There are plenty of good reasons to go for a walk. You might need to blow off steam. Maybe you want to grab kissy-face time with your boo. Maybe you just need a smoke. Whatever the reason, we suggest you head south on Wabash Street next time, where you’ll find at least 40 more big reasons to take that hike.
From Congress Parkway (500 S) to Roosevelt Road (1200 S), high on the walls of buildings lining Wabash (and a few buildings on either side), are generous murals painted by famous street artists such as Ben Eine and Ricky Lee Gordon, as well as by buzzy, local artists like Zor Zor Zor and students from nearby Columbia College Chicago (CCC).
Scroll through our shots of the murals, but don’t just sit there. Go see big art for yourself.
-
Bold-colored, pop-art inspired narrative graphics by Pose. Location: 72 E. 11th Street. Photo by Juan Carlos Herrera. -
Make Your Own Luck by ASVP. Location: 1 East Balbo, South Loop Club. Photo by Juan Carlos Herrera. -
Untitled by Lady Lucx & Sarah Stewart. Location: 525 S Wabash Ave. Photo by Juan Carlos Herrera. -
Columbia Alumni Competition Mural by Heidi Unkefer. Location: 623 S. Wabash Ave. South Facing Wall. Photo by Juan Carlos Herrera. -
Untitled by Never 2501. Location: The Buckingham @ 59 E. Van Buren. Photo by Juan Carlos Herrera. -
X Marks the Milky Way by Renee Robbins. Location: 1130 S Michigan. Photo by Juan Carlos Herrera. -
I Am You You Are Me by Ricky Lee Gordon. Location: 634 S. Wabash Ave. Photo by Juan Carlos Herrera. -
Peacock by Andrea Dunn. Location: 623 S Wabash Ave. Photo by Juan Carlos Herrera. -
Standing Wave by Justus Roe. Location: 1011 S. State St. Photo: Juan Carlos Herrera. -
Drowning in the City by Ruben Aguirre. Location: 501 & 525 S Wabash Ave. Photo by Juan Carlos Herrera. -
Goralu, Czy Ci Nie Zal by Zor Zor Zor. Location: 600 S Michigan. Photo by Juan Carlos Herrera. -
Impossible Meeting by Marina Zumi. Location: 910 S Michigan Ave (West facing wall). Photo by Juan Carlos Herrera. -
Untitled by Retna. Location: 33 E. Congress. Photo by Juan Carlos Herrera. -
Somber illustrations from street artist Herakut. Location: 1132 S. Wabash St. Photo by Juan Carlos Herrera. -
Untitled by Don't Fret. Location: 1152 S. Wabash. Photo by Juan Carlos Herrera. -
Untitled by AMUSE 126. Location: 777 S. State. Photo by Juan Carlos Herrera. -
Harmony by Ben Eine. Location: University Center's East facing wall 525 S. State Street Photo by Juan Carlos Herrera.
