Rylee Tan

The Aztec deity of corn Xilonen is the centerpiece of a new mural by artists Sonryze, Rahmaan Statik and Erick “Roho” Garcia at Joliet’s Spanish Community Center, 309 N. Eastern Ave.

In Joliet, an Aztec goddess watches over new mural at Spanish Community Center

Sonryze — one of three artists collaborating on the unfinished work — hopes it will be ‘the antidote to a year of negativity’ for those who view it.

By Rylee Tan

Some of the street art that recently was painted at West 49th and South Honore streets in Back of the Yards.

Murals and Mosaics

In Back of the Yards, a hamburger with eyes, ‘fox demon’ and waving bird paint a once-blank concrete canvas

The viaduct at West 49th and South Honore streets in Back of the Yards is now filled with colorful street art that came together ‘spur of the moment.’

By Rylee Tan

Artist Travis Talsma used UV-reactive spray paint and layered neon coloring for his piece in the Artiopia exhibition. His work usually can be found on the sides of buildings and CTA viaducts.

Murals and Mosaics

In West Loop, a popup art exhibition featuring murals, other works of art has opened

Artopia featuress the works of several Chicago street artists.

By Rylee Tan

“History of Ships” by Gustaf Dalstrom, painted in 1936, depicts the history of shipbuilding from the days of sail to early modern steamships.

Murals and Mosaics

New Deal-era mural about ships finds a new life at a Bridgeport museum

Commissioned in 1936, the ‘History of Ships’ mural had a tumultuous past before finding a new home at the Chicago Maritime Museum.

By Rylee Tan

This mural, titled “Light the Way for Los Niños,” was completed last year by a local artist who goes by FRILLZ at 49th Street and Damen Avenue.

Murals and Mosaics

In Back of the Yards, Chicago artist’s mural features characters he sketched in high school

Artist FRILLZ says he wanted the mural to capture a sense of the Southwest Side neighborhood, and ‘light the way’ for kids there.

By Rylee Tan

This mural at 901 W. Lake St. features signature characters from five artists and is part of a growing collection of murals in the West Loop.

Murals and Mosaics

Robotic birds, magical frogs, cartoon kid join a growing group of murals in the West Loop

The mural at Lake and Peoria streets is the work of five Chicago artists.

By Rylee Tan

An outdoor side wall of the Bridgeport restaurant Kimski, 960 W. 31st St., showcases the mural “Grape Drink” — an homage to 1980s and 1990s pop culture done by five artists.

Murals and Mosaics

At Bridgeport restaurant, the chef also curates the ever-changing outdoor murals

The art that decorates the walls outside Kimski, 960 W. 31st St., can change every month or so. But the message they carry is constant — that art is ‘necessary and essential.’

By Rylee Tan

This painting at 5100 S. California Ave. is part of the Gage Park Mural Project. It draws on influences of traditional Mexican art and music, according to Mario Mena, who worked on it.

Murals and Mosaics

Gage Park parking lot, once plain, now a colorful gallery of murals

Over the last year, a series of murals have gone up in the Southwest Side neighborhood. Beauty is one aim. So are empowering young artists and celebrating Latino culture.

By Rylee Tan

This new mural near Hubbard Street in the West Loop by Chicago artist Rahmaan Statik shows three versions of Daniel Dumile, the late rapper and hip-hop artist better known as MF DOOM.

Murals and Mosaics

Chicago artists pay tribute to MF DOOM in murals honoring rapper who died in October

One mural in Logan Square and another in the West Loop memorialize the hip-hop star. ‘I saw him as a creative muse,’ one of the mural artists says.

By Rylee Tan