Lu Calzada

Anne Heisler says the skills she picked up decorating cakes for about 15 years help with her art career, which includes this mural painted on a viaduct at 47th Street and Archer Avenue in Archer Heights on the Southwest Side.

Former cake decorator brightens Southwest Side viaduct with a mural

For over a decade, Anne Heisler made cakes look just right. Now, the Humboldt Park resident puts her talents to work with a different type of art.

By Lu Calzada

Matthew Mederer’s mural “Prima” in Logan Square.

Murals and Mosaics

With Logan Square mural ‘Prima,’ Matthew Mederer aims to inspire new beginnings

‘I was trapped in my apartment, me and my wife, and we had a small apartment. And it was lonely, and I was looking forward to getting out of it and starting life over.’

By Lu Calzada

The mural “Somos Pilsen” was completed earlier this year at Carnitas Don Pedro restaurant, 1113 W. 18th St. It showcases dozens of people tied to Pilsen — and offers a statement on the gentrification that’s increasing rents and forcing some long-time residents and businesses to leave the largely Mexican American neighborhood.

Murals and Mosaics

Towering Pilsen mural emphasizes neighborhood’s Mexican culture

The work — called ‘Somos Pilsen,’ in English ‘We are Pilsen’ — features faces of 46 people connected to the area.

By Lu Calzada

Chicago artists Barrett Keithley, Missy Perkins, Ahmad Lee and Dwight White created this mural at Chicago and Lockwood avenues in Austin. It spotlights prominent Black figures.

Murals and Mosaics

New mural in Austin aims to give the neighborhood some people to look up to

It was just a wall ‘on the side of a rundown store until we had a chance to actually throw some historical figures on there, some superheroes,’ one of the artists says, ‘showing the youth that you can be whatever you want to.’

By Lu Calzada

Artist Uprizn Ikpemi has made his dogs a signature element in the murals he’s painted around Chicago.

Murals and Mosaics

Nigeria-born artist puts his style into his murals, his name on them and his dogs in them

‘I could just be the dog guy who paints the dogs,’ says Uprizn Ikpemi, who frequently finds a way to work his pets into his murals.

By Lu Calzada

A Back of the Yards mural by the Chicago artist known as Clue? highlights his original character, an alien with question mark eyes.

Murals and Mosaics

Back of the Yards mural’s message for kids: ‘Don’t be afraid to fly’

Tired of the gang graffiti there, Arielle Acevedo came up with the idea of painting the viaduct walls at 49th Street and Damen Avenue.

By Lu Calzada

Artist Joe Nelson says he used an online survey to get ideas from people in Chatham about what to include in his mural at a Walmart store at 8331 S. Stewart Ave.

Murals and Mosaics

After 2020 unrest, the artist known as CUJO gave Chatham Walmart a mural makeover

‘There’s a lot of great things that happen on the South Side and great stories that don’t get told,’ says artist Joe Nelson. ‘And I’m happy to contribute to some of the great things.’

By Lu Calzada

The artist who goes by the name SENKOE portrayed the Aztec god Xōchipilli as a child in this mural completed in 2020 because the wall on which he painted it is near a playground in Pilsen.

Murals and Mosaics

Aztec god watches over Pilsen in brilliantly colored mural buzzing with hummingbirds

Xōchipilli overlooks Harrison Park in a towering painting by the artist SENKOE. He says rediscovering ancient stories helps people ‘reform what it is to be Mexican.’

By Lu Calzada

Artists Won Kim and rawooh collaborated on this mural at Klicked Salon on the Near West Side that combines realistic portraits with abstract hair designs.

Murals and Mosaics

It’s all about the hair in the murals on a West Town salon building

Magen Sabo wanted something attention-grabbing for her new business. Her artist friend Won Kim provided it, collaborating with rawooh, another Chicago artist.

By Lu Calzada