Murals and Mosaics

A series that aims to capture, catalog and celebrate the beauty of Chicago’s public art.

A mural shows a mostly blue hummingbird and beetle along with light pink flowers against a bright pink background.

Murals and Mosaics

New Hubbard Street murals spark fight over who can paint railroad walls

Artists recently painted viaducts where Ricardo Alonzo and students had created environmentally themed historic murals a half-century ago. The future of the new work and the remaining older art is murky.

By Genevieve Bookwalter

Murals and Mosaics

Humboldt Park artist's autobiographical mural is a story of perseverance

News

Responding to the moment, Pilsen mural depicts Superman fighting an ICE agent

Murals and Mosaics

Ecuador's indigenous Kichwa community celebrated in Belmont Cragin mural

Murals and Mosaics

Murals at renovated Gage Park building tell story of immigrants' journeys

Interactive map of Chicago’s murals and mosaics

Each point on the map is clickable, with a photo, description and sometimes a link to a story about the mural. You can zoom in to focus on a particular neighborhood or suburb.

West Town mural's girl in a flower crown honors Stonewall Uprising activist

By Genevieve Bookwalter

Chicago artist aims to honor the diversity and sacrifice of military members through murals

By Genevieve Bookwalter

Viaducts' new murals link businesses next to Metra tracks in Hyde Park

By Genevieve Bookwalter

Nature and people weave together in Uptown newcomer's murals

By Genevieve Bookwalter

Artist Shawn Smith’s mural is on the side of Bartleby’s Homemade Ice Cream.

Mural's abstract critters give North Center ice cream shop some extra personality

By Genevieve Bookwalter

A huge mural of blue and orange leaves appears on a five-story building near the Howard Street L station.

Artist Sick Fisher goes big with murals visible from the L in Rogers Park and Logan Square

By Genevieve Bookwalter

A mural by Cezar Perez decorates a hallway at the Lakeview North Clark Street Health Clinic, 2849 N Clark St.

Murals part of mood shift for Chicago sexual health clinics

By Genevieve Bookwalter

Del-Kar Pharmacy mosaic offers a sense of North Lawndale's history

By Genevieve Bookwalter

Joe Kraft's Albany Park mural celebrates diversity with whimsical portraits

By Genevieve Bookwalter

Chicago’s Next Voices

Graffiti, other public art could add meaning to blighted areas, Chicago's Next Voices columnist writes

Steven Jiang rode the L to school in the Loop, never noticing the art all around. One day, he did. And gradually he came to think public art could breathe life into Chicago’s neglected communities.

By Steven Jiang

Murals of the Highwood International Mural Festival.

Highwood murals help bring healing after Highland Park parade shooting

By Genevieve Bookwalter

A mural showing joyful schoolchildren appears on an exterior wall of St. Agnela's Catholic School in Austin.

St. Angela School mural in Austin brightens once-hidden wall

By Genevieve Bookwalter

Puerto Rico native Josué Pellot brings mural art to Hermosa, Humboldt Park and the rest of Chicago

By Genevieve Bookwalter

A mural on a retaining wall in Grand Crossing.

Grand Crossing organically grows mural corridor

By Genevieve Bookwalter

The "Welcome to Mayfair" by Erin Minckley features orange lilies, pink tulips, lavender irises, purple lavender and more.

Mayfair mural celebrates flowers found in the neighborhood

By Genevieve Bookwalter

Five murals appear on the brick walls of the Lazarus Apartments in North Lawndale.

Chicago music mosaics and murals beautify North Lawndale apartment building

By Genevieve Bookwalter

Artist Max Sansing becomes a whirlwind when he's in mural season

By Genevieve Bookwalter

A mural painted by Justus Roe appears on the wall of an apartment complex at 1001 S. State St. in The Loop.

Justus Roe's murals feather Chicago neighborhoods

By Genevieve Bookwalter

Muralist Caroline Kent poses for a portrait at her studio in Humboldt Park.

Caroline Kent's murals transform Union Station with 'Art at Amtrak'

By Elly Fishman | WBEZ

Bees and brilliant blooms brighten Portage Park viaduct

By Genevieve Bookwalter

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