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Victor Ving and Lisa Beggs’ ‘Greetings From Chicago’ mural is displayed in the Wicker Park neighborhood.
Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

A Guide to 51 Neighborhood Murals You Must See Right Now

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Victor Ving and Lisa Beggs’ ‘Greetings From Chicago’ mural is displayed in the Wicker Park neighborhood.
| Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

Public art and murals are a big part of neighborhood life in Chicago. Though some neighborhoods are better known for large sweeping murals than others, art can be spotted in every neighborhood throughout the city. Utilizing the database on the website Mural Locator, along with our knowledge of brand spankin' new murals, we've pieced together this map of 51 neighborhood murals you really just need to go see right now. Use it as a guide to create a walking tour, or as a way to check out a neighborhood you've never been to before. Similar to classic and iconic signs, the city is full of art, and indeed art is truly everywhere. Let's get started.


This post was authored by Amanda Beemer and AJ LaTrace ·Other Outdoors Week 2014 coverage [Curbed Chicago]

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Mother Nature's Son

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This mural was painted by Puerto Rican muralist Gamaliel Ramirez, whose work appears several more times on our list.

Blessed Today, Blessing Tomorrow

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This mosaic mural appears inside the St. Josaphat Parish elementary school. It is composed of custom venetian glass tile, hand cut stained glass, mirror and photographic ceramic tiles.

S. Chicago Metro. Family Services

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Symbols in this mural include the Skyway Bridge, the Villa Guadalupe Senior Center iron fence entrance and the Pilgrim Baptist Church.

West Lawrence Avenue Mural

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This mural stands alongside the Lawrence Red Line stop; its creator is unknown.

Mile of Murals

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The Mile of Murals is a community-based public art initiative which began in 2007. The project's ten-year goal is to paint a full mile of murals along the CTA Red Line track from Touhy Avenue to Pratt Boulevard.

Boone Elementary Playground

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Artists Lea Pinsky and Dustin Harris completed this mural in Fall, 2007. It celebrates the school's values of the arts, technology, and cultural diversity.

Gulliver in Wonderland

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Awarded artist Hector Duarte completed this mural in 2005. He has had a hand in creating over 50 murals throughout the city.

Wall of Daydreaming...

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Artists William Walker, Mitchell Caton and Santi Isrowuthakul painted this mural for the Chicago Public Art Group back in 1975. It was meant to express the people's needs, social ills, and community grievances, and was renovated in 2003 by Dayton Read.

Blues Mural

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This mural had a cameo in The Blues Brothers as the exterior wall of Ray's Music Exchange.

Cullerton Street Mural

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This agricultural mural appears at the corner of Cullerton Street and Blue Island Avenue in Pilsen.

Pilsen Mural

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Artist Jeff Zimmerman painted this mural early in his career, back in 1996. Zimmerman is best known for his large scale, photo-realistic murals, like #15, "You Know What You Should Do."

Childhood is Without Prejudice

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William Walker created this mural back in 1977. It has since been restored by the Chicago Public Art Group. Walker also collaborated on #8 on our list, the Wall of Daydreaming.

South Chicago Comes Together as One

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Gamaliel Ramirez was the lead artist on this project, along with artists from a nearby grammar school.

Birds of Latin America

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This is another piece by Gamaliel Ramirez, who also created #38 on our list, "Sea of Flags."

You Know What You Should Do

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This mural, created by Jeff Zimmerman, is ondisplay along a wall running parallel to the Lakefront Trail and is the access point to the underpass at Oak Street Beach. The project was funded through a grant from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Benito Juarez High School Mural

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Mexican lawyer and politician Benito Juárez oversees the creation of a new Constitution in this mural outside his namesake high school. The artist is unknown.

St. Michael's School Mural

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This mural, painted by an unknown artist, depicts St. Michael the Archangel hovering over reading schoolchildren. The Chicago skyline is featured in the background.

Obey Album Mural

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This extra large mural was created by celebrity artist Shepard Fairey. It lives on Grand Avenue, just west of Navy Pier.

Urban World at the Crossroads

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Artists John Pitman Weber and Bernard Williams, and assistant Lynn Edwards led a team of 37 teenagers in the design of this mural. It was painted on the side of Orr Academy High School in 1997.

I Welcome Myself to a New Place

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Artists Olivia Gude, Marcus Akinlana, and Jon Pounds collaborated with local community members to create this mural. It was designed to unite the communities of Roseland and Pullman, and was painted in 1988.

Music Mural

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This mural, painted by an unknown artist, prominently features musician Carlos Santana.

Metra Viaduct Mural

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This mural, painted by an unknown artist, appears to depict a nearby intersection.

WE Are DePaul 2

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Artist Mark Elder created this mural which features the Patron of DePaul University, St. Vincent DePaul. It is made up of millions of smaller portraits of students, faculty and staff.

Keep Loving Each Other

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Street artists Dwel, Statik, Base and Knew created this mural which appears on the exterior wall of the K.L.E.O. Keep Loving Each Other Community Family Life Center.

Fishing at Hogarth's Head Bay

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Artists Beatriz Santiago Munoz and Tim Portlock painted this mural in 1995. It was co-sponsored by the Prologue High School and Chicago Public Art Group.

Teamster Power Mural

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This mural, created by Myer (Mike) Alewitz, commemorates the 1997 strike against UPS. It was dedicated on October 24th 1997.

Love Unity Peace Hope

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This Humboldt Park mural expresses the vibrancy of the community in which it appears. The old mural is set to be restored.

With Me Comes a Cure

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This mural was designed by Carla Carr and painted by W.Data of Critical Mass. It was commissioned by the Aids Foundation of Chicago to increase public awareness of STD’s.

Visual Interpretations of Pullman

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This mural was designed and created by students of the American Academy of Art in 1996. It can be found on the rear wall of the Pullman Visitor's Center.

It's All Knew

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Jeff Zimmerman, whose work appears elsewhere on our list, painted this mural in 1999. The photorealistic faces bring life to an otherwise nondescript warehouse area.

Damen CTA Mural

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This mural, painted by an unknown artist, spruces up a wall next to the Damen Pink Line CTA stop.

Where We Come From...

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The full title of this oral history mural is Where We Come From...Where We're Going. Artist Olivia Gude, who also worked on #20 on our list, interviewed passerbys at the site, asking them "Where are you coming from? Where are you going?" Their varied answers formed the theme and design of the mural.

Vietnam Fallen Soldiers Memorial

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This huge mural depicts soldiers from South Chicago who were killed during the Vietnam War.

Joan Sebastian Mural

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Artist Terence Faircloth painted this mural, which depicts famous Grammy Award-winning Mexican singer Joan Sebastian.

Changing Homes

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Artist Juan Chavez painted this mural, which addresses the Asian immigrant experience.

Florence B. Price Elementary

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This abstract mural is featured on the northern exterior wall of the school. The artist is unknown.

Regal Theatre Mural

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This huge mural was painted along the Western exterior wall of the theatre. The artist is unknown.

Sea of Flags

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This is the final piece by muralist Gamaliel Ramirez on our list. It was inspired by a photograph taken from one of the stages during Fiesta Boricua.

The Beacon of Light

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Artist Rahmaan Statik Barnes was assisted by Max Sansing in the creation of this mural. It was painted in 2006, through the Chicago Public Art Group.

Viva Chicago

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The Hubbard Street Murals were originally painted in the 1970s, but a few of them disappeared due to railway improvements. This panel was created by Ian Ward, who traveled from England to Chicago just to paint it.

South Ashland Avenue Mural

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This mural by Jeff Zimmerman is one of three panels titled Increíbles Las Cosas Q’ Se Ven. Zimmerman, who appears elsewhere on our list, uses images of real people in his photo-realistic paintings.

Bezazian Public Library

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This mural was designed by Janis Pozzi and painted by a group of local children. It is featured on the east wall of the building.

UE Hall Mural

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Artist Dan Manrique painted this mural in 1997 on the south wall of the United Electrical Workers Union.

Un Milagro

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The final mural on our list was created by Jeff Zimmerman in 2006. It celebrates the neighborhood of Little Village.

Hebru Brantley, Hollywood Cleaners

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Chicago's Hebru Brantley has become somewhat of a sensation in the last few years. Recently, the artist adorned the side of Wicker Park's Hollywood Cleaners with a sprawling mural.

Fulton Market

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This whimsical mural was recently spotted in the West Loop. It depicts an older Fulton Market.

Untitled West Loop Mural

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This mural is so new that its paint is still drying (ok, it's not that new anymore). Add one more noteworthy mural for the West Loop.

Positive Babel Mural

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Artist Tony Sparrow painted this large mural last summer along the underpass at Irving Park Road near the Irving Park Metra station.

Whoot Mural

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Another recent piece from Tony Sparrow, this mural is dedicated to the Avondale neighborhood and located on Belmont Avenue near the Kennedy Expressway.

Hebru Brantley Lincoln Square Mural

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Hebru Brantley left his mark on Lincoln Square earlier this year with this mural.

Frankie Knuckles Tribute

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This new Logan Square mural is a tribute to the late house music legend Frankie Knuckles.

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Mother Nature's Son

This mural was painted by Puerto Rican muralist Gamaliel Ramirez, whose work appears several more times on our list.

Blessed Today, Blessing Tomorrow

This mosaic mural appears inside the St. Josaphat Parish elementary school. It is composed of custom venetian glass tile, hand cut stained glass, mirror and photographic ceramic tiles.

S. Chicago Metro. Family Services

Symbols in this mural include the Skyway Bridge, the Villa Guadalupe Senior Center iron fence entrance and the Pilgrim Baptist Church.

West Lawrence Avenue Mural

This mural stands alongside the Lawrence Red Line stop; its creator is unknown.

Mile of Murals

The Mile of Murals is a community-based public art initiative which began in 2007. The project's ten-year goal is to paint a full mile of murals along the CTA Red Line track from Touhy Avenue to Pratt Boulevard.

Boone Elementary Playground

Artists Lea Pinsky and Dustin Harris completed this mural in Fall, 2007. It celebrates the school's values of the arts, technology, and cultural diversity.

Gulliver in Wonderland

Awarded artist Hector Duarte completed this mural in 2005. He has had a hand in creating over 50 murals throughout the city.

Wall of Daydreaming...

Artists William Walker, Mitchell Caton and Santi Isrowuthakul painted this mural for the Chicago Public Art Group back in 1975. It was meant to express the people's needs, social ills, and community grievances, and was renovated in 2003 by Dayton Read.

Blues Mural

This mural had a cameo in The Blues Brothers as the exterior wall of Ray's Music Exchange.

Cullerton Street Mural

This agricultural mural appears at the corner of Cullerton Street and Blue Island Avenue in Pilsen.

Pilsen Mural

Artist Jeff Zimmerman painted this mural early in his career, back in 1996. Zimmerman is best known for his large scale, photo-realistic murals, like #15, "You Know What You Should Do."

Childhood is Without Prejudice

William Walker created this mural back in 1977. It has since been restored by the Chicago Public Art Group. Walker also collaborated on #8 on our list, the Wall of Daydreaming.

South Chicago Comes Together as One

Gamaliel Ramirez was the lead artist on this project, along with artists from a nearby grammar school.

Birds of Latin America

This is another piece by Gamaliel Ramirez, who also created #38 on our list, "Sea of Flags."

You Know What You Should Do

This mural, created by Jeff Zimmerman, is ondisplay along a wall running parallel to the Lakefront Trail and is the access point to the underpass at Oak Street Beach. The project was funded through a grant from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Benito Juarez High School Mural

Mexican lawyer and politician Benito Juárez oversees the creation of a new Constitution in this mural outside his namesake high school. The artist is unknown.

St. Michael's School Mural

This mural, painted by an unknown artist, depicts St. Michael the Archangel hovering over reading schoolchildren. The Chicago skyline is featured in the background.

Obey Album Mural

This extra large mural was created by celebrity artist Shepard Fairey. It lives on Grand Avenue, just west of Navy Pier.

Urban World at the Crossroads

Artists John Pitman Weber and Bernard Williams, and assistant Lynn Edwards led a team of 37 teenagers in the design of this mural. It was painted on the side of Orr Academy High School in 1997.

I Welcome Myself to a New Place

Artists Olivia Gude, Marcus Akinlana, and Jon Pounds collaborated with local community members to create this mural. It was designed to unite the communities of Roseland and Pullman, and was painted in 1988.

Music Mural

This mural, painted by an unknown artist, prominently features musician Carlos Santana.

Metra Viaduct Mural

This mural, painted by an unknown artist, appears to depict a nearby intersection.

WE Are DePaul 2

Artist Mark Elder created this mural which features the Patron of DePaul University, St. Vincent DePaul. It is made up of millions of smaller portraits of students, faculty and staff.

Keep Loving Each Other

Street artists Dwel, Statik, Base and Knew created this mural which appears on the exterior wall of the K.L.E.O. Keep Loving Each Other Community Family Life Center.

Fishing at Hogarth's Head Bay

Artists Beatriz Santiago Munoz and Tim Portlock painted this mural in 1995. It was co-sponsored by the Prologue High School and Chicago Public Art Group.

Teamster Power Mural

This mural, created by Myer (Mike) Alewitz, commemorates the 1997 strike against UPS. It was dedicated on October 24th 1997.

Love Unity Peace Hope

This Humboldt Park mural expresses the vibrancy of the community in which it appears. The old mural is set to be restored.

With Me Comes a Cure

This mural was designed by Carla Carr and painted by W.Data of Critical Mass. It was commissioned by the Aids Foundation of Chicago to increase public awareness of STD’s.

Visual Interpretations of Pullman

This mural was designed and created by students of the American Academy of Art in 1996. It can be found on the rear wall of the Pullman Visitor's Center.

It's All Knew

Jeff Zimmerman, whose work appears elsewhere on our list, painted this mural in 1999. The photorealistic faces bring life to an otherwise nondescript warehouse area.

Damen CTA Mural

This mural, painted by an unknown artist, spruces up a wall next to the Damen Pink Line CTA stop.

Where We Come From...

The full title of this oral history mural is Where We Come From...Where We're Going. Artist Olivia Gude, who also worked on #20 on our list, interviewed passerbys at the site, asking them "Where are you coming from? Where are you going?" Their varied answers formed the theme and design of the mural.

Vietnam Fallen Soldiers Memorial

This huge mural depicts soldiers from South Chicago who were killed during the Vietnam War.

Joan Sebastian Mural

Artist Terence Faircloth painted this mural, which depicts famous Grammy Award-winning Mexican singer Joan Sebastian.

Changing Homes

Artist Juan Chavez painted this mural, which addresses the Asian immigrant experience.

Florence B. Price Elementary

This abstract mural is featured on the northern exterior wall of the school. The artist is unknown.

Regal Theatre Mural

This huge mural was painted along the Western exterior wall of the theatre. The artist is unknown.

Sea of Flags

This is the final piece by muralist Gamaliel Ramirez on our list. It was inspired by a photograph taken from one of the stages during Fiesta Boricua.

The Beacon of Light

Artist Rahmaan Statik Barnes was assisted by Max Sansing in the creation of this mural. It was painted in 2006, through the Chicago Public Art Group.

Viva Chicago

The Hubbard Street Murals were originally painted in the 1970s, but a few of them disappeared due to railway improvements. This panel was created by Ian Ward, who traveled from England to Chicago just to paint it.

South Ashland Avenue Mural

This mural by Jeff Zimmerman is one of three panels titled Increíbles Las Cosas Q’ Se Ven. Zimmerman, who appears elsewhere on our list, uses images of real people in his photo-realistic paintings.

Bezazian Public Library

This mural was designed by Janis Pozzi and painted by a group of local children. It is featured on the east wall of the building.

UE Hall Mural

Artist Dan Manrique painted this mural in 1997 on the south wall of the United Electrical Workers Union.

Un Milagro

The final mural on our list was created by Jeff Zimmerman in 2006. It celebrates the neighborhood of Little Village.

Hebru Brantley, Hollywood Cleaners

Chicago's Hebru Brantley has become somewhat of a sensation in the last few years. Recently, the artist adorned the side of Wicker Park's Hollywood Cleaners with a sprawling mural.

Fulton Market

This whimsical mural was recently spotted in the West Loop. It depicts an older Fulton Market.

Untitled West Loop Mural

This mural is so new that its paint is still drying (ok, it's not that new anymore). Add one more noteworthy mural for the West Loop.

Positive Babel Mural

Artist Tony Sparrow painted this large mural last summer along the underpass at Irving Park Road near the Irving Park Metra station.

Whoot Mural

Another recent piece from Tony Sparrow, this mural is dedicated to the Avondale neighborhood and located on Belmont Avenue near the Kennedy Expressway.

Hebru Brantley Lincoln Square Mural

Hebru Brantley left his mark on Lincoln Square earlier this year with this mural.

Frankie Knuckles Tribute

This new Logan Square mural is a tribute to the late house music legend Frankie Knuckles.