Wabash Arts Corridor

Come take a walk along the Wabash Arts Corridor, Chicago’s urban canvas in the heart of the South Loop neighborhood.

Wabash Arts Corridor

Chicago, Illinois 60614, United States

Created By: The Department of Exhibition, Performance and Student Spaces|DEPS

Tour Information

The Wabash Arts Corridor is Chicago’s living urban canvas in the heart of the South Loop neighborhood. Founded by Columbia College Chicago in 2013, WAC has grown to be one of the most expansive, diverse and accessible public art programs in the country. This community driven project weaves the visual, performing and media arts into daily life, immersing residents and visitors into artist-reclaimed public spaces that transform the urban experience.

In just a few years, WAC has connected students, artists, curators, academic institutions, cultural organizations and local businesses with educational and cultural programming for the visual, performing and media arts. Artists and curators from five continents have left their mark on WAC with murals, performance, installations, actions and large-scale projections that are always free and open to the public. The Wabash Arts Corridor has emerged as a key player in the city with hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and receiving press from all over the globe.

Since 2016, the Wabash Arts Corridor began a focus of diversity, equity and inclusion, and developed one of the largest street art and public art collections of women artists and BIPOC artists.


Tour Map

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What You'll See on the Tour

ARTIST: Eduardo Kobra PROJECT: Muddy Waters Tribute Wall  LOCATION: 17 N State Street (North facing wall)  ABOUT THIS PROJECT: Brazilian artist, Eduardo Kobra specializes in “memory walls,” meaning  that are specific to the commun... Read more
ARTIST: Ella & Pitr LOCATION: 527 S Wells   PHOTO CREDIT: © Sandra Steinbrecher 2016 ABOUT THIS PROJECT: While working on this project Ella + Pitr stated, “Our inspiration for the Native American of Chicago is the roots of Americ... Read more
ARTIST: Never 2501  LOCATION: The Buckingham @ 59 E. Van Buren  DATE: July 06, 2015 ABOUT THIS PROJECT: A new 8100-square-foot mural from Italian street artist Never 2501—the second mural in a new outdoor series along Wabash Avenue.... Read more
ARTIST: Morley PROJECT TITLE: “Penny for Your Thoughts” LOCATION: 424 S. Wabash ABOUT THIS PROJECT: Morley is a Los Angeles- based street artist specializing in bold, typographic posters that mix humor and hope. His recent installati... Read more
TITLE: La Magia de Luzia  ARTIST: Gloria "Gloe" Talamantes LOCATION: 33 E. Congress Parkway ARTIST STATEMENT: "I created wispy butterfly wings that carry flowers adorned with motifs inspired by my roots and culture. The design inspirati... Read more
TITLE: Just Another Smiley Day ARTIST: Evan Kasle  LOCATION: 599 S Plymouth Ct  ARTIST STATEMENT: "As with the rest of my work, this mural focuses on using the human form to personify concepts. This mural design is intended to represen... Read more
ARTIST: Retna LOCATION: 33 E. Congress ABOUT THIS PROJECT: Columbia College Chicago has teamed up with Shepard Fairey (OBEY series, Obama HOPE) and three other Art Alliance: The Provocateurs artists to showcase their work in the Wabash ... Read more
ARTIST: Jacob Watts PROJECT TITLE: "Moose Bubblegum Bubble" LOCATION: 33 E. Congress, Chicago, Il 60605 (South Wall)  ABOUT THIS PROJECT: Columbia College Chicago’s WAC Campus Committee launched a student and alumni competition in the... Read more
ARTIST: Lady Lucx & Sarah Stewart  LOCATION: 525 S Wabash Ave ABOUT THIS PROJECT: While working on this project Lady Lucx stated, “The location was my first influence. The garage is in view as the orange line meets the Loop coming ... Read more
ARTIST: Ruben Aguirre PROJECT TITLE: Drowning in the City LOCATION: 501 & 525 S Wabash Ave ABOUT THIS PROJECT: Ruben Aguirre is a Chicago-based painter who has transitioned from graffiti writing to an abstract/contemporary muralist. ... Read more
ARTIST: Zor Zor Zor PROJECT TITLE: Goralu, Czy Ci Nie Zal LOCATION: 600 S Michigan ABOUT THIS PROJECT: While working on this project Zor Zor Zor stated, “The inspiration for the WAC wall piece is my culture and where I come from. My pa... Read more
TITLE: The Wave  ARTIST: Andrea Dunn LOCATION: 619 S. Wabash  ARTIST STATEMENT: "The Wave" is part of a larger series called “Plastic Paradise,” which explores the relationship of man-made materials and natural landscapes. In the s... Read more
PROJECT: Stars and Styles by DMNology LOCATION: 618 S. Wabash (South facing wall) ABOUT THIS PROJECT: DMNOLOGY or “DMN” the graffiti sorcerer, hails from the city of Chicago. He embarked on his artistic journey at an early age in the ... Read more
TITLE: I Am You, You Are Me ARTIST: Ricky Lee Gordon  LOCATION: 634 S. Wabash  ABOUT THIS PROJECT: Ricky Lee Gordon is a self-taught artist born in Johannesburg, previously working under the pseudonym Freddy Sam. In this piece Gordon d... Read more
ARTIST: Andrea Dunn PROJECT TITLE: Peacock LOCATION: 623 S Wabash Ave   PHOTO CREDIT: © Sandra Steinbrecher 2016 ABOUT THIS PROJECT: Andrea Dunn is the winner of the 2016 People’s Choice mural. While working on this project Dunn sta... Read more
PROJECT: Columbia Alumni Competition Mural LOCATION: 623 S. Wabash Ave. South Facing Wall DATE: August 14, 2015 ABOUT THIS PROJECT: Columbia alumni, Heidi Unkefer, composes her largest mural to date in her signature illustrative style. ... Read more
TITLE: Transcendence ARTIST: Tara Hamilton  LOCATION: 636 S Michigan Avenue alley  ARTIST STATEMENT: Tara uses plants and animals merged with the human form to invoke our perpetual connection to nature that is lost within our current s... Read more
TITLE: Orange Space  ARTIST: Megan Troglio  LOCATION: 777 S State alley  ARTIST STATEMENT: Megan @Trogs Troglio is an independent Internet Artist creating works that stand as strongly in person as they do in a digital realm. About her... Read more
PROJECT: AMUSE 126 LOCATION: 777 S. State (North Facing wall) ABOUT THIS PROJECT: AMUSE 126, a Chicago native, lures an unaware audience into a new dimension of abstract typography and illustrative design with his murals.  Chicago Trubor... Read more
ARTIST: Darryll Schiff PROJECT TITLE: “Descending to Heaven” LOCATION: 710 South Wabash ABOUT THIS PROJECT: The vinyl mural is 24 x 56 photograph entitled “Descending to Heaven.” Schiff’s project was completely funded with a Ki... Read more
TITLE: Faces with Crown ARTIST: Erik Salgado  LOCATION: 737 S Wabash Ave ARTIST STATEMENT: Erik Salgado is a Chicago based interdisciplinary artist. Born from Mexican parents and raised in Chicago, Erik grew an interest in graffiti and ... Read more
TITLE: Something Sacred ARTIST: Melanie Vazquez  LOCATION: 737 S Wabash Ave ARTIST STATEMENT: “Something Sacred (Algo Sagrado)” is a symbol of hope. It is for those who make sacrifices in hopes of creating an opportunity at a better... Read more
TITLE  No Hard Feelings ARTIST: Lily Cozzens  LOCATION: 737 S Wabash Ave ARTIST STATEMENT: Lily Cozzens is an artist and illustrator living and working in Chicago. Through realism and accessible materials, she utilizes the medium of dra... Read more
PROJECT: Hilton Photo Project LOCATION: 8th and Wabash ABOUT THIS PROJECT: The Hilton Photo Project is an ongoing project that launched in the spring of 2013. For the first year, four large-scale photographs adorned the west-facing wall o... Read more
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PROJECT: Kashink  LOCATION: 801 S. Wabash (north-facing wall)  ABOUT THIS PROJECT: French artist, Kashink, is known for painting large four-eyes characters, using bright colors and thick lines. She says she likes exploring the absurdity... Read more
ARTIST: Tatyana Fazlalizadeh PROJECT TITLE: "Stop Telling Women To Smile" LOCATION: 801 S. Wabash (west-facing wall)  ABOUT THIS PROJECT: Tatyana’s newest mural in her “Step Telling Women To Smile” series. ...
ARTIST: Marina Zumi PROJECT TITLE: Impossible Meeting LOCATION: 910 S Michigan Ave (West facing wall) ABOUT THIS PROJECT: Marina Zumi is most associated with the early street art scene and her work with one of the formative groups “Exp... Read more
ARTIST: Shepard Fairey PROJECT TITLE: "We Own The Future" LOCATION: 916 S. Wabash  ABOUT THIS PROJECT: Columbia College Chicago has teamed up with Shepard Fairey (OBEY series, Obama HOPE) and three other Art Alliance: The Provocateurs... Read more
TITLE: Imagine if We Could Tolerate Each Other's Differences  ARTIST: Hera  LOCATION: 916 S. Wabash  ABOUT THIS PROJECT: While working on this mural Hera stated, “The beauty of murals is that they can be done by one person, on one d... Read more
ARTIST: Justus Roe PROJECT TITLE: Standing Wave LOCATION: 1001 S State St. ABOUT THIS PROJECT: While working on this project Justus Roe stated, “All of my pieces are inspired by a combination of the location, the audience, and my own a... Read more
ARTIST: Pose LOCATION: 72 E. 11th Street ABOUT THIS PROJECT: Columbia College Chicago has teamed up with Shepard Fairey (OBEY series, Obama HOPE) and three other Art Alliance: The Provocateurs artists to showcase their work in the Wabas... Read more
ARTIST: Kristen Kula PROJECT TITLE: Tornado LOCATION: 72 E. 11th Street, Chicago, Il 60605 (West facing wall)  ABOUT THIS PROJECT: Columbia College Chicago’s WAC Campus Committee launched a student and alumni competition in the sprin... Read more
TITLE: Listen To Learn ARTIST: Hello Kirsten LOCATION: 72 E. 11th Street ARTIST STATEMENT: Hello Kirsten aka Kirsten McCrea's detailed artworks showcase layered histories, using ornamentation and patterning to reveal alternate narratives... Read more
TITLE: Desenredando Fronteras (Unraveling Border #2) ARTIST: Hector Duarte  LOCATION: 1014 S. Michigan  ARTIST STATEMENT: I relate everything with this theme to immigration. The butterfly flies from Canada to Mexico. The butterflies fl... Read more
PROJECT: From Bloom to Doom  LOCATION: 1006 S. Michigan Avenue (North facing wall)  ABOUT THIS PROJECT: Collin van der Sluijs is a renowned painter and illustrator from The Netherlands, where he lives and works.  Thanks to JK Equities ... Read more
ARTIST: Renee Robbins PROJECT TITLE: X Marks the Milky Way LOCATION: 1130 S Michigan ABOUT THIS PROJECT: While working on this project Robbins stated, “My work focuses on creating relationships between the microscopic and the telescopi... Read more
PROJECT: Don't Fret LOCATION: 1152 S. Wabash (North facing wall) ABOUT THIS PROJECT: Don’t Fret is a Chicago native and Columbia College alum and his practice includes drawing, painting, sculpture, performance and installation-based wor... Read more
TITLE: 1000 Wall ARTIST: Mad C LOCATION: 1326 S. Michigan ARTIST STATEMENT: I was very excited about the opportunity to work with Neysa for the Wabash Arts Corridor of which I had heard quite a bit before already. When she sent me photos... Read more
TITLE: Disparate Bodies in Space ARTIST: Shelby Gahm  LOCATION: 1306 Michigan Ave ARTIST STATEMENT: Disparate Bodies in Space came from my curiosity with juxtaposing the abstract with reality. Almost always, abstract art is only seen ha... Read more
TITLE: The Seeds We Plant Today Determine Our Growth For Tomorrow ARTIST: Sam Kirk  LOCATION: 1306 S. Michigan  ARTIST STATEMENT: "The Seeds We Plant Today Determine Our Growth For Tomorrow” mural highlights the work of Dolores Huert... Read more
ARTIST: DYNAM  LOCATION: 1306 S. Michigan ARTIST STATEMENT: This work is inspired by the new generation of young Moroccans who are open to the outside, connected with global trends, especially American trends. In addition to their open-m... Read more
TITLE: Wild Life ARTIST: Eelco Van den Berg  LOCATION: 1306 S. Michigan (alley) ARTIST STATEMENT: Wild life shows the animals in their changed habitat. Through the metaphor of today's society where we are packed up in it’s galaxy. All... Read more
TITLE: China Truborn  ARTIST: Louise "Ouizi" Chen  LOCATION: 1312 S. Michigan    PHOTO CREDIT: © Sandra Steinbrecher 2017 ABOUT THIS PROJECT: Lead Curator: Sara Dulkin Co-Producers: Sara Dulkin and Neysa Page-Lieberman Site and Pro... Read more
TITLE: I Am Love  ARTIST: Shinique Smith  LOCATION: 1600 S. State    PHOTO CREDIT: © Sandra Steinbrecher 2017   ABOUT THIS PROJECT: Lead Curator/Producer: Neysa Page-Lieberman Site and Production Manager: Abie Vasquez Sponsorship ... Read more

 

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