her death. Falling behind on payments Maier was forced to auction her negatives which years on would become a viral phenomenon and a much-sought-after collector’s item.
The Vivian Maier mural was vandalized in 2019 but residents of Wicker Park stepped in to fund the restoration of this iconic piece of Chicago street art.
Curators and Producers: Beauty & Brawn
Where to find it: 1651 West North Avenue, Chicago.
4. Muddy Waters By Eduardo Kobra
Kobra’s work includes more personalities, besides Vivian Maier. The renowned Brazilian painted in 3,000 different locations across the world, creating charismatic pieces of unique individuals such as Abraham Lincoln and Bob Marley. Another of these, and one of the most unique murals in Chicago, can be found in State and Washington on N State Street.
The 100 ft mural is another piece born from the collaboration between Beauty & Brawn and Eduardo Kobra and is one of the most recognizable pieces of street art in Chicago. The Muddy Waters mural was painted in Kobra’s typical colorful style during the Big Walls Festival in May of 2016 and celebrates the “father of modern Chicago blues”, Muddy Waters.
Curators and Co-Producers: Beauty & Brawn
Where to find it: 17 North State Street, Chicago.
Iconic women are often the center pieces of Chicago’s street murals, either representing the nurturing side of womanhood, or real life characters who became symbols of their generation. Two of these examples can be found below.
5. Marilyn Monroe By Jeffrey Zimmerman
Image Source: https://www.jeffzimmermann.com/publicart
Renowned artist Jeffrey Zimmerman is the Chicago man behind a mural that bears the face of one of the most beloved women in the history of pop culture.
At the crossing of Michigan Avenue and Erie Street, high above the Magnificent Mile, an extraordinary recreation of Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe portrait covers a wall bigger than a basketball court, appearing as suspended 150 feet in the air.
The mural is rather new, being put up at the end of 2019 as part of the Chicago Institute of Art’s retrospective on the famed American artist Andy Warhol. One of his most notable works, the Marilyn Diptych from 1962 is a silkscreen painting combining the notorious Warhol themes of tragedy and celebrity culture. Warhol’s work is part of the reason Marilyn Monroe’s face is so recognizable today and the vibrant mural above the Magnificent Mile only adds to the legend.
Where to find it: 663 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago.
6. Michelle Obama By Royyal Dog
Another very famous woman is the center of a piece over at the Korean American Perilla restaurant on N Milwaukee Avenue. This time the mural depicts Southside Chicago-born Michelle Obama. In a piece created by @royyaldog – a South-Korean artist known for his photorealistic murals of African American women in traditional Korean hanbok dresses – the beloved former first lady stands in front of the moon.
The Michelle Obama mural stands beautifully over Perilla’s patio space and gained quite a bit of attention when it went up in 2019. In response, Perilla announced that they wanted a Chicago icon who resembled hope and determination. “We wanted a person who represented the City of Chicago, a place that gave us growth and opportunity. We wanted someone who represented hope, a powerful tool in our industry that pushes us to persevere and succeed.”
Where to find it: 401 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago.
7. Jennifer Hudson By Chris Devins
Image Source: https://twitter.com/LeagueOfExtra/status/731880681584902146
Another of Chicago’s most celebrated daughters is the spectacular Jennifer Hudson. Chris Devins’ mural in Chatham honors her as one of Chicago’s most beloved musicians. The successful and philanthropic actress and singer is, like Michelle Obama, today synonymous with our city and thus has often appeared in street art in Chicago.
Devins’ work is known to focus on identity and “the role it plays in a neighborhood’s economic and social viability.” As an artist and urban planner, Devins takes part in local projects all over Chicago’s south side. The Hudson mural in Chatham is one of many shows of pride the neighborhood has for its most famous alumni.
Where to find it: 79th and Evans in Chatham, Chicago.
8. Moose Bubblegum Bubble By Jacob Watts
Image Source: https://wabashartscorridor.org/portfolio_page/15379/
The Moose Bubblegum Bubble mural might not have the same worldwide recognition as Marilyn Monroe or Michelle Obama but to residents of Chicago, especially those at Columbia College Chicago’s WAC campus, it is a more than familiar face.
The wonderful art piece is the result of a competition launched by Columbia College Chicago’s WAC Campus in the spring of 2014. Artist Jacob Watts beat off other competition from both students and alumni and was selected as the winner. An enormous recreation of his Moose Bubblegum Bubble was installed on the side of the campus building soon after and is now one of the most photographed murals in Chicago.
Where to find it: 33 East Congress (South Wall), Chicago.
9. From Bloom To Doom By Collin Van Der Sluijs
Photo Credit: © Sandra Steinbrecher 2016
The South Loop campus where the Bubblegum Moose is found is known as the Wabash Arts Corridor, and with good reason! Since Columbia College of Chicago began a community-driven project in 2013 it’s become one of the best places to see street art in Chicago.
Famous artists and young prodigies find their urban canvas in the Wabash corridor with new pieces appearing weekly.
One of the most remarkable pieces in the Wabash arts corridor is the ‘From Bloom to Doom’ mural by Dutch artist Collin van der Sluijs. The Netherlands-based street artist uses spray paint, acrylics, and ink to slowly build explosive images frequently showcasing elements of the natural world. His From Bloom to Doom piece in the Wabash Arts Corridor depicts two endangered Illinois birds from Illinois – the red-headed woodpecker and the yellow-headed blackbird. They are surrounded by colorful flowers in full bloom.
Where to find it: 1006 South Michigan Avenue (North Wall), Chicago.
10. The Black and Brown Unity Wall By Multiple Artists
The year 2020 was jam-packed with events and obstacles. Consequently, the talented art scene in Chicago united on several occasions to use art as a means of sending a message. In the wake of the early protests that followed the murder of George Floyd, the Mural Movement set about illustrating an art piece that symbolized unity within communities. Artists came together to create the Black and Brown Unity Wall in the Near West Side. The very next day, the mural was painted over. Months later, the Movement was able to recreate the message with a massive mural painted on the Pilsen Vintage and Thrift store.
In response to the fate of the first mural, Delilah Martinez, who heads the Mural Movement, set up a Go Fund Me page that would go towards the creation of murals across the city of Chicago as well as beautifying neighborhood communities
Where to find it: On Pilsen Vintage and Thrift Store at 1430 West 18th Street, Chicago.
11. The Fred Hampton Mural By Andre Trenier
Image Source: https://secretchicago.com/chicago-fredhampton-mural/
The Black and Brown Unity Wall does not stand alone in its mission to promote equality and strengthen the community. Another mural honoring the legacy of activist and revolutionary Fred Hampton was painted in Garfield Park by Bronx artist Andre Trenier in October 2020.
It was painted over another iconic piece of Chicago street art depicting the Illinois Black Panther Party chairman. The piece had been commissioned by Hampton’s son Fred Hampton Jr and the Chilean political hip-hop duo Rebel Diaz back in 2010, but had been deteriorating over the last decade. So, the same collaboration that was behind the creation of the first Hampton mural 10 years ago decided it was the right time to breathe new life back into the iconic piece.
Fred Hampton was chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party and deputy chairman of the national Black Panther Party who was killed in an illegal FBI operation in 1967 at the age of 21. The mural faces westward, intentionally looking away from Downtown to symbolize that Fred Hampton’s legacy belongs to the residents of West Side Chicago.
Where to find it: 2746 West Madison Street, Chicago.
12. Native American Lost In Chicago… By Ella & Pitr
Image Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/BGqqttKM4SC/?hl=en
The Native American Lost In Chicago… Dreamin’ mural is one of two large murals by the French duo Ella & Pitr. This incredibly talented combo paint enormous murals of sleeping characters against the sides of buildings, contoured between building blocks, or across rooftops.
Their work is often best viewed from above and uses the colors of the French flag whilst often creating dreary monochromatic images and spotlighting social issues and politics. Ella & Pitr’s murals can be seen on buildings and urbanscapes in Scandinavia, South America, Eastern Europe, and now also here in Chicago.
Where to find it: 527 S Wells Street, Chicago.
13. The Last Aztec Emperor By Lopez & Macias
Originally settled by Czech immigrants in the 1870’s, the culturally diverse neighborhood of Pilsen is where the Mexican population flourished so much that today Latin culture, art, and heritage are thriving in Pilsen.
Beautiful, vibrant murals and street art beautify the neighborhood decorating the sides of many bars and restaurants. El Popocatepetl Tortilleria boasts a stunning mural paying homage to the family business and their Mexican heritage.
An original mural displaying the faces of several Pilsen residents, including the tortilla shop’s founder, Ernesto Avina was painted more than a decade ago for a film being shot in the neighborhood. After it had become damaged by tuckpointing work, owner Julian Rodriguez and his family commissioned a brand new one in 2019.
That’s when wife and husband duo Brenda Lopez and Manuel Macias entered to design the new mural depicting Cuauhtémoc, the last Aztec Emperor. Locals were at first horrified to see the original mural being covered until they saw the work of Lopez and Macias and it today is a treasured mural of Pilsen.
Where to find it: 611 S Wells Street, Chicago.
14. Alas de Frida By Roberto Valadez
It is also in Pilsen that another masterpiece can be found, depicting perhaps one of the most famous Mexican icons of all time. The Frida Kahlo mural is certainly one of the most striking street art pieces in Pilsen. The mesmerizing image of Frida Kahlo with butterfly wings sits on the side of a Frida-themed Mexican bar and restaurant named Frida Room. So, one can admire the mural, and then eat and drink in a Frida themed establishment.
The bar commissioned Robert Valadez to paint a portrait of Frida Kahlo on the building’s exterior with the assistance of Traz Juarez, artist, and owner of Art-O-Parts in that block.
Where to find it: 1713 West 18th Street, Chicago.
15. Bear Champ By J.C. Rivera
Image Source: https://findmasa.com/artist/jc-rivera-the-bear-champ
Most Chicago locals will recognize J.C. Rivera’s notorious Bear Champ, the figure is one of the most well-known pieces of street art in Chicago having popped up all over the place since Rivera made it his signature stamp.
The mural of Bear Champ eating a slice of pizza in Wicker Park is a fantastic place to get a photo with something synonymous with the Chicago food scene and at the same time snap one of Chicago’s most renowned street art artists in J.C. Rivera.
Where to find it: 1824 West Division Street, Wicker Park, Chicago.
16. Bird Mask Murals By Sentrock
Photo Credit: Sentrock
Another artist whose artwork has long appeared in the city is that of Joseph Perez, whose street artist name is Sentrock. His signature bird mask over a human figure is today seen all over the city. Resembling the Northern cardinal, Illinois’ state bird, Perez says that the bird mask is meant to evoke freedom and escape whilst also reminding people that “there is always somebody behind it.”
This 240-by-24-feet mural pictured above is located at the Kennedy Expressway in River West on the side of an 11-story luxury apartment that was recently built next to a park. It is one of several Sentrock’s Chicago street art murals that now adorn the building’s exterior.
Where to find it: East side of the Westerly apartments, 740 North Aberdeen Street, Chicago.
17. Bears On Parade By Felix Maldonado
Under the Brown Line tracks on Ashland and Roscoe lies one of Lakeview’s newest murals courtesy of Felix Maldonado Jr.
The Bears on Parade mural was funded by SSA 27 as a tribute to Lakeview’s history as a Native American camp and migrant trail path for wildlife.
The background colors were chosen to depict sky and water while the bears themselves stand for life and earth. When the mural was unveiled, Felix Maldonado wrote “during turmoil, there are also triumphs.”
Where to find it: 3409 North Ashland Avenue, Chicago.
18. Chicago Bears Tribute By Liz Flores
Another bears tribute is a recent collaboration between the Chicago Truborn “anti” gallery and the Chicago Bears of the National Football League, which produced a stunning new mural by Liz Flores. The Chicago painter’s work has popped up all across Illinois with the prismatic pieces using human forms an unmissable mark of her brilliant work.
This piece, in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, is said to represent the Bears’ connection to the fans, the community, and the city. “The mural features the Bears C in the middle with hands intertwining – a representation of Bears fans’ connection to the team” Liz Flores announced upon finishing the piece.
Where to find it: 4637 North Clifton Avenue, Chicago.
19. Delight By Key Detail
The New York-based Belarusian known as Key Detail created a phenomenal piece in 2021. The experienced artist has been around for years and boasts an extensive portfolio of artwork that has been featured in books, in magazines, and found on structures around Europe and the United States.
As a piece for Chicago’s Mural Festival, Titan Walls, Key Detail came out from New York City to cover the side of this Bucktown building with an incredible graphic mural. According to Titan Walls, “this wall has had ugly brown paint from the buff on it for over 10+ years. A tenant reached out about a mural and gave us the opportunity to add some beautiful artwork to the Bucktown neighborhood.”
Where to find it: 1873 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago.
20. Turquoise Titan By Oscar Joyo
Image Source: https://www.oscarjoyoart.com/mural
Malawian-born Chicago-based artist Oscar Joyo is recognized for his distinct portraits with color and patterns that radiate outward. His latest mural is also his largest yet and it is another iconic Chicago street mural that can be found down in the B Line.
The Turquoise Titan has each eye covered with an “X”. Our gaze is averted from the windows of the subject and, like other Joyo artwork, there is something about this piece we might never understand. In Oscar’s words, the message is that nobody can “colonize a vision.”
Where to find it : 426 N Peoria Street, Chicago.
21. In Dreams By Jennifer Cronin
Photo Credit: © Doug Pitorak
Up in Roger’s Park on Ravenswood and Farwell, there has been a phenomenal mural by Chicago-based artist Jennifer Cronin for over a decade. “In Dreams” was created by Cronin and artist Dan Bellini during the 2010 Mass Underpass Murals competition and is a must-see for mural hunters.
Like much of her work this piece is an other-worldly mural of mesmerizing realism that pulls you in with its elegance and detail. According to Cronin, the piece resembles “the infinite capacity of the human mind and imagination to dream up something beautiful.”
Where to find it: Ravenswood and Farwell, Chicago
22. El Sueño By Nicole Salgar
Image Source: https://www.instagram.com/nmsalgar/?hl=en
Another dream, this time in Spanish translation, is the title of this stunning mural by Nicole Salgar. The subject is Priya Shah – an artist, model, author, social entrepreneur, TEDx Speaker, and the founder of “The Simple Good.” As a non-profit organization The Simple Good runs programs that seek to bring positivity into communities through art and discussion while empowering youth to become change-makers and mindful leaders in the future. Nicole Salgar’s prismatic mural honors Priya Shah and the work she does for the local community.
Where to find it: 401 North Racine, Chicago.
23. The Songbird Wall
Chicago has many colorful walls and murals but one of the prettiest is The Songbird Wall in River North.
The Songbird Wall (which replaced the pink flamingo wall) is a great instagram spot for tropical vibes. The new mural was painted by Chicago artists, JC Rivera and Jaime “Ames” Navarro, and is inspired by peace, love, good vibes and tropical feelings.
The Songbird wall is situated on the side of The Diver restaurant, located at 601 N. Wells Street on the northeast corner of Wells and Ohio Streets in River North.
Where to find it: 601 N. Wells Street Chicago.
24. Essential Workers By Sam Kirk
Sam Kirk’s Fulton Market District mural Essential Workers is a lot more relevant after the pandemic. Funded in September of 2020 by the National Workers Alliance, the new mural pays respects to the millions of domestic workers and essential workers in the US. The art piece presents four portraits of real-life workers in Chicago who were essential to the city in the midst of the pandemic and continue to do so.
The workers portrayed in the mural are Juan Burrell, a Chavez Elementary school lunchroom manager, Carilla Hayden, a USPS Postal Worker, Veronica Sanchez, a Leader with the Latino Union of Chicago and Nanny, and Maggie Zylinska, a Domestic Worker.
Where to find it: The B_Line, 1030-1044 West Hubbard Street, Chicago.
25. Sol Rise By Mauricio Ramirez
One of the most recent pieces of exceptional street art in Chicago is part of a new range of murals at Pilsen Flats. Of all the new brilliant murals Mauricio Ramirez’s Sol Rise is the most spectacular. Born in Illinois, Ramirez has created dozens of colorful murals across the Midwest and the United States. His murals include bold geometric shapes and colors with fragmented designs that often celebrate diversity and the profoundness of cultural traits within neighborhoods.
Curators and Producers: The Mural Movement.
Where to find it: 15th and Racine, Chicago.
