Now, thanks to the recent work of a group of street artists, the concrete canvas is filled with a colorful array that includes a three-eyed “fox demon” and a hamburger with arms and legs.
The artist behind the human-like hamburger goes by the name KOZMO and helped organize the group of artists who painted the wall in April.
She lives a few blocks away and says it was the perfect spot for the group, which came together “spur of the moment, almost like serendipity,” and went to work.
This piece of the mural is by an artist who goes by MATR.
Rylee Tan / Sun-Times
Part of the work features graffiti-style designs by an artist who goes by MATR, with green and yellow letters combining to spell out the artist’s name.
This graffiti-style art that’s part of a mural in Back of the Yards was done by an artist who goes by xhaust.
Rylee Tan / Sun-Times
Part of the mural was done by an artist who goes by xhaust and showcases graffiti “wildstyle” art.
The portion of the mural seen here at left was done by an artist who goes by the name Rife. At right is a variation of the signature “burger flower” character of Back of the Yards artist KOZMO.
Rylee Tan / Sun-Times
At one end of the work, five characters tower above any passersby.
A waving bluebird stands next to a hovering wasp at one end of a Back of the Yards viaduct. The bird design is the signature style of bird_milk_. The wasp was done by an artist who goes by @m157rocio.
Rylee Tan / Sun-Times
A fat bluebird with hypnotic eyes — the signature work of Pilsen artist bird_milk_ — stands next to a floating wasp by an artist who goes by @m157rocio.
KOZMO’s hamburger with arms, legs and a half smile stands by a blushing avocado — done by an artist who goes by @_avo.cado_ .
KOZMO says she’s been painting since she was around 7 and takes influences that go back to her childhood.
KOZMO’s burger character with arms and legs stands next to the “fox demon” of Avondale artist Jeff Pak — who goes by JPAK4EVER. The “fox demon” was inspired by a manga that Pak read called “Chainsaw Man.”
Rylee Tan / Sun-Times
“I’d get in trouble painting on my walls, clothes, shoes and myself,” KOZMO says.
Avondale artist Jeff Pak, a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, took inspiration from a Japanese manga called “Chainsaw Man” to draw his “fox demon.”
Provided
The viaduct’s hamburger is a variation on her signature “burger flower” character, which she says is a mashup of memories of her parents. The burger represents her dad and the flowers her mom, who would collect dandelions on trips to the park.
KOZMO debuted her burger character in 2015 and has gone back to it as she’s become a full-time artist. Most of her work can be seen in Pilsen, though the “burger flower” character can be found all around the city.
Next to the burger, you see a snarling, brown, three-eyed “fox demon” done by Avondale artist Jeff Pak, known as JPAK4EVER.
Pak, 32, is a graduate of the School of the Art Institute and full-time artist whose work can be seen across the city.
He says he got the inspiration for the character from the popular Japanese manga “Chainsaw Man.”
